Today we are talking about the benefits and harms of muesli, we present the best homemade recipes for weight loss bars and cooking options for breakfast. We will also consider the use of flakes in cosmetology, in particular rejuvenating and toning face masks.
Muesli is useful for athletes and for those who want to lose weight
Most often, those who want to get the maximum benefit from products begin to think about the beneficial and harmful properties before using them, and muesli is no exception. Muesli is cereal mixed with dried fruits. The mixture comes from Germany and was first used for medicinal purposes. If selected correctly, it helps to reduce body weight, and if chosen incorrectly, it helps to gain extra pounds. Below is information on the following:
- muesli: what is it;
- benefits of muesli;
- muesli: harm;
- which muesli is most popular.
What is muesli
Muesli is a mixture of products, which includes:
- cereals;
- bran;
- pieces of fruit;
- nuts, etc.
Muesli is divided into two varieties according to the method of preparation of the cereals included in its composition:
- baked;
- raw.
The first ones are called granola, they are made by baking at low temperatures, the composition includes:
- natural juices;
- fruit or berry purees;
- honey;
- cereals;
- vegetable oils.
In the manufacturing process of the second variety, no heat treatment is used, and the mixture for consumption contains mechanically processed oat flakes (products of the “Lux Version” brand, muesli E.G. Lavrova is the contact person; muesli “Matti”). In some cases, the flakes are fried, which increases their nutritional value.
Commercially available muesli is a dry mixture ready for further preparation of breakfast, lunch or dinner in an accelerated version: long cooking or baking is not required. Due to the nutritional supplements included in the cereals, quick and long-lasting saturation and cleansing of the body occurs.
What types of muesli are there?
Muesli can be either raw or baked. Without heat treatment, they can contain various useful additives - from nuts to dried fruits. Also, natural juice, honey, and sometimes even vegetable oil are often added to baked muesli. Baked breakfasts are baked at a low temperature. As for cooking muesli in the oven, it becomes crispy and incredibly tasty.
Calorie content and composition of muesli
Rapid saturation is explained by the addition of not only intestinal cleansing and fiber-rich bran, but also calorie supplements:
- raisin;
- nuts;
- vegetable oil;
- salt;
- sugar;
- honey;
- palm oil, etc.
This helps to increase the nutritional value of the dish. When choosing for healthy nutrition or dietary purposes, you should carefully study the composition and manufacturing technology given on the packaging, and the appearance of the flakes: fried ones contain vegetable oils. A product containing chocolate cannot be called dietary, therefore, if purchased in order to maintain your figure, it is worth considering:
- value for nutritional value in kilocalories for one hundred grams is not more than 450;
- no salt, sugar, honey, chocolate, oils.
The baked variety of muesli (granola) is made with the addition of vegetable oil, so it is not considered dietary.
Products containing the above-mentioned flavoring additives should be purchased in order to obtain a tasty dish - they have a higher calorie content and contribute to satiety for a long period of time.
Calorie content is directly related to the answer to the question of what benefits this product has for the body. The first thing to consider is grains. There is a variety of suppliers on the market; each manufacturer has its own processing technology and composition, which are regulated by the company’s technical specifications.
Below are data for the Vitalis fruit brand of oat, rye, wheat, corn flakes, vegetable oil, rice flour, fruit pieces, flavorings and other additives.
One hundred grams contains (numbers correspond to grams) | |
proteins | 7,8 |
fat | 4,6 |
carbohydrates | 61,1 |
dietary fiber | 7,7 |
The value for energy value is 317 in kilocalories. The chemical composition for the muesli product, including cereals and excluding other additives, is characterized by the presence of the following vitamin and mineral compounds:
Contents per 100 g of product | |
Vitamin E | 6 mg |
Vitamin PP | 7.656 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.5 mg |
Vitamin B2 | 0.5 mg |
Vitamin H | 10 mcg |
Vanadium | 170 mcg |
Manganese | 3.8 mg |
Silicon | 50 mg |
Copper | 500 mcg |
Cobalt | 5 mcg |
The product contains 82 percent of the daily value for iron; double – pyridoxine; sesqui-folic acid; quadruple – cobalamin. The average composition for oatmeal is given, without taking into account the addition of other varieties of cereals: it is different for each brand.
Nutritionists around the world advise eating cereals for breakfast.
Calorie content
It is no secret that the product is used as a means of losing excess weight. However, is this true? In fact, they are a high-calorie product. Their energy value ranges up to 500 kcal per 100 g. And since this product is very popular with various additives, it becomes even more calorie-rich. This is especially true for toasted muesli. That is why, if you want to lose weight, then eat muesli without additives. We also recommend buying muesli of natural origin.
