Granola is typically made up of oats, sugar, and oil to help it brown and clump together. Granola’s nutritional content varies based on the components used. Some brands offer more calories per serving, while others have more fiber and sugar.
The best part is that many of the typical components included in granola are well investigated and linked to numerous health benefits.
Granola appears to be the ideal snack or breakfast alternative when viewed from the outside. Granola is packed with oats, seeds, almonds, and various other tasty toppings, including dried berries, chocolate pieces, coconut flakes, and other goodies.
Finding the most excellent granola, on the other hand, might be difficult. This is because several companies market their sugar-laden granola as “healthy.”
This isn’t granola that you can make at home and control the ingredients and amounts. As a result, there’s a reasonable probability when you buy granola the so-called healthier pack you just bought is full of processed sugar and nothing else.
What to look for while shopping for healthy granola products:
Getting to know what to check for on the nutritional labels is the key to getting the healthiest granola. Some factors are given below.
Low-sugar:
Less sugar, the better. Whenever possible, aim for fewer than five to ten grams per serving. However, remember that not all sugar is labeled as “sugar” on nutrition labels; instead, check for substances like brown rice syrup, maple syrup, tapioca syrup, or corn syrup.
Serving Size:
If you’re comparing different granolas, make sure to consider nutrition statistics for the same serving size. When you buy granola of one brand may have eight g of sugar every 2 of a cup, while another may have eight grams every one-third, resulting in 16 grams of sugar for the same quantity of granola.
whole grains:
When you buy granola, a whole grain, such as oats, should be the first item on any packet. Look for whole grains such as chia seeds, millet, almonds, and sunflower seeds, as well as whole grains like quinoa. These additions will keep you fuller for longer and boost the nutritional value of your snack.
Consume a sufficient amount of unprocessed fiber:
Since Nutrition Facts labels don’t break down how much more of a cereal’s fiber is unrefined and processed, it’s difficult to choose a grain-based on its grams of fiber. Inulin, chicory root fiber, oat fiber, soluble corn/wheat fiber, or other sources are used to make processed fiber, which is currently being added to an increasing number of meals.
This processed fiber might not always keep you regular, reduce your cholesterol, or maintain your blood sugar under control as effectively as unprocessed fiber.
As a result, go for unprocessed fiber. Look at the list of ingredients. Your best bets are wheat bran, whole-grain wheat, and oats. Brown rice and whole-grain maize contain fewer calories.
Remember to include saturated fat in your diet:
Seek cereals with a saturated fat content of fewer than 212 grams. Only a few goods (mainly granolas) contain sufficient chocolates or coconut to get the total to 3 to 6 grams. However, most cereals contain little or no saturated fat.
Conclusion:
Fortunately, several companies are focusing on offering consumers the healthiest breakfast alternative possible in the form of low-sugar, high-fiber granolas produced from natural ingredients.
So, as long as you buy granola after carefully reading the label and considering the appropriate portion size, you may enjoy all of the benefits of a wonderful mix without bothering about ingesting extra calories.