Healthy trail mixes have always been a great choice for both hikers and people who are just looking to eat a healthy snack during hot summer days or cold summer mornings. The beauty of trail mixes is that they come in endless combinations of fruits and nuts and there’s really no trail mix out there that’s prepared in the wrong combination. Each antioxidant trail mix comes with its own immediate and long-term benefits and you can find out more about them by researching the ingredients it contains.
Each batch of antioxidant trail mix will have a combination of dried fruits, seeds, nuts, granola and chocolate. In regards to the health benefits that each of these ingredients bring to the table, you’ll find out that dried fruits, for example, have a high sugar content, which will help you bounce back after intense physical activity.
Seeds are the superfood of the organic antioxidant trail mix, since they provide a combination of important minerals, such as magnesium, iron, antioxidants, as well as an abundance of fiber, vitamin E and monounsaturated fats. These are all meant to keep your heart as healthy as possible and your body free from disease. Seeds are also the best alternative to nuts, for those of us who have nut allergies.
Nuts are also delicious and super healthy ingredients of the basic trail mix, containing omega-3 fatty acids that help prevent heart diseases and maintain good cholesterol levels. Antioxidants are also an integral part of nuts, helping prevent certain arthritis-related issues, Alzeihmer’s and certain cancers. They also contain selenium, vitamins C and E, and flavonoids – making the trail mix a much better way to absorb these organically into the body, rather than by getting a supplement.
Having said this, there are many antioxidant trail mix recipes out there, each of them with their own positive impact on your health. If you are looking to prepare your own easy and tasty antioxidant trail mix, we’ve put together this easy-to-follow recipe below:
Ingredients
1/4 cup pecans
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup roasted pepitas
1/4 cup pistachios
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried bananas
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)
All you need to do is mix all the ingredients together and serve them in a bowl or put them in a zippered bag that you can carry with you on your hike or around the city.
You’ll find tremendous antioxidant trail mix benefits in this specific combination we’ve prepared together. For instance, pecans will help boost immunity, improve digestion, improve your skin and hair condition and help maintain a healthy heart.
Almonds, on the other hand, are rich in antioxidants, which will help with cellular stress and help prevent aging and cancers. They are also rich in magnesium, vitamin E and can help lower blood sugar levels as well.
Walnuts are another natural treasure that, when consumed often, can help lower cholesterol and prevent type 2 diabetes, while also having anti-inflammatory effects on the body. Walnuts also promote a healthy gut and may have an active role in preventing certain cancers.
The next ingredient in this fabulous organic antioxidant trail mix is represented by roasted pepitas or how they’re otherwise known – pumpkin seeds. These are bursting with important levels of manganese, copper, phosphorus, zinc, iron and magnesium, which together will support everything from your respiratory, muscular, skeletal and nervous system. There’s really nothing not to like about these amazing and tasty natural wonders.
The pistachios we also included in the mix will help your digestive system, through their natural fiber content, as well as offering a great protein substitute for vegans and vegetarians. They also play an active part in supporting and improving eye health, while supporting that of the heart as well. Another amazing benefit that pistachios have is that they lower blood sugar levels, which helps with cases of diabetes or obesity.
Following these same lines, cranberries are great at improving heart health and at lowering cholesterol levels. They also work miracles when it comes to preventing or treating urinary tract infections – their antibacterial properties help reduce the colonization of Escherichia coli in the bladder. Your digestive health will also be supported by the cranberries in your trail mix, thanks to the phytochemicals they contain.
With bananas, you’ll find that your antioxidant trail mix calories are in pretty low numbers, which turns this homemade snack into a favorite among those who want to cut back on calories. Bananas have a high-fibre content, which helps digestion slow down a bit, while also keeping you full for a longer period of time. What’s more, these fruits are true nutrient powerhouses, containing loads of vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, B6, niacin and riboflavin. The potassium they contain, for example, is highly appreciated for its ability to regulate the heartbeat and to keep the brain alert.
Raisins perfectly blend with all the other ingredients of your antioxidant trail mix, since they can help prevent anemia, they will protect your teeth and relieve constipation. The risk for cancer and heart disease is also lowered thanks to these amazing fruits.
Last, but not least, it’s best if your trail mix also has semisweet chocolate chips to balance out the taste of your mix and to add a little sugar to your fruit punch. Chocolate may help your brain become more alert, it may help your heart stay healthier and it may lower cholesterol levels. Apart from these benefits, remember that, in most cases, chocolate makes us happy, as long as it’s in lower quantities.
Add all these ingredients together and decrease or increase the quantities for some, according to your own taste, and enjoy a boost in energy, as well as well-deserved benefits on your health, both short-term and in the long run.