Read: Protein omelet - calorie content, benefits of the dish and cooking principles
Buy breakfasts with dried fruits and natural freshly squeezed juices. Otherwise, you will notice a clear weight gain.
Benefits of muesli
Regardless of the type of cereal flakes included in the composition, the product has a rich vitamin and mineral composition and has the following effects:
- increasing immunity;
- eliminating the feeling of hunger;
- eliminating constipation;
- strengthening hair and nails due to the high content of B-group vitamins;
- normalization of blood sugar levels.
When choosing a product, you should pay sufficient attention to its composition:
- best before date;
- appearance (depending on the availability of storage conditions);
- flavorings and other food additives should be absent;
- The content of honey in the composition to add sweetness is preferable to sugars - the first component has an additional antiseptic effect.
It is advisable to choose flakes that consist of several types of cereals - they have greater benefits.
Undesirable ingredients in store-bought muesli
In fact, such breakfasts are not always healthy. Sometimes their use is fraught with weight gain. However, this often applies to store-bought muesli. Their use is especially undesirable due to the following ingredients:
- The most harmful are products with chocolate or honey. The thing is that the mixture of these components causes the accumulation of toxins and excess calories in the body. It is highly undesirable to buy products with these additives.
- We also do not recommend purchasing with coconut flakes. It is a high-calorie supplement.
- Chocolate chips and honey are also undesirable for consumption, as they are high-calorie additives.
- Tropical fruits are also an undesirable addition to store-bought muesli. They are pre-treated with chemicals.
Is there any harm from muesli?
The wrong choice of product for the purpose of losing weight can lead to gaining extra pounds - the opposite result. The composition should be:
- balanced;
- natural.
People with:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- gastritis;
- kidney diseases;
- allergic reactions.
The reason for selecting an alternative option may be the presence in the composition:
- dyes;
- flavorings;
- thickeners.
It is worth considering that, according to data from some sources on independent control, the products of some manufacturers contain mold fungi in acceptable quantities. This fact can affect the quality of the product if the expiration dates are observed, but also if storage conditions are violated (excessive dryness, humidity, temperature conditions). Therefore, if the packaging allows, it is advisable to pay attention to the appearance.
For this reason, to avoid gastrointestinal disorders, it is recommended to cook for a few minutes when preparing a dish.
Added fruits or candied fruits can cause no less harm, so you should pay attention to their color: too toxic shades indicate the addition of dyes of synthetic origin. Preservatives may also be present. It is recommended to choose flakes with the simplest composition and the least number of added components. And include berries and fruits during the cooking process yourself.
If you have diseases of the cardiovascular system, vegetable fats contained in the product can cause harm, so you need to pay attention to their presence in the flakes. As can be seen from the data provided, the product is of great benefit. But if you choose a product of poor quality for preparing a quick breakfast, you may not get the desired result when losing weight, but also cause harm to the body in the presence of certain diseases or harmful additives.
Muesli can be combined with different fillings and filled with any liquids
Composition and benefits
A proper dry breakfast should include 3 cereals:
- oats;
- barley;
- flax seeds.
Only this combination will help fight excess pounds. Cereals are very useful for weight loss. Oats cleanse the intestines like a brush; they are also enriched with substances valuable for the proper functioning of the body. Flaxseeds are a real storehouse of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are extremely important for weight loss. Barley is necessary for removing toxic substances and accumulated toxins from the body and for saturating it with natural vitamins.
Any muesli must contain bran. They are needed to correct the functioning of the intestines and accelerate metabolism. Wheat bran enhances the effect of oatmeal, as it acts like the same brush. Once in the intestines, they swell and remove everything unnecessary from the body.
The second most important component of muesli, in addition to cereals, is dried fruits. Dried pieces of fruits and berries make the product taste pleasant and tidy up the digestive organs.
Sometimes natural fat burners are added to the cereal mixture - zinc, fatty acids, chromium and enzymes of plant origin (for example, bromelain). To speed up the weight loss process, you can supplement the composition with ginger and cinnamon.
How to make muesli at home
You can prepare muesli yourself at home using the following ingredients:
- oatmeal;
- nuts;
- dried fruits
All ingredients are baked in the oven. This option is distinguished by the absence of:
- dyes;
- flavorings;
- other unwanted additives.
The finished product can be combined with fruit juices or fermented milk drinks. Recommended storage:
- poured into a container;
- placing it in the refrigerator.
Flakes should be used for cooking, but not for instant cooking.
Muesli baked with nuts
An analogue of a homemade dish according to the recipe below for “WOW!” muesli.
