The Spice of Life

Ever notice how the the more you glow, the more others glow back?  Spreading the glow with this Golden Milk Granola infused with the super powers of anti-inflammatory turmeric, spicy ginger and warming cinnamon. Food is truly magical and has so many healing powers. Today I’m taking inspiration from classic golden milk with this gluten-free and no-bake granola that is amplified with cinnamon and vanilla infused maple syrup from Runamok. Get the dEATS below on the recipe, a special discount for this delightful maple syrup and a round-up of the top anti-inflammatory spices to integrate into your diet stat.

If you’ve seen the bevvy of vibrantly colored lattes littering Instagram, you may have come across Golden Milk. Some of these bright hued drinks are just for the ‘gram, if you know what I mean, but others, like Golden Milk, have mega healing powers. It’s a beverage that’s been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medice for centuries containing turmeric (which gives the beverages it’s golden color), ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and coconut milk. It’s the curcumin in turmeric that is one of the world’s strongest anti-inflammatory resources. In addition, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that wards off free radicals and oxidative stress, which can cause wrinkles, cognitive decline and even chronic disease. Read this mbg article for more on the powers and benefits of curcumin.

Many of you know that I was diagnosed years ago with ankylosing spondylitis, which is a potentially debilitating form of arthritis in the rheumatoid  family that primarily impacts the spine, but also other joints. As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time researching ways to calm my symptoms and ward off inflammation. Modern medicine has some great solutions, but so do foods and spices, which often don’t have the dramatic side effects of medications.

According to U.S. News, here are the top 10 anti-inflammatory spices:

1.) Turmeric: a brightly hued spice often found in Indian dishes.
2.) Black pepper: this common seasoning enables the absorption of turmeric.
3.) Garlic: sulfur compounds in garlic ward off proteins that cause inflammation.
4.) Cinnamon: helps to maintain insulin levels to keep inflammation at bay.
5.) Cayenne: the capsaicin in cayenne lends heat and anti-inflammatory powers.
6.) Ginger: polyphenols in ginger prevent the formation of inflammatory cytokines.
7.) Cloves: one study showed it took only 7 days for cloves to take their effect on cytokines.
8.) Saffron: crocin and crocetin add color and anti-inflammatory properties to this pricey seasoning.

Incorporating these seasonings into your diet can add some excitement to your normal routines and add a festive touch – like the Cinnamon and Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup from Runamok. The warming cinnamon flavors make this syrup perfect adding a special touch to French Toast, tea or even cocktails. This barrel-aged maple syrup from Vermont comes in a wide variety of fun infusions like Cardamom, Jasmine Tea and Elderberry. And, until December 25, you can get 20% off with my code, SHOOKS20.

The holidays are around the corner and this no-bake gluten-free golden milk granola with chopped apricots and cashews is an easy recipe to make for you and your family! I love this on it’s own with a bit of almond milk, on top of yogurt bowls or smoothies.

Golden Milk Granola
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
-3/4 C Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats
-1 C of Rice Krispies
-1 C creamy almond butter
-1/4 C Runamok Cinnamon + Vanilla Infused Organic Maple Syrup
-2 tsp cinnamon
-1 1/2 tsp ginger
-1 tsp turmeric
-1/4 tsp salt
-1/3 C chopped, roasted salted cashews
-1/3 C chopped dried apricots
-1/3 C unsweetened flaked coconut

Directions:
Step 1: Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Toss together the Rice Krispies, oats, cashews, apricots and coconut in a large bowl.
Step 2: Place the almond butter, maple syrup and seasonings in a sauce pan over low heat on the stove top. Stir constantly until smooth and fully combined, about 30 seconds. Be careful not to overheat the almond butter otherwise it will get tough and dry.
Step 3: Pour the almond butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir to combine. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan, pressing firmly to form a compact, even layer. Chill until fully set, about 30 minutes. Break apart and enjoy!