Is Granola Good for You: 7 Steps to Make It at Home
Granola is considered a healthy choice for breakfast. But is granola good for you?
If yes, what are its health benefits?
Well, granola can have not just positive but also negative effects on your health.
Let’s explore more about granola in this article. Pick up some snacks, and let’s go discover some facts.
1. What Is Granola?
What is granola? and Is granola good for you? Granola is a type of breakfast that is a mix of various cereals, pulses, and more like oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.
It is mixed with milk and honey/maple syrup. Granola is something that can be consumed just like that or can be combined with milk, oat milk or almond milk, and yogurt.
Granola is a combination of many things hence it is a good source of different elements that can help in maintaining a healthy body. Is granola good for you?
Granola is often called a healthy food but might have side effects as well which we will discuss later in this article.
2. Ingredients
Granola is a mix of a bunch of healthy ingredients. The ingredients in granola are as follows;
- Rolled oats
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Sweetener
- Oil
- Salt
- Spices
- Dry fruits
- Coconut flakes
- Chocolate chips or other mix-ins
It is important to remember that if you plan to buy granola from the store, the ingredients might vary depending on the brand you choose.
If you are a person who is too concerned about the ingredients, it is always advised to go through the ingredients before buying them. Is granola good for you?
3. Is Granola Good for You?
Is granola good for you? Granola is considered a healthy choice of breakfast by many people across the globe. It is also consumed as a snack by many.
It is consumed as it is or mixed with maple syrup or honey and milk of one’s choice. Specific ingredients in granola won’t be suitable for some people.
For example, the nuts in granola can cause allergies in some people.
Granola is considered a healthy food. It has rich content of fiber, healthy fats, and protein.
The high fiber comes from ingredients like rolled oats.
This will help in providing better digestive health. Nuts are another ingredient that is rich in protein.
Protein helps with muscle building. The ingredients like dried fruits are healthy and make it the best addition to your diet plan.
The healthy fats in granola can help in providing energy for the entire day.
Just like merits, granola also has got some demerits. One of its demerits which can potentially make it unhealthy is the added sugar in it.
Granola has a high level of added sugar and calories that can increase the risk of a blood sugar spike. On the other hand, added sweeteners like honey and maple syrup can also increase the amount of sugar and calories in granola making it unhealthy.
Some granola brands also add oil in it which increases the fat content and can have negative effects on one’s health.
Some granolas might also contain preservatives and artificial colors and flavors.
So, is granola good for you? Well, it depends on the type of granola that you choose and the contents in it.
If you choose a granola that is low in added sugars and calories, and high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats, it can be a great addition to a balanced breakfast or snack.
On the other hand, if you choose a granola that is high in added sugars and calories, it may not be the healthiest choice for you.
If you’re concerned about the nutritional value of your granola, you can make your own at home with healthy ingredients and control the amount of sugar and oil used.
To make your granola even more nutritious, you can add your favorite ingredients, such as fresh fruit or unsweetened yogurt.
4. Make It at Home!
Ingredients
- Rolled oats – 3 cups
- Nuts – 1 cup
- Honey – 1/4 cup
- Oil – 1/4 cup
- Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
- Cinnamon powder – 1 tsp
- Salt – 1/2 tsp
- Dried fruit – 1 cup
Instructions
- Preheat your oven.
- Combine the rolled oats, along with the chopped nuts, in a large bowl.
- Honey, oil, vanilla essence, cinnamon, and salt are added to a small pot and warmed over low heat while being stirred until the ingredients have melted and blended.
- After pouring the honey mixture over the oat mixture, swirl everything together until it is completely covered with honey.
- After spreading the granola mixture out in a single layer on a baking sheet, place it in the oven and bake it for 20 to 25 minutes, giving it a stir after 10 minutes, until it is golden brown and crispy.
- After the granola has completely cooled, crumble in the dried fruit and mix well.
- Keep your homemade granola in a container that prevents air from getting in.
4.1 Points to Note
- Always remember to choose products that are of high quality.
- Look for products that bring in less amount of sugar content into your granola.
- Use sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup and avoid sugar or synthetic products while making granola at home.
- You can add in nuts of your choice. Do not restrict ingredients to what you see online. Experiment with different nuts, fruits, and seasonings.
- Always make sure to bake granola at the lowest temperature to avoid the chances of it getting burned.
- Always store granola in an airtight container.
5. Granola Vs. Other Cereals
Granola is a healthy breakfast option many people choose, irrespective of their country and its cuisine. But is granola good for you?
If yes, is it better than other alternatives available in the market? Let’s have a comparison between granola and other cereals.
1. Granola vs. Cheerios:
Granola contains more calories when compared with Cheerios. But this doesn’t imply that Cheerios is a good choice. Cheerios are poor in protein content and fiber content.
2. Granola vs. Corn Flakes:
Granola is usually higher in calories, fat, and sugar than Corn Flakes. On the other hand, Corn Flakes are lower in fiber and protein than granola.
3. Granola vs. Oatmeal:
Both granola and oatmeal are made from oats, but granola contains comparatively more sugar and fat per serving. Oatmeal is higher in fiber and lower in calories than granola.
Hence, always look for the best one in the market. Not something that can have negative effects on your body, but something that can help you get healthier and stay fit.
Ensure the granola you choose has less sugar content and high fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Always give priority to your nutritional requirements rather than choosing anything with some health benefits.
6. Side Effects for People with Allergy
Is granola good for you? Yes, granola can be a healthy breakfast cereal but it can have a huge negative impact on people with allergies.
For people with a nut allergy, granola can be the worst choice for breakfast. Many store-bought granolas will have nuts like almonds and walnuts.
People with nut allergies should always go through the ingredients before choosing the granola. Some people might also have allergic reactions to granola because of its gluten content.
Some granolas may contain gluten, which can be a problem for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Choosing a gluten-free granola or making your own at home using certified gluten-free oats is important.
Some granola also contains diary contents in it. For people who are Lactose intolerant, this can be a nightmare. Individuals who are allergic to dairy are advised to choose alternatives like almond milk or soy milk.
Some granola may contain seeds like sesame seeds. For individuals with seed allergies, choosing granola that has no seed content in it is important. Making granola at home can help you customize it, making it healthy.
When consuming granola for your breakfast, one needs to have control over the portion one consumes.
Granola is healthy but it contains added sugar which can turn out to be a devil for people with diabetes. People with diabetes, if choosing granola need to be extra careful.
7. Conclusion
So is granola good for you? Well, granola can be considered a healthy and nutritious choice for breakfast. It can also be considered as a healthy snack option.
Granola is known as healthy because of its ingredients like rolled oats, nuts, natural sweeteners, and spices like cinnamon.
Granola is also rich in a lot of healthy components like fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Keeping that in mind, while choosing granola for your diet, always choose the one that can positively impact your health and not negatively.
Make sure you go through the ingredients before making a purchase. Choose the granola that has a low amount of sugar content and preservatives if any.
In order to avoid the chance of making wrong choices, homemade granola would be the best choice. Make it at home. Also, make sure that you consume granola in moderation.
Always have control over the size or portion of granola that you consume. Excess intake can have a huge impact on your health.
Make smart choices and live a healthy life. Hence Granola can be a good option for a healthy diet plan but always remember to check on the ingredients and consume it in moderation.
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