Recipe for granola with nuts
Preparation does not require exact adherence to the specified components - replacement and addition of others is possible - the given proportions must be observed. The list of ingredients for cooking consists of the following components:
- three hundred grams of oatmeal;
- one hundred eighty grams of nuts;
- dried fruits – 180 g;
- one hundred twenty-five grams of honey;
- sixty grams of vegetable oil;
- one hundred twenty-five grams of apple or grape juice;
- two tablespoons of cinnamon;
- salt, black pepper (add to taste).
Preparation: Measure out the indicated amount of oatmeal, dried fruits and nuts. Cut nuts and dried fruits into small pieces, mix with oats. In a bowl, mix the indicated volumes of honey, vegetable oil, juice, cinnamon, salt, pepper and put on fire.
Stir the mixture until all components are dissolved (dressing). Pour the prepared dressing into the mixture of oatmeal with nuts and dried fruits and stir. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay out the granola, trying to make the layer thin, and place in an oven preheated to 160 degrees for fifty minutes. Stir the mixture every ten minutes to prevent particles from sticking together.
Determine readiness by the formation of a golden brown crust. When the granola muesli is ready, remove the pan from the oven, stir and leave to cool.
Granola is a mixture of healthy cereals, dried fruits, nuts, spices
Muesli bars
The value for nutritional value in kilocalories is 3600. The recipe for preparing the bars may differ from the one below by adding other ingredients or replacing ingredients; pre-grind the oats using a coffee grinder. The list of ingredients for preparation consists of:
- one hundred and twenty grams of oatmeal;
- two hundred and fifty grams of dates;
- one hundred and fifty grams of dried apricots;
- fifty grams of dried cherries;
- forty grams of raisins;
- fifty grams of cashews;
- fifty grams of walnuts;
- one hundred milliliters of apple juice;
- two tablespoons of honey;
- one teaspoon of cinnamon;
- one tablespoon of flour;
Preparation: Measure out the indicated quantities of dried fruits, wash. For dates, dried apricots, and raisins, do the following additionally: immerse in water (hot water) for fifteen minutes and after the specified time, place on paper towels to dry.
Grind the dates using a blender, chop the nuts and dried apricots. Add cinnamon and juice to the chopped dates. Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat and cook for several minutes. Place the oatmeal on a baking sheet lined with parchment and immerse it in an oven preheated to 170 degrees for ten minutes, cool. Place the cereal in a bowl, add date puree, dried fruits, nuts, and stir.
Form bars from the resulting mass, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the oven preheated to 180 degrees, bake until ready (about 10 minutes). Wrap the finished dish in the form of bars in foil (each separately) to prevent drying out, and store in the refrigerator.
Muesli baked with apple
The dish obtained in accordance with this recipe can be consumed ready-made or supplemented with drinks. Can be used for weight loss or as a dessert.
Apple granola recipe
The list of ingredients consists of:
- two hundred twenty-five grams of whole grain oat flakes;
- one apple;
- half a teaspoon of cinnamon;
- two tablespoons of raisins;
- one tablespoon of peeled nuts;
- one tablespoon of sunflower seeds.
Preparation: Grind the apple until pureed, add cinnamon, oatmeal, stir. Place the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in an oven preheated to 125 degrees. After fifteen minutes, add the seeds and nuts (crush with a rolling pin) and bake for another half hour, stirring constantly. When a golden crust appears, the granola is ready. Lay out the finished dish and add raisins (you need to soak them in water and dry them in advance).
Muesli “Budwig”
The recipe is excellent by adding oil, flax seeds and cottage cheese, then it is possible to add components to add flavor (lemon juice, honey, etc.) Ingredients for preparation:
- low-fat cottage cheese - six tablespoons;
- linseed oil - three tablespoons;
- flax seeds - two tablespoons.
Preparation: Grind flaxseeds using a coffee grinder. Mix cottage cheese with flax oil in a blender, add crushed flax seeds. Use within twenty minutes – the dish will spoil quickly.
Muesli with banana
Muesli with banana and yogurt
The recipe is easy to prepare. List of required ingredients:
- muesli flakes - fifty grams;
- dark chocolate – fifty grams;
- six tablespoons of yogurt;
- one banana.
Preparation: Fry the muesli in a frying pan until golden brown, cut the banana into four parts and place in deep plates (in each piece).
Place muesli into bowls, pour in some chocolate (melted) and yogurt.
How to eat muesli correctly
Muesli is recommended to be consumed in the same way as regular cereal. You just need to pour boiling water over them and wait the time that is written on the product packaging. By the way, cereal flakes will be a good alternative for a full meal.
