Pumpkin Spiced Granola

Today, I bring to you an incredibly simple recipe that is perfect to snack on all throughout the fall months. This granola is packed full of nutrients and is oil-free, gluten free, nut free, refined sugar free, vegan and still tastes incredible… it doesn’t get much better than that!

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This is the perfect recipe to whip up when you’re in a hurry and want a quick snack or need to make a gift for someone special. While the granola is toasting it fills your house with the most heavenly fall scent and creates such a cozy environment.

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I decided to use maple syrup as the sweetener instead of sugar, and included flax seeds for a nutty flavor as well as omega-3 fatty acids. The pumpkin seeds are the best part of this recipe, in my opinion, because they provide the perfect crunch while also providing lots of iron, magnesium, protein, and zinc.

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How to Love Your Heart

I’m a little late on bringing some heart health awareness during Heart Health Awareness month, but it’s never too late to give your heart some love!

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February is (was) a month dedicated to heart health awareness. Maintaining good heart health is important when it comes to preventing chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Millions of Americans are suffering from high blood pressure which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and/or heart disease so keeping blood pressure under control is a great start to preventing health problems down the road.

One easy way to start taking control of your blood pressure is through the foods that you eat. Every day, at every meal YOU have the chance to take control of your heart health.

Here are some easy, and helpful tips to keeping blood pressure low and preventing heart disease:

  • Eat less meat: Reducing your intake of meat helps to lower overall saturated fat intake. Saturated fat can lead to high cholesterol levels, as well as raise blood pressure. Take one or two days out of the week to go meatless, replacing it with other protein sources such as beans, tofu, tempeh, or meat-free alternatives (veggie burgers, plant-based meats, etc.)

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