Blood-Sugar-Balancing, Buckwheat Brownies
This recipe is raw, vegan, gluten-free, and delicious!
Ingredients
8-10 Medjool Dates (pitted and chopped in half)
¾ cup Buckwheat Flour
¼ cup Flaxseed Meal
2 Tbsp Raw Cacao
2 Tbsp Almond Butter (or Nut-butter of choice)
1-2 Tbsp Raw Honey or Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla Extract (Almond, peppermint, or other flavors of choice can work well as well as long as not artificial)
Directions:
Place dates, buckwheat flour, flax meal, and cacao in a food processor. Blend until combined. Add the remaining ingredients and blend for a few minutes until it becomes a big ball of “dough”. Remove from processor and press into square 8×8 inch pan. Chill for a few hours to help it set. Cut and serve!
Add-Ins – You can mix in raw walnuts, hemp seeds, or coconut flakes.
The Good Stuff:
Buckwheat
– Buckwheat is not a wheat, it is actually the seed of a fruit plant related to rhubarb so it is Gluten-Free. It is an excellent source of manganese, tryptophan, magnesium, fiber, and copper. It is also very high in flavonoids, especially rutin. Diets high in buckwheat are linked to lower the risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The high fiber content also helps balance blood sugar and curb sugar cravings.
Cacao
– Cacao, translated as the food of the gods, is a bean grown in Mexico, Central, and South America. Raw cacao contains healthy doses of magnesium, calcium, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium, and manganese. It is also a great source of antioxidants (flavonoids). The benefits of raw cacao include lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular functions, neutralizing free radicals, and improving digestion. And why do you feel so good? The “bliss” chemicals found in cacao help to increase circulation and availability of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, improving mood and combating depression.
Dates
– The date palm is called “the tree of life” in Muslim legend. They are a great source of easily digested carbohydrates, fiber, B-Vitamins, copper, potassium, manganese, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and antioxidants. Dates are among the most alkaline of foods, and the fiber they contain is known to slow the body’s absorption of glucose, which helps control blood sugar. They are also is digested more slowly than other sugars and increases feelings of satiety, which can aid weight loss.
Flaxseed
This super seed is most well known for its health benefits thanks to its high content of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Flaxseed oil contains ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which can be converted to the other forms of DHA and EPA in the body. ALA has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. They also contain lignans, which can help protect the body against breast cancer by lowering excess estrogen levels in the body.
If you’re having issues balancing your blood sugar, schedule an appointment with our nutritionist today to get a personalized plan for your specific body.
References: http://www.builtlean.com/2012/04/12/raw-chocolate/
www.whfoods.com
The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, Michael Murray, N.D.