Is Granola Healthy

Is Granola Healthy?

Is granola healthy? The answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no." Granola can be a healthy food when it's loaded with nutrition-packed ingredients. But some granola, especially store-bought ones, are full of things that will send your diet spinning off-track. The key is reading the ingredients; you have to know what to look for and what to avoid.

Sugar

Why is your favorite granola so delicious? Probably because it's loaded with sugar, corn syrup, honey or some other kind of sweetener designed to give it that delicious taste. One serving of Nature Valley Low Fat Fruit Granola, for example, gives you a whopping 18.4 g of sugar. Nobody needs that much sugar for breakfast. Look for granola with 5 g or less per serving, or make your own unsweetened granola and sweeten it with a little agave, which is much better for you.

Fats

Many granola products make heavy use of oils, which gives them a high fat content. Be especially wary of processed fats; look for ingredients such as partially hydrogenated soybean or peanut oil.

Oats

The main ingredient in granola is great for you: oats. They're high in fiber, which helps lower your cholesterol and fight against heart disease. They're also a great source of iron, copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese and vitamin E. Make sure oats are listed as the first ingredient. Ingredients must be listed from largest amount to smallest amount on food packaging.

Nuts & Seeds

Look for a granola that contains a variety of nuts and seeds---or make your own, and use as many kinds as you want. Just like oats, nuts are a good way to lower your risk of heart disease. They're high in protein, which gives you long-lasting energy for the day. They're also full of fiber, vitamin E and selenium. Pumpkin seeds are one of the highest vegetarian sources of zinc, while flax seeds are a wonderful source of omega-3 fatty acids. Sunflower seeds are full of vitamin E, vitamin B1 and minerals.

Dried Fruit

Although dried fruit is full of nutrients, it's a lot more calorie-dense than its fresh counterpart. If you're concerned about your caloric intake, steer clear of granola that is filled with dried fruits. Instead, top off your granola with fresh fruit---you'll get all the nutritional benefits with far fewer calories.

Tags: disease They, granola that, granola with, heart disease, heart disease They, loaded with