Some prepared cereals are tasty but not necessarily healthy. If you read labels, you may find that a bowl of mixed grains, seeds, fruits, and nuts is high calorie, loaded with sugar, and full of fat. Just switching to a commercial low-fat variety may not help. Finding the perfect low fat granola for boosting health and satisfying hunger takes a little work.
Whole grains are good for you if they are non-GMO, organically grown, and fresh. Most granolas start with rolled oats. You can find ones with other grains, like quinoa, barley, wheat, or corn. Any whole grain will be rich in carbs but also a good source of fiber. Fiber is an important nutrient, providing bulk in your diet and helping to fill you up without adding a lot of calories.
A bowl of rolled oats or mixed grains won't be high in fat, but it won't be especially palatable, either. Toasting can help improve flavor and texture. Spices like cinnamon and vanilla are traditional, and sugar or honey add sweetness. Fruit, nuts, and seeds add important nutrients, but these must be chosen wisely to limit calories and fats.
Fat itself is not the enemy. In fact, many of the fats found in nuts and seeds are essential nutrients which may be in short supply in many diets. Modern dieting plans often stress that it's carbs, not fats, that are the real problem. It's possible to choose nuts that are good sources for essential fatty acids but relatively low calorie, if you want the best of both worlds.
Almonds, walnuts, and pecans are so healthy they are worth eating. Macadamia nuts are very high in fats, but these are fats that are easily burned for energy rather than stored in the body. Cashews and pistachios are high-calorie nuts, as are Brazil nuts. Brazil nuts, however, are considered a great source of selenium, a trace mineral that's hard to get elsewhere.
Seeds also contain fatty acids that are important to well-being. Chia, flax, and walnuts are high in Omega-3s, the kind of fats also found in fish. Chia and flax boost fiber. Fiber helps control weight by adding bulk to the diet, which speeds digestion and makes you feel full faster. That way you eat less.
The point is that fats are not bad per se. However, many cereals also contain oils, which add crunchiness to the mix when it is baked or toasted. These oils may be adding calories and lowering the nutritional value of the breakfast food. Canola and soy oils, which are a popular additive, will almost certainly be GMO is not certified organic. Any hydrogenated fats should be avoided.
It may be best to make your own cereal, which is actually easy to do. Consider what you like, research the health benefits, and include sensible amounts of dried fruit (high calorie!) and nuts. Seeds are not much of a concern. If you want to lower the fat and calorie count of each serving, add bran to the mix. Wheat, oat, and rice bran are all good sources of fiber and won't add many calories. Create a mix, add spices to taste, sweeten with stevia or the equivalent, toss with a heat-stable, organic oil like coconut, and bake on shallow pans for about forty minutes at 300 degrees or until lightly browned and crunchy.
Whole grains are good for you if they are non-GMO, organically grown, and fresh. Most granolas start with rolled oats. You can find ones with other grains, like quinoa, barley, wheat, or corn. Any whole grain will be rich in carbs but also a good source of fiber. Fiber is an important nutrient, providing bulk in your diet and helping to fill you up without adding a lot of calories.
A bowl of rolled oats or mixed grains won't be high in fat, but it won't be especially palatable, either. Toasting can help improve flavor and texture. Spices like cinnamon and vanilla are traditional, and sugar or honey add sweetness. Fruit, nuts, and seeds add important nutrients, but these must be chosen wisely to limit calories and fats.
Fat itself is not the enemy. In fact, many of the fats found in nuts and seeds are essential nutrients which may be in short supply in many diets. Modern dieting plans often stress that it's carbs, not fats, that are the real problem. It's possible to choose nuts that are good sources for essential fatty acids but relatively low calorie, if you want the best of both worlds.
Almonds, walnuts, and pecans are so healthy they are worth eating. Macadamia nuts are very high in fats, but these are fats that are easily burned for energy rather than stored in the body. Cashews and pistachios are high-calorie nuts, as are Brazil nuts. Brazil nuts, however, are considered a great source of selenium, a trace mineral that's hard to get elsewhere.
Seeds also contain fatty acids that are important to well-being. Chia, flax, and walnuts are high in Omega-3s, the kind of fats also found in fish. Chia and flax boost fiber. Fiber helps control weight by adding bulk to the diet, which speeds digestion and makes you feel full faster. That way you eat less.
The point is that fats are not bad per se. However, many cereals also contain oils, which add crunchiness to the mix when it is baked or toasted. These oils may be adding calories and lowering the nutritional value of the breakfast food. Canola and soy oils, which are a popular additive, will almost certainly be GMO is not certified organic. Any hydrogenated fats should be avoided.
It may be best to make your own cereal, which is actually easy to do. Consider what you like, research the health benefits, and include sensible amounts of dried fruit (high calorie!) and nuts. Seeds are not much of a concern. If you want to lower the fat and calorie count of each serving, add bran to the mix. Wheat, oat, and rice bran are all good sources of fiber and won't add many calories. Create a mix, add spices to taste, sweeten with stevia or the equivalent, toss with a heat-stable, organic oil like coconut, and bake on shallow pans for about forty minutes at 300 degrees or until lightly browned and crunchy.
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