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The quick answer to the question "Is granola healthy?" is that granola is healthy when consumed in moderation. Nevertheless, unhealthy granola, which is abundant on grocery store shelves and frequently appears healthy because of terms like "organic" or "all-natural," is just unhealthy, particularly when ingested in large quantities.
Granola is a cereal-like food typically made from oats, sugar, oil, and a combination of dried fruits, nuts, and seeds. Granola comes in many different varieties, so the ingredients in these foods might vary greatly. For this reason, it's crucial to check the ingredient labels when choosing granola in stores and to pay attention to your portion sizes as well.
Granola can help you control your weight, keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in better balance, help reduce your bad cholesterol (LDL) level, and improve digestion when it is made with whole grains (typically rolled oats) and nuts and with little to no added sugar and fats. However, if you consume more than one serving size of this high-calorie meal or granola that has excessive amounts of added sugar or saturated fats, you're probably not doing your health any favours.
What Should You Do Before Buying Granola?
Check The Quantity Of Sugar:
Granola can contain a lot of sugar. While some of the sugar will originate from the dried fruits, the remaining sugar may be from added sugar that has another name. The sugar is also known as molasses, brown rice syrup, agave, and evaporated cane juice. Some naturally occurring sugars are beneficial to your health, but as a general guideline, it might be best to limit your intake to six grams or fewer per serving and check the ingredient list for sugar additions.
Go For Recognisable Ingredients:
Choose products with simple ingredients like fruit and grains as opposed to those with unidentified artificial substances. Cinnamon, vanilla, almonds, walnuts, puffed brown rice, wheat germ, wheat bran, cocoa, chia, flaxseed, hemp, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds are some additional nutritious ingredients.
Look At The Fat Content:
The fat in granola aids in holding the particles of granola together. Nuts can also provide additional fat, which is advantageous. Check the type of fat that has been added because some, like palm oil, refined oils, and vegetable shortenings, may not be the best choice for your heart health.
Beware Of Fillers:
Even the ingredient list of prominent brands that advertise as being healthy might have some unpleasant surprises, such as inulin (a soluble fibre that can cause stomach issues), soy protein isolate, and other cunning substances. Consider avoiding these fillers.
Portion Size:
Eat your granola in moderation. In excess, most things become unhealthy. A healthy serving of granola is roughly 40–50g, or about 1/2 a cup.
