Snack: Fall Granola with Pumpkin Seeds

This granola can make a satisfying snack on it's own or your can use it to top yogurt or oatmeal. This recipe uses agave nectar, a popular alternative to sugar or honey. However, you should still count the carbs in agave like any other carbohydrate and ke

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Cranberries, Nuts, Agave, Walnuts

Health and fertility benefits of Fall Granola with Pumpkin Seeds

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Researchers believe that cranberries contain substances that prevent infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls. However, store-bought cranberry juice is typically all sugar - so make sure to stick with straight cranberries. Nuts are a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity. Agave has a low glycemic index (GI) of 17. Walnuts are low on the glycemic index. What’s more, they also lower the glycemic index of other foods that you eat in conjunction with these nuts. Any kind of nuts provide a healthy source of fat and a great way to encourage PCOS weight loss.

Ingredients

1/3 cup agave nectar
3 tablespoons Splenda Brown Sugar blend
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2/3 cup roasted pumpkin (pepita) seeds
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, whisk together agave nectar and Splenda Brown Sugar blend.
In a medium bowl, mix together all remaining ingredients. Pour agave nectar over mixture and stir to coat.
Spread oat mixture on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool and store in airtight container.
MAKE IT GLUTEN-FREE: This recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free oats and confirming all other ingredients are gluten-free.

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