Why You Should Add Granola Back to Your Diet Now

Granola got canceled before cancel culture was a thing. But consider giving it a second chance.

Fancy yourself a home chef but the cooking part just always seems to get so…messy? And take so…long? Ok so what, sometimes *home chef* means we eat snacks while we watch The Food Network…Just us? Eh, either way you can whip up this gorgeous homemade granola recipe from CorePerform’s own registered dietitian, Norah Candito, in no time flat and bask in all the culinary glory PLUS reap some serious health benefits.   Granola may have gotten a bad rap nutritionally over the years (the added sugar! *gasp*) but in truth it is chock full of beautifully nutritious, whole food ingredients, and when you make it at home you can control the added sugar yourself.  

If you’re still undecided about trying this recipe out, here are a few of its star ingredients and their nutritional merits:

Oats & Fiber

We’re all gut health people here, we know the power of fiber. And oats rank high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Namely, beta-glucan. If you’re waiting for me to tell you what beta-glucan is, your wait is over. It helps slow digestion, increase satiety so you feel fuller longer, and even binds with cholesterol-rich bile acids to help sweep them right out of the body. It cleans house, is what we are saying.  

Flaxseeds & Lignans

Ok stay with me on this one…Flax is a prime source of lignans. Lignans are precursors to phytoestrogens (plant chemicals that resemble estrogen) and are thought to play a role in lowering some cancer risks. They also modify the gut microbiota through their metabolites and even cooler, some of these metabolites are known to interact through the gut-brain axis, with potential implications in treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Bottom line: they’re good for you, and this here granola recipe will provide all you need.  

Cinnamon & Anti-Diabetic Effects

Cinnamon is a superhero in its ability to control glucose levels in the blood. This is accomplished through several mechanisms, including increasing insulin sensitivity. It also interferes with certain digestive enzymes, slowing the digestion of carbohydrates and therefore lowering blood glucose levels. In addition to these powerful anti-diabetic effects, cinnamon basically does anything else you might expect from a superfood, including the standard lowering of heart disease and cancer risk and anti-inflammatory action. Maybe we should give it a cape and start calling it Cinna-Man…No? Ok.   We could go on about the nutritional benefits of this beautiful recipe, but by now you could be back on the couch with a bowl of heavenly homemade granola. We hope you enjoy!   SUBSCRIBE to the CorePerform email list and stay up to date on recipe ideas, gut health and hormone education.  

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Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats

• 1 scoop CorePerform Protein Powder

• 1 cup mixed nuts (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, etc)

• 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed 2 Tbsp chia seeds

• 1/4 cup dried cherries, raisins, apricot or other fruit (optional)

• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 cup avocado oil

• 1/4 cup maple syrup

• 1/3 cup coconut chips  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, excluding raisins and coconut chips

3. Add in all wet ingredients and stir until oats are evenly coated with oil mixture

4. Spread mixture out evenly on parchment lined baking sheet

5. Bake for 20 minutes, mix and add optional toppings (raisins, coconut chips)

6. Bake for additional 10mins

  Serve with yogurt, smoothie, or snack on it!

For More Recipes From CorePerform Check Out Our Recipe Page Here