Healthy Coconut Macaroons

Changing my bad eating habits has been the hardest part for myself as I try to live a healthier lifestyle. I crave sweets.....EVERYDAY! These Coconut Macaroons will leave you not feeling so guilty about caving into the sweets.

You will need:

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons coconut oil
½ cup almond flour, more as needed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (if desired) melted

Directions:

1. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until well combined. I used a blender and just pulsed the shredded coconut until small & then combined all the ingredients into a bowl and hand mixed it together.

2. Roll into desired shape (about 1 tablespoon or bigger if desired) I then flattened them slightly to make them round.

3. Store in an air tight container and refrigerate.

4. Once they have hardened add the melted chocolate on top and refrigerate again.

 All the ingredients combined by hand with the coconut flakes blended first.

 

Roll a spoon full of the batter into a ball and flatten. Refrigerate until hardened and then add the melted chocolate on top. Refrigerate again and ENJOY!

I thought I would share some of the health benefits of Coconut Oil.

How Coconut Oil improves your health:

 1. Coconut Oil is a natural energy booster

Need something to get you through some intense physical workout? Then get some coconut oil into your system. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids that help your liver and digestive system do a more efficient job at converting your food into energy for your body.

 2. Coconut Oil helps lower your risk of heart disease

Excessive bad cholesterol can wreak havoc on your body. You need to have a higher level of HDL  (higher-density lipoproteins) to ensure that you get to keep the good cholesterol and eliminate the bad ones. The lauric acid content of coconut oil helps you increase your body’s HDL levels, which in turn lets you manage your cholesterol levels. Less bad cholesterol = lesser possibility of heart disease.

3. Coconut Oil helps fight inflammation 

When a part of your body is ‘inflamed’, it can be in pain or swollen due to an infection. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has shown that its lauric acid and capric acid content can help ease inflammation and its effect on the body. If you just finished a marathon or you’re having some arthritis pain, VCO can help you both internally and externally. Take it with honey or chia seeds, or warm it and apply to the painful joints.

4. Coconut Oil helps boosts your immune system

If you’re feeling a bit under the weather, there is much to gain from a tablespoon of coconut oil. You can take it as it is, or mix it up with your favorite clear soups. The anti-inflammatory and anti-viral capabilities found in the contents of coconut oil help your body fight illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses.

5. Coconut Oil helps weight loss efforts

Consuming oil and weight loss may not always sound right together, but with coconut oil, studies have shown that a combination of the two may actually prove helpful. It is again credited to coconut oil’s medium chain fatty acids like capric  and caprylic acid. They are believed to improve thyroid function and help the body burn more fat at a faster rate. This means you get more energy for physical activities, and the excess fat does not get to ‘stay around’.

6. It helps you deal with urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are caused by bacteria, and they can be a real pain (literally). UTIs can also lead to damage in your kidneys. In addition to proper diet and hygiene, coconut oil can actually help out in this department too. Coconut oil is known to have a natural anti-bacterial effect, thanks to its fatty acids which attack the bacteria membrane, and eventually destroys it.

7. Coconut Oil improves your body’s insulin secretion capabilities

Glucose is present in a lot of the food we consume on a daily basis. While it is an important energy-giving source, it can pose problems when not used efficiently. Coconut oil helps your body convert it into energy more quickly, and also makes insulin resistance less possible. This is definitely something to consider for those with Type II Diabetes.

8. Coconut Oil reduces risk of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease has become a challenge for many. In addition to maintaining brain health with a proper diet, exercise, and brain-stimulating activities, a study has also found that the ketone, an element found in organic virgin coconut oil, helps improve the brain’s cognitive capabilities.

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Healthy Coconut Macaroons