Zen Granola
I do often enjoy a little something in the evening, after dinner, to satisfy my sweet tooth and also help keep me satiated and sleeping soundly all night. While your dinner should be the primary source of nutrition to achieve a sound nights sleep, there are some other tools that can come in handy, especially when the body is under increased stress - either mentally or physically - and we need a little more nourishment to sustain us.
Two key nutrients that I like to make sure are rich in the diet, especially when we are working on optimizing sleep, are are melatonin and magnesium. I love getting nutrients from food, rather than supplements, where possible, because it often means that we are also consuming all the complex cofactors that optimize their absorption and usage in the body.
MAGNESIUM - All-round nutrition super-hero!
- Helps calm twitching muscles and a busy mind.
- Improves insulin signaling so you can handle sugar better.
- Critical for enzyme production (digestion, energy production, etc)
- In our recipe: Pumpkin seed, almonds, dark chocolate
MELATONIN – much more than a sleep aid!
- Helps regulate day/night rhythms
- Powerful antioxidant that scavenges free radicals
- Regulates hormone release
- In our recipe: Goji berries, dried cherries, walnuts
Makes ~2 cups of granola
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
1 tbsp melted ghee or coconut oil
1 tbsp maple syrup
A pinch of sea salt
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup raw almonds and/or walnuts, roughly chopped
1/3 cup goji berries
1/3 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (min.70% cocoa)
Instructions
1. Make toasty oats by combining the first 6 ingredients well and baking at 325F for 15 mins.
2. Let them cool.
3. Mix in a bowl with remaining ingredients.
4. Store in an airtight jar.