To make them as satisfying and healthy as possible, you will need to pour hot milk, fruit juice or yogurt over them. Fill in one to one proportions. There is no need to pour only hot liquid and pour in warm milk and heat it in the microwave.
By the way, if you plan to have muesli for breakfast, we recommend soaking the flakes overnight in coconut milk. We do not recommend eating more than 55g of muesli daily.
Baked
Baked muesli is not very healthy, and neither are fried muesli. If you want your breakfasts to be crispy, you will need to bake them for half an hour, or until they are golden brown.
With milk
If the products have been pre-treated thermally, they can be filled with milk. If the muesli is raw, you can pour milk over it only for a few minutes. Do not forget that in order to avoid adding new kilograms, you need to use only low-calorie milk.
With yogurt
Of course, muesli with the addition of yogurt becomes very tasty. Also, yogurt not only makes muesli tastier, but also healthier. It contains useful components that are good for digestion. Yogurt also significantly improves the taste of muesli. You can adjust the caloric content of your dish using the fat content and amount of yogurt.
With kefir
Kefir contains the properties of yogurt and milk. Kefir helps soften dry cereal just as well as milk. It has a thick consistency, like yogurt. Kefir also contains all the disease substances that convert milk sugar into glucose. This option for consuming cereal is especially suitable for those who are lactose intolerant.
Read: Protein omelet - calorie content, benefits of the dish and cooking principles
The caloric content of kefir is selected for sports purposes. For example, low-fat fermented milk product is most relevant for runners and gymnasts in the process of constant training. High-fat kefir is recommended to be added to muesli.
With fruits
Most often the mixture is prepared with apples, bananas or pineapples. Fruits make breakfasts very tasty and healthy. To make the dish filling, we recommend adding bananas, mango or kiwi. You can also use dried fruits for variety. However, before adding any fruit or dried fruit, check the fruit calorie chart.
Bars
A very popular method of consuming muesli is called granola bars. They are easy to prepare and can be consumed anywhere. You will need to mix the granola with a few spoons of peanut butter or any other oil. The choice of oil depends on your taste preferences.
You can also add nuts or dried fruits to the bars. Again, it's up to you. To prepare, you will need to spread the mixture over a baking sheet. You need to spread it in a thick layer and then put it in the refrigerator. An excellent binder would be honey or melted butter. The mixture just needs to be spread on a baking sheet and allowed to harden.
The bars are intended for a quick snack, but their use can hardly be considered a healthy diet. The thing is that they contain sugar, preservatives and various flavorings. If you adhere to proper nutrition and closely monitor your figure, then these bars are clearly not for you.
Fried
Since fried muesli contains a sweetener, consumption is highly undesirable. By the way, such foods are the main reason for weight gain. That is why if you want to lose weight, then you are advised to stop using them.
Muesli for breakfast
To prepare a store-bought product, you do not need to have any specific culinary skills: the answer to the question of how to prepare muesli will have several options. The flakes can be poured with boiling water or another drink and, after a certain amount of time, the quick dish is ready to eat. Please see below for more information on breakfast options.
With milk
Milk can be added to a home-cooked dish, or it can be used as a base for something purchased ready-made. Store-bought flakes can be poured with warm or cold dairy product and left or boiled in it. Homemade granola can be washed down with milk or poured in and left until it swells.
With kefir
The dish is prepared extremely simply: pour muesli with kefir and leave. You can get the best flavor by doing this within a few hours. It is worth considering that the mixture is placed in the refrigerator while it swells. It is recommended to prepare this breakfast in the evening in the morning.
With juice
Muesli with juice is prepared as follows:
- the cereal is placed on a plate;
- pour out boiled water;
- add three tablespoons of juice;
- cover and leave in the refrigerator.
It is advisable to keep the dish for more than one hour until ready - it is better to prepare such a breakfast in the evening.
With honey
This option is a quick one: pour boiling water over the flakes, leave for five minutes, add honey. Instead of honey, jam or jam can be added.
With yogurt
The preparation recipe is similar to the version with the addition of kefir: the flakes are poured with yogurt and left in the refrigerator for a long time.
To lose weight, it is better to cook muesli yourself
How to lose weight with muesli?
Muesli for breakfast while losing weight will help you quickly get into the desired shape, lose a few extra pounds and improve the general condition of the body and digestive system. For weight loss to be effective, you need to remember simple rules:
- Muesli is a daily breakfast.
- Additives in the form of honey and sugar are completely excluded. It is allowed to add 1 tbsp to muesli. l. homemade jelly.
- Fried, fatty foods, as well as smoked foods are excluded from the diet.
- The basis of the diet is vegetables, fruits, salads, lean fish and meat.
