Nutty Granola Bars Loaded With Good-For-You Ingredients

Are you looking for a healthy breakfast or on-the-go snack that’s perfect for busy days? These nutty granola bars are the best, and they are like little nutritional powerhouses. 

We included plenty of nutritious and wholesome ingredients that will not only keep you satisfied, but will have you savoring each bite.  

These bars are also freezer-friendly. You can make a bigger batch and always have them available, especially on those days where you need to run out the door in a hurry.

In general, the AntiCancer 360 approach doesn’t rely on just one anticancer diet. We select one of five different diets always taking into consideration each client’s case and situation. 

Many studies are leading us in the direction of eating mostly “whole foods” – that is, foods that are as close to their natural form as possible. Eating more whole foods is our best contribution to improving our health and preventing disease [1].

And in contrast to diets like the ketogenic diet and a plant based diet, everyone can do a whole foods diet.

So today’s recipe will be perfect for those who are following a whole-food diet and would like to enhance its anticancer potential. 

Our perfectly salty-sweet and nutty granola bar is loaded with tons of flavor and ingredients that are not only delicious, but also beneficial to our body. 

They are also simple to prepare (no cooking necessary!). You will have a yummy and satisfying snack, ready to be enjoyed in just under 10 minutes. 

You can make bite-size balls or shape them into 10 even bars. 

For this recipe, we used agave nectar as the sweetener. But, you can also use monk fruit maple syrup as a great natural, zero-carb option.

We also chose valencia peanut butter to minimize the chance of aflatoxin exposure. But you can also use something like “jungle peanuts”, peanut butter to get the same benefits.

And, if your dates don’t feel sticky and moist, you can soak them in hot water for 10 minutes then drain them before processing. This will help hold the bars together.

Here are some of the great cancer-fighting ingredients that you will find in this crunchy and delicious granola bar recipe: 

• Strawberries: Especially rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids such as ellagic acid. Ellagic acid may provide an antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effect. Anthocyanins have been shown to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells, as well as activating signaling that leads to the self-destruction of abnormal cells. Another promising study also identified the powerful anti-proliferative activity that strawberries demonstrated on human liver cancer cells [2],[3]. 

• Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are an excellent source of polyphenols and antioxidants, such as caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, myricetin, quercetin, and others. Flavonoids like quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid are proven to have anti-cancerogenic, anti-hypertensive, and neuroprotective effects [4],[5].

• Oatmeal: Oats are a unique source of avenanthramides (AVAs), a group of polyphenolic alkaloids. Studies have shown the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential of AVAs. One study stated that AVAs prevent cancer by blocking reactive species and they may exhibit therapeutic activity through the modulation of different pathways including the activation of apoptosis and senescence, the block of cell proliferation, and the inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasization [6]. 

• Walnut: Natural food compounds found in walnuts such as the ellagitannins, melatonin and gamma-tocopherol may each work through different routes to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and gene expression that can lead to cancer [7]. Researchers have also identified other biochemicals found in walnuts, such as omega 3 fatty acids, tocopherols, β-sitosterol, and pedunculagin, that have cancer-prevention properties [8]. In a study comparing different nuts and their anticancer effect, walnuts presented the highest total antioxidant activity. The proliferation of HepG2 and Caco-2 cancer cells was significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent pattern after exposure to the extracts of nuts, with walnuts exhibiting the highest antiproliferative activity [9].

• Dates: Studies have shown that constituents of dates can act as potent antioxidants, anti-tumour as well as anti-inflammatory [10]. Dates contain cancer fighting components, such as fiber and phytonutrients, as well as carotenoids, phytosterols, polyphenols, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, and low amounts of anthocyanins [11]. Another study highlighted that the greatest potential for dates may lie in the application of its antioxidant effects to ameliorate the adverse effects of standard chemotherapeutic treatments [12].

• Sunflower Seeds: Excellent source of selenium, a trace element known for improving human immunity against cancerous cells. The presence of selenium in sunflower has promoted DNA repair and production in degenerated cells, inhibition of growing cancer cells, and induction of apoptosis [13]. 

• Flax Seeds: Components found in flax seeds such as, phytoestrogens, alpha linolenic acid, and fiber have been linked to help improve breast cancer survival for some people [14]. One study highlighted that the consumption of flaxseeds may block estrogen receptors on cells within the breast tissue. This has been suggested as a potential mechanism for stopping tumor growth and preventing cell damage [15].

So make sure to give this recipe a try. You’re going to love it! They are full of anticancer nutrients and also delicious.  

Loaded with good-for-you ingredients, these nutty granola bars are a tasty and healthy on-the-go option for breakfast, or as a snack for the whole family.

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