Blogging on Good Food
The porridge has taken a back seat in this house as the warm sunshine streams through the window in the morning so I would like to share with you the wonderful breakfast I have been enjoying, which also happens to be vegan.
Low blood sugar equals low blood flow to the brain so eating breakfast is key to not only feeling good but also having a productive day.
I start with a huge dollop of soya natural yoghurt and sweeten it with date syrup. Date syrup is yummy, a wonderful alternative sweetener that I had at a friend’s recently when she had used it to sweeten our dessert of strawberries and kiwi fruit. Dates are high in iron, protein and minerals and have a laxative effect – a great thing in the morning especially if you suffer with constipation. They are good for intestinal health encouraging the friendly bacteria.
Over the yoghurt I chop a banana and apple and add blueberries if I have them, I got loads cheaply at the end of the day in the market recently, and these fruits are all good fibre and full of vitamins and antioxidants. Over this I add a tablespoon of oat bran which I learnt from a fellow reflexology student recently, swells to many times its volume in the stomach as it soaks up liquid there thus giving a feeling of satiety. This is a highly nutritious food that has been overlooked in the past, being used for such things as stuffing mattresses. It helps maintain a good blood sugar level so works as a preventative to diabetes and the fibres are rich in beta D- glucan which is beneficial to the intestinal tract, again helping constipation and preventing up to 10% of fat absorption so is used by some wanting to lose weight.
Next I add a tablespoon of organic ground flaxseed, ground because it is easier to digest and is another help to relieving constipation. It is also high in fibre, helps to reduce bad blood cholesterol, so is good for the heart and is high in omega 3, necessary for a healthy circulatory system and brain function and well-oiled joints. Ground flaxseed can also be added to biscuits, muffins and bread to boost their nutritional content.
Over the top of the mix I add a tablespoon of pumpkin and sunflower seeds. They both contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that relieves tension and is an antidepressant. Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc which protects against osteoporosis. Sunflower seeds have a high level of vitamin E which has an anti-oxidising effect, helping prevent free radicals from oxidising cholesterol and sticking to blood vessels. They are also high in selenium which is needed for protein metabolism, and copper which is vital for the function of enzymes which provide strength and flexibility for bones and joint elasticity. I then finish off with ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon, an excellent anti-inflammatory that contains manganese, iron and calcium.
So this breakfast is great for blood sugar levels, digestion and maintaining a healthy heart and bone structure.
Have a wonderful day everyone!