- It is allowed to eat several pieces of grain bread per day; all other flour products are prohibited.
- Last dinner is 21:00.
- It is imperative to drink clean water, at least half a liter per day, and you are also allowed to drink tea and coffee without sugar.
Muesli recipes for weight loss
For weight loss, you should select cereals with special care, taking into account the above recommendations: no dyes, flavors, etc. For diets, store-bought muesli should be raw, but not baked. You should bake a dish for weight loss yourself. The presence of complex carbohydrates in the composition saturates the body and prevents the absorption of excess amounts of food.
Weight Loss Bars Recipe
Ingredients:
- oatmeal – three hundred grams;
- nuts - thirty grams;
- dried fruits – thirty grams;
- honey - sixty grams;
- sunflower oil - sixty grams.
Preparation: Place the indicated components in appropriate quantities in a bowl, mix thoroughly. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, lay out the prepared mixture and place in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for forty minutes. After this time, check readiness, cool and cut into strips.
Granola recipe
Ingredients:
- hazelnuts - one handful;
- oats - one glass;
- cashews - one handful;
- raisins - one handful;
- refined sunflower oil – three tablespoons;
- flower honey - three tablespoons.
Preparation: Mix the ingredients in the indicated quantities, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, lay out the prepared mixture and place in an oven preheated to 170 degrees, bake for fifteen to twenty-five minutes.
Recipe for mixed cereals with pear
Ingredients:
- a mixture of cereals in the amount of two stem spoons;
- one pear;
- cinnamon - on the tip of a spoon;
- honey - one spoon;
- yogurt;
- lemon - one piece.
Preparation: Peel and chop the lemon (zest), chop the pear using a grater. Combine the zest, cereals, cinnamon, honey, pour yogurt on top and lay out the chopped pear.
How not to cook muesli
Raw muesli does not need to be poured with yogurt, cold or hot milk, kefir or water and eaten immediately. In this case, they are not absorbed, and you risk getting problems such as gas formation. All this is thanks to phytic acid, which is found in abundance in cereals.
There's nothing better than homemade muesli. Typical ingredients for this healthy breakfast:
- whole grain oat flakes, as well as other grains,
- nuts,
- dried fruits or fresh fruits,
- seeds (this can be sesame, flax, sunflower),
- honey (usually it is put in baked muesli, if you are on a weight loss diet, do not forget that honey is additional calories),
- candied fruits – dried pieces of fruit that have been boiled in sugar (again, don’t forget about calories), do not buy bright candied fruits tinted with various food additives.
The classic recipe for a healthy breakfast is quite simple:
- take whole grain flakes (you can steam them overnight) - 5-8 tbsp.,
- milk (freshly squeezed juice, plain water, homemade yogurt without additives or low-fat cottage cheese) - 150-200ml,
- fruits or berries (any taste will suit: strawberries, bananas, apples, oranges, kiwi, raspberries) – 100g,
- dried fruits - these can be dried apricots or prunes, apricots or raisins, dried apples (pour boiling water over small pieces in the evening) - 2-3 tbsp.,
- seeds or nuts - pumpkin or sunflower, hazelnuts or sesame (you can fry them a little in a dry hot frying pan until they acquire a golden hue) - 1 tbsp.
- lemon juice – 1 tsp.
- a little honey.
Everything is mixed and consumed for breakfast. Homemade granola bars
Crispy muesli is obtained after frying the flakes in a dry frying pan - add seeds, nuts, dried fruits, pour in warm milk, 20 minutes. the mixture swells and is then consumed.
We make muesli with kefir. Take any ingredients you like, fill them with kefir in advance and place them in the refrigerator - the mixture should be soaked. Kefir will give you the lactic acid bacteria that are so necessary for your intestines.
We make muesli with milk. It’s enough to pour boiled milk over the mixture of your favorite ingredients for a couple of minutes and then eat it with pleasure. If you pour cold, unboiled milk, the breakfast will infuse for a little longer than a couple of minutes.
We make muesli with water.
- Prepared in the evening: the mixture of ingredients is poured with boiled water, the juice of 12 lemons is squeezed into it and everything is placed in the refrigerator under the lid. The next morning, breakfast is ready, you can add jam or a little honey to it.
- If you haven’t prepared the soup in the evening according to the previous recipe, boil water in the morning, pour it into the mixture, and keep it covered for 5 minutes. You can also add a little honey or jam and have breakfast.
We make muesli with fruit. For this we need: 3 tbsp. ground grains or flakes, 150 ml kefir or yogurt, 100 g strawberries, 1 apple and 1 tsp. Sahara. The flakes were mixed with kefir or natural yogurt, an apple was grated on a coarse grater, strawberries were cut into small pieces, everything was mixed and we had breakfast.
