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Why granola even if organic is not a healthy choice nutritionally or for the gut microbiome. Making your own is not even a healthy choice!
Is granola healthy to eat? Are brands from the store that are organic and/or sprouted acceptable?
What about homemade granola?
Sadly, the answer to all three of these questions is a resounding NO!
Even so-called “traditional granola” recipes, where soaked organic oats (or sprouted) are used before toasting in the oven, are not in the least bit digestible.
While soaking or sprouting oats before making granola is a big improvement, the fact is that digestive damage is still going to occur if you eat it. This preparation method is not traditional in the slightest.
Many granola fans do not seem to know that oats, even if sprouted or soaked first, are still not properly prepared in a traditional manner.
Thus, the proteins in the oats remain in a form that is extremely difficult to break down in the digestive tract.
Difficult-to-digest food that is not metabolized completely leaves undigested residues in the gut that cause pathogens to thrive.
This is why some people “crave” granola…it’s an addictive food like sugar that feeds gut pathogens.
Over time, pathogen overgrowth in the gut leads to a disrupted microbiome and eventually digestive symptoms.
The high potential of improperly prepared grains to harm health…with granola being perhaps the most prominent modern example…is why traditional societies took such great pains to soak, sprout, or ferment (sour leaven) them.
Here’s the last piece many folks seem to miss…
Not only did traditional peoples soak, sprout, or sour leaven their grains. They also thoroughly cooked them as the final preparation step before eating!
In other words, toasting sprouted or soaked oats in the oven does not fully deactivate the anti-nutrients.
Let’s explore this important precept of traditional diet in more detail below.
Why Granola is SO Difficult to Digest
The dry heat of an oven at the proper toasting temperature is simply not hot enough to complete the breakdown of anti-nutrients in oats or other grains.
Thus, even homemade granola is extremely difficult to digest. Eaten often, it can damage the gut over time.
Perhaps if a person has an iron gut, then homemade granola that is soaked or sprouted but not fully cooked might work on occasion.
The reality is that most people have sensitive guts today. This is a generational decline in health that is the result of several generations of children raised on antibiotics and processed foods.
Most people have some sort of digestive sensitivity to grains, even if there are no grain allergy symptoms present.
I know for me, I bloat terribly if I eat homemade granola that has been soaked or sprouted and then toasted.
Interestingly, thoroughly cooked unsoaked oatmeal digests far better.
The lesson to me is that the final cooking step for sprouted grains is very important!
Healthy Alternatives
The good news is that when you ditch granola, there are other options to consider that are very tasty and no more difficult to prepare.
In my home, I make these healthy breakfast cereal recipes instead of granola. Several of them provide that lovely crunch that is so yummy in milk for breakfast.
Another alternative is to make grain free granola that uses soaked nuts, fruits, and soaked seeds instead of grains as the primary ingredient.
Sources and More Information
Nourishing Traditions, p. 454
Sarah – I was looking for a soaked/healthy granola recipe with the intention of using it for a hot cereal while backpacking – instead of buying store bought granola. To be cooked in hot water out on the trail. In this case in your opinion would soaking then dehydrating oats and the like, if then cooked a few minutes in hot water to reconstitute it be enough cooking for digestibility? I am sensitive to improperly prepared grains.
Thanks!
If I eat granola, I look like I’m 3 months pregnant in about an hour as my stomach blows up from the indigestibility of this food even if it is soaked for 24 hours prior.
You will be amazed how much your tummy will thank you when you experience the difference!
No, but I will 🙂 thank you!
@Ashley this is not very digestible unfortunately. Have you seen my short video class on how to properly cook oatmeal?
My granola – crispy nuts, chia seeds, coconut, seeds, dried cherries, dried apple bits and mini chocolate chips. Melt in coconut oil and refrigerate for bars or eat dry in yogurt.
Sorry, mix in melted coconut oil.
Question – if i soak my rolled oats overnight then use them in my recipes (i make an oatmeal breakfast casserole and use them in meatballs) do i have to reduce the amount of liquid that goes into the recipe to account for the fact that they soaked in water overnight?
Question- for my oatmeal, I buy bobs red mill rolled oats. I do not soak or cook. I basically just mix with hot water & let sit for a few minutes (I personally like eating that way)… Is that bad? Lol what’s the best way to eat oatmeal?
Oh yay!