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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
It is syncronicity a little too late that I had Cheerios several days this week, including this morning. I thought it a better alternative to the eggs with cheese and turkey bacon and toast I sometimes have.
The eggs, cheese, and turkey bacon is a WAY better choice than Cheerios!
It is syncronicity a little too late that I had Cheerios several days this week, including this morning. I thought it a better alternative to the eggs with cheese and turkey bacon and toast I sometimes have.
I have found that every granola recipe, even if using natural sweeteners like Sucanat or honey, is just too sweet tasting for me! I have not made it in many years. Just way too sweet.
Nickole
Oats are pretty intense in the anti-nutrient department, I don’t eat them any way, but I do eat a tablespoon or so of Go Raw granola a day (mixed with sprouted sunflower seed butter, raisins and dried coconut). It is grain-free but uses buckwheat groats (sprouted and dehydrated). I know there are some anti-nutrients in buckwheat, but I don’t know how much nor how well sprouting lowers them. Anyone have a resource for that?
We love granola and I recently tried making some after first soaking and dehydrating the grains. I have to say, its not that good. The grains are really are hard to chew and the texture has definitely changed. I probably won’t make it again.
We love granola and I recently tried making some after first soaking and dehydrating the grains. I have to say, its not that good. The grains are really are hard to chew and the texture has definitely changed. I probably won’t make it again.
I still make homemade granola for my hubby. He is not on the same page with me nutritionally, but he willing to settle for homemade granola over store bought cereals, so I take that compromise. I’ve learned to pick my battles.
While homemade granola might not be perfect nutritionally, it’s better than the junk cereals at the store. He also has no digestive problems from eating it. At least when I make it at home, I control the ingredients. I think we all need to take baby steps and if making homemade granola is a way to wean family members off of cereals, then I say go for it.
I still make homemade granola for my hubby. He is not on the same page with me nutritionally, but he willing to settle for homemade granola over store bought cereals, so I take that compromise. I’ve learned to pick my battles.
While homemade granola might not be perfect nutritionally, it’s better than the junk cereals at the store. He also has no digestive problems from eating it. At least when I make it at home, I control the ingredients. I think we all need to take baby steps and if making homemade granola is a way to wean family members off of cereals, then I say go for it.
I prefer oatmeal too, just once in a while. The only grains I really purchase anymore are rice and quinoa, as I find that when I eat wheat.. I not only feel bloated by also dizzy, achy muscles and blurred vision. Probably signs that it’s not good for me.
I prefer oatmeal too, just once in a while. The only grains I really purchase anymore are rice and quinoa, as I find that when I eat wheat.. I not only feel bloated by also dizzy, achy muscles and blurred vision. Probably signs that it’s not good for me.