Muesli in cosmetology
The product has a rich vitamin and mineral composition - benefits for the body not only when taken orally, but when used externally. Due to the daily supply of B vitamins in one hundred grams of muesli, flakes are actively used as masks that promote:
- increasing immunity;
- preventing dehydration;
- increasing skin tone;
- hydration;
- normalization of the sebaceous glands;
- transport of oxygen to the matrix.
When applied to the skin, the products remove free radicals and have a pronounced antioxidant effect. This explains the prevention and slowdown of the processes of aging and wilting of the epidermis with systematic nutrition of masks with muesli.
It is worth considering that for cosmetic purposes it is necessary to select a product without harmful preservatives, candied fruits, dyes, flavors, and nuts.
Anti-aging mask recipe
The list of ingredients for cooking consists of:
- one hundred grams of cereal;
- one hundred and fifty milliliters of kefir;
- one teaspoon of honey (flower).
Preparation: Grind the muesli with a rolling pin, pour in the specified amount of kefir, leave to swell for twenty minutes, grind in a mortar, add honey.
Application: Before application, you need to steam the skin using a bath (pour boiling water into a bowl, add linden or chamomile in the amount of a tablespoon per liter of liquid, hold for ten minutes), apply a scrub. After the deep cleansing procedure, apply the prepared mask.
Result: The product has a nourishing effect on the epidermis and helps smooth out wrinkles.
Toning mask recipe
The list of ingredients for cooking consists of:
- strawberries (only the pulp is needed);
- five tablespoons of cream;
- one teaspoon of corn starch;
- one hundred grams of muesli.
Preparation: Grind the strawberries until pureed, pour in the specified amount of cream, muesli, corn starch, mix. If the consistency is thick, adding boiled water is allowed.
Application: Apply the product to your face and leave for twenty minutes. After removal, it is not recommended to treat the dermis with tonic or lotion, but should immediately moisturize with cream.
Result: The mask has a nourishing and tonic effect.
What are they like: talking about varieties
There are 2 types of muesli - depending on the characteristics of preparation, they are:
- Raw - they contain seeds, cereals, nuts, dried fruits - everything is extremely healthy, and most importantly - tasty. These breakfast mixtures are not thermally processed.
- Baked - in this case, all ingredients are first heat treated. At the same time, the temperature at which cereals and berries are baked is minimal, and all components are combined with a liquid base - natural juice. This mouth-watering combination is tasty, but very high in calories, since the juices are concentrated calories, and the heat treatment uses oil. Conclusion: this option is unlikely to be suitable for those who, like most lovers of vitamin mixes, want to eat muesli for breakfast in order to lose weight.
We learned about these breakfasts in the late 90s, when the first samples appeared on store shelves. The new product was immediately perceived as absolutely useful - and all because of the content in it:
- Cereals are a source of many vitamins (B, A, E), proteins, carbohydrates, magnesium, phosphorus and coarse dietary fiber - fiber that helps reduce blood cholesterol and promotes long-lasting satiety.
- Nuts are a real storehouse of unsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Dried fruits are excellent substitutes for sweets, rich in important trace elements and minerals.
In addition, muesli is:
- Carbohydrates are a supply of energy, vigor and strength for our body.
- Coarse fiber – normalizes cholesterol and blood sugar levels, helps maintain optimal weight and healthy intestinal microflora.
This combination is especially important for us, and therefore becomes the basis for a good breakfast that will satisfy hunger for a long time and help avoid unplanned snacks before lunch.
When a healthy combination of cereals, dried fruits, berries and juices or milk enters our stomach, it gives a signal to the brain, informing it that it is full and no more energy supply is required. After this, the level of carbohydrates in the blood remains at a certain level. Why is this happening? For maintaining stable saturation, we should thank coarse fiber, which prevents polysaccharides from quickly penetrating into our blood, protects us from the sudden appearance of appetite, and with it from breakdowns that can lead to deterioration of our figure.
However, all these undoubted advantages (slow absorption and long saturation, the benefits of vitamins and valuable nutrients) do not negate one fact - any muesli is distinguished by a relatively high calorie content. It is achieved due to the content of nuts, cereals and dried fruits. Consumed in unlimited quantities, both will only lead to the accumulation of extra pounds, and not getting rid of them. Baked breakfasts are especially dangerous for our figure - they are pre-fried in oil, and they resemble more of a dessert than a light dish for a healthy and healthy snack.
