Superfoods are types of food that are known to have a great impact on the health of a person. Superfoods can be grains, fish, yoghurt, berries, legumes, olive oil, nuts just to name but a few. Superfoods are encouraged to be taken by patients that face health challenges that need management such as hypertension. Granola is taken as a breakfast meal most of the time. Some people take granola as a quick snack. Made with a number of ingredients of choice, granola is baked to achieve the look and taste it requires. Discussed is an overview of superfood granola.
Granola Meal
As mentioned, granola is added ingredients of choice before it is taken as a meal or snack. It consists of sweeteners such as brown sugar and honey, low-calorie oats, cinnamon, coconut, puffed rice and nuts. On some occasions, fruits are added in the mixture such as berries or dates. The mixture is baked to get the required taste. The snack is taken with milk, fresh fruits or yoghurt. Granola meal is considered a healthy meal when taken in considerable amounts. Too much can also cause health issues.
Nutritional Content
Granola has a very high nutritional value. This is determined by the type of ingredients that are added to it as well. The macronutrients that are in granola include carbohydrates, fibre and very high protein. Granola has micronutrient such as selenium, vitamins B, magnesium, zinc, iron, and vitamin E. The calorie content of granola is very low but depending on the brands used, this may change. Different brands also have different nutrients ratio on protein, fibres, sugars and fats.
Benefits
As a superfood, the superfood granola has a number of health benefits. It has been shown to control blood sugar levels in patients that suffer from diabetes. Studies have also shown granola to reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension. In addition, granola reduces the cholesterol levels of a person. It has been seen to have antioxidants that are known to reduce inflammations. Lastly, granola has been seen to boost the health of the digestive system by increasing the beneficial bacteria of the gut.
Conclusion
As any superfood, meals that incorporate granola with their high fibre and protein content are used by people who engage in vigorous exercises such as hikers and sports enthusiast because this makes the stay for long with filled stomachs. Granola is also made in snack bars which makes it easy to store and carry around. They serve as a better alternative to any snack option.
