Lately I have been reading all about the health benefits of flaxseeds. They sound healthy right? But what exactly do they do for your health?
My ears first pricked up when I heard flaxseeds provide you with omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, they happen to be the richest source of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which may surprises the omnivores out there. Studies have found flaxseeds have around one hundred times more cancer-fighting lignans (polyphenols found in plants) than other foods, to be protective against breast and prostate cancer and to help reduce hypertension, cholesterol and inflammation. And to top it off, flaxseeds provide a great source of fibre and help you achieve regular bowl function (maybe I should have started with this one ?;)) .
Well that’s more than enough reason for me to think of some creative ways to eat a bit more flaxseeds. So here is a delicious recipe for you to start enjoying the health benefits of flaxseeds too. There are so many ways you can incorporate flaxseeds into you diet, this is just one of them. Try it in your morning muesli, your smoothie, your homemade muffins or even in salads. You notice the taste at first, but then you grow to love it and your breakfast just isn’t the same without it! So with one slice of flapjack, and a tablespoon in your morning smooth, you’ve met your goal for the day!
Ingredients
1 cup or 250g of almond butter
4 tbsp of maple syrup
1 cup of mixed nuts (I used almonds and hazelnuts but pistachios, walnuts, peanuts and cachews would be delicious!)
1/2 cup of plant based milk (I used oat milk)
1/2 cup of sultanas
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried apricots
5 tbsp of ground flaxseeds
1 1/2 cups of rolled oats
1 pinch of salt
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
Recipe
Line a 25cm by 25cm slice tray with baking paper and turn your oven on to fan force at 180 degrees (355 f).
Place your almond butter and maple syrup into a bowl and mix until combined. Then add your preferred plant based milk and mix until smooth.
Next, add your ground flaxseeds, oats, a pinch of salt and cinnamon into the mixture and mix through. The mix should be getting pretty stiff now, which is good! Then chop your mixed nuts and apricots roughly and add them, the sultanas and cranberries to the mixture and give your arms a good workout to combine.
Add the mixture to the prepared pan and use a fork to evenly spread out the mixture. Cook in the oven for no longer than 30 mins, or until the top of the slice is golden brown (we want it to stay slightly gooey in the middle- yum!).
Slice when cool and enjoy!
Note: the slice can be kept in the fridge for up to one week and up to two months in the freezer!
Sources: https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/flax-seeds/