So the taste is tasteful, but the calorie content of muesli, especially those that are baked, leaves much to be desired. For those losing weight, raw ones are more suitable - the lack of heat treatment reduces the energy value of the product. However, you shouldn’t get carried away with crunchy cereal for breakfast - in order for the kilograms to go away and your waist to be slim, nutrition experts advise eating no more than 30-50 g of vitamin mixtures per day.
In addition, it is important to remember: muesli is not a quick weight loss solution, but just a breakfast base that will work for you only if you do not overdo it and do not exceed the recommended amount. And for people suffering from colitis, gastritis or ulcers, such a mix - whether baked or raw - is contraindicated: the coarse fiber contained in it can damage the mucous membrane and cause serious irritation.
Specialists at the Slavic Clinic advise: do not buy muesli, following the trend for healthy breakfasts, if you have serious health problems that can turn familiarity with a new dish into an exacerbation of a chronic disease. Remember: coarse fiber and unprocessed grains can harm both the stomach and intestines. If after eating you experience discomfort (heaviness, bloating, pain in the epigastric region of the abdomen, heartburn), make an appointment with a gastroenterologist and exclude muesli from your diet. Contact our nutritionist, who will help you choose the best option, taking into account the peculiarities of the gastrointestinal tract, and tell you how to eat with gastritis, pancreatitis, colitis or ulcers in order to keep your figure slim and your health strong.
Reviews from those who have lost weight
Reviews from those who have lost weight are of the opinion that muesli, purchased ready-made and made independently, is a component of a balanced diet. Switching to a diet that only includes cereal has little positive feedback. There is an opinion that this product prevents weight gain when used daily; some note rejection by the body with prolonged use. The best results were achieved by girls who included physical exercise in their daily practice.
Yana, 24 years old
I jumped off the oatmeal diet several times, but after switching to muesli, I managed to hold out and lose weight. I think if you do fitness, the result will be better.
Irina, 34 years old
For me, muesli is a tasty, healthy food. I can't imagine breakfast without cereal. Constant use led me to believe that the weight was maintaining and not increasing. My husband uses it as a breakfast supplement and prefers chocolate ones. I recommend.
Marina, 32 years old
For a long time I couldn’t find a tasty way to lose weight. A friend recommended muesli - the result is stunning - 10 kilograms in a month in combination with swimming.
Does proper nutrition ensure longevity?
You won’t get far on healthy eating alone:
- Most diseases are genetically determined;
- We receive not only something good from our parents and other ancestors;
- A predisposition to one or another pathology can manifest itself in adulthood and even in old age;
- Environmental conditions have a huge impact on well-being;
- The quality of medicine, on average across the country, has a greater impact on health indicators than a proper diet.
Of course it is important:
- To eat healthy food;
- Get the required amount of calories per day;
- Correctly distribute the volume of proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
- Add vitamins and microelements to your daily diet.
But even harmful alcohol takes years to cause serious damage. It’s the same with food – decades will pass before the first symptoms appear. This does not apply to cases where the human body is weakened and is already predisposed to developing the disease.
Infectious diseases also do not need years; they count in days or even hours.
conclusions
- Muesli is a healthy base for an easy to prepare breakfast dish.
- There are several options for preparing flakes purchased ready-made: one requires cooking in the evening, the other just before use.
- The correct selection will allow you to achieve your desired goals.
- Baked muesli and granola are easy to prepare at home.
- If you have gastritis, kidney or gastrointestinal diseases, or allergies, you should choose and consume muesli with extreme caution.
Benefit
Muesli is very healthy. This product is part of a healthy lifestyle. It is used by many people who adhere to proper nutrition. By the way, with their help you can save time preparing breakfast. After all, they do not need to be cooked for as long as porridge. They are also very nutritious and after eating them you will not feel hungry for a long time.
They contain a large amount of natural ingredients and vitamins. After such a breakfast, a person will feel a surge of strength and energy. They help remove toxins and harmful substances from the body. They also affect the acceleration of brain function.
In pursuit of immortality
Longevity, in many ways, is predisposed at birth:
- Social factors play a big role;
- In some regions the average duration is much higher;
- The opportunity to receive quality medical care extends the time allotted to a person;
- Even in terrible conditions, “natural” long-livers will “overtake” their less fortunate partners.
First of all, you should worry about the quality of your life, and only then about the duration. It is better to live a rich 65 years, in good conditions, with the opportunity to somehow influence the world around us, than to spend 80 years as a recluse in a Vietnamese village, not knowing anything about sanitation and medicine.
You need to take care of your health at any age. But this does not mean that the pursuit of an “extra” ten years should overshadow real life and all its problems. Modern medicine cannot satisfy the demand for death pills.
Maybe we will still have time to discover a therapy method that slows down the aging of the body and prolongs life.
Muesli: the truth about healthy eating fans' favorite breakfast
Breakfast cereals - muesli, snacks, cereals - are very popular today. They allow you not to turn your morning into a fuss about preparing porridge, omelettes or fried bacon and eggs. They are part of a healthy lifestyle, incl. proper nutrition. Finally, they are healthier than cereals and scrambled eggs and help keep your weight normal. Are things really that rosy? The same muesli - the truth about the favorite breakfast of fans of healthy eating may surprise and even stun.
Text: Elena Ivanova March 30, 2014
The content of the article:
What to do
In order not to give up eating muesli, which has managed to win your heart with its convenience and taste, there are two options:
Carefully study the composition of the product you want to buy. Remember the names of manufacturers and look for information about them on the Internet. Read consumer reviews. Finally, after filtering the information received, choose the most reliable and conscientious, in your opinion, and buy muesli produced only by this manufacturer;
Make your own muesli. To do this, buy various “raw” (unprocessed) cereals, which contain 2 times less calories than those that have been chemically treated or fried, add healthy additives to them - nuts, seeds, fruits dried with your own hands, mix everything and place in jars with tight-fitting lids. Take it out in the morning, add fresh or defrosted berries or pieces of fruit, add milk or yogurt and enjoy a quick, and most importantly, truly healthy and tasty breakfast.
Baked muesli
The second name for this product is granola. It is added to various dishes and desserts that can be eaten while losing weight. For example, a small portion of granola is mixed with whipped cream and decorated with berries. That's it - a delicious and healthy dessert is ready!
Homemade Baked Granola is super easy to make. Chopped nuts, dried fruits and grains are mixed with honey, olive oil and freshly squeezed juice. Next, place on a baking sheet and bake for about 15-20 minutes over high heat. You can also use a frying pan for this - the cooking principle is similar.
Muesli is harmful
The harm of muesli, as well as its benefits, depend entirely on its composition. Therefore, if you cannot or do not want to cook muesli yourself, be careful when choosing store-bought ones.
• Read the label, make sure that the manufacturer does not put obvious or hidden sugar, dyes, substitutes, preservatives and other similar rubbish that will turn a healthy product into poison.
• Do not get carried away with sweet muesli - this is an extra burden on the pancreas, extra calories, and an extra layer of fat on the waist.
• Eat in moderation – overeating, even healthy foods, is extremely unhealthy.
• Remember that muesli is only breakfast and cannot replace a full daily diet.
• Baked or fried muesli is not considered healthy.
• For people with diabetes, foods with a high glycemic index should not be added to muesli.
Muesli has one more feature - a specific taste. They cannot be called an outright delicacy, they are more for everyone, but you can rejoice in the fact that you are eating healthy food, for which your body will tell you: “Thank you very much!”
Recipe for housewives
On the Internet you will find 1000 and 1 recipe for making homemade muesli, but we are obliged to give at least one most universal example of the technology for creating a healthy breakfast.
So, for 2 servings of the healthiest homemade muesli you will need:
• 1 cup oatmeal (not instant, regular cooking).
• 1 glass of kefir or yogurt with live bifidocultures.
• 1 tablespoon of chopped dried fruits (dates, figs, dried apricots, prunes, cherries, whatever you like and are sure of quality).
• 1 tablespoon chopped unroasted nuts (any kind)
• 1 tablespoon of a mixture of flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, optional cumin and others.
• Fresh seasonal fruits.
Mix all the ingredients, let stand for 10 minutes (while you get dressed and comb your hair) - bon appetit and have a great day at work!
By and large,
muesli is a field for creativity and each person can independently adjust its composition, focusing on their tastes and needs .
Some people don’t like oatmeal - add barley, some have heart problems - add more banana, others suffer from stagnation of bile - pour freshly prepared apple juice on them, etc.
If raw flakes are too hard for you, you can pour warm water or boiling water over them in the evening and leave until the morning, and then flavor them with all the additional ingredients, so your breakfast will taste more tender.
Muesli - health benefits and harms
Muesli is a healthy breakfast.
Human health is a multicomponent, ideally coordinated, mechanism. For long-term and uninterrupted operation, this mechanism requires that all its components - organs and systems - receive proper “maintenance and care”. One of the most significant factors that is the key to good health is a balanced, nutritious diet that can fully satisfy the body’s energy, vitamin and mineral needs.
Simple natural food is considered the most correct and healthy - vegetables, grains, fruits . The less food is processed, the greater the benefit it brings to humans.
Today we will talk about muesli - a modernized version of classic oatmeal - are they good for the body and, if so, how good?