Heart Healthy Energy Bites

As it is February, and there are love hearts everywhere, we thought it was the perfect time to promote heart health! This recipe has been designed to keep your heart healthy and release energy slowly, making these bites perfect for your pre-workout snack.

Each ingredient has been carefully selected due to its fantastic properties:

Oats - the humble oat helps to lower cholesterol and also contains antioxidants that help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Oats help to stabilise your blood sugar levels and release energy slowly.
Honey - when choosing which honey to buy, go for the one with the darkest colour, these contain more antioxidants which help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Honey also slows down the oxidation of bad cholesterol in your blood and gives you a natural energy boost.
Coconut Oil - as one of the top foods of 2015, we all know that coconut oil is fabulous. One of the great properties it holds is that it increases energy expenditure, due to it containing medium chain triglycerides. Choose a raw, cold-pressed coconut oil to reap all of the benefits you’ve heard so much about.
Almond Butter - always choose almond butter over peanut butter, it is much better for your body. In regards to heart health, it helps to lower cholesterol. And it is a great source of protein too!
Flax Seeds - also known as linseeds, these little seeds come in a variety of colours. They are high in plant based omega-3, which lowers blood pressure and prevents the hardening of arteries. And on top of that, it lower cholesterol as well!
Dark Chocolate - When choosing chocolate, go for the lowest sugar content. If you are used to milk chocolate, start with a 70% cocoa content and work your way up to 90%. Dark chocolate (in moderation) helps to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Shredded Coconut - be careful when purchasing coconut, as many varieties have been sweetened. Dried coconut is high in fibre which helps to lower cholesterol.
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Ingredients

• 1 cup oats
• ⅓ cup honey
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• ½ cup almond butter
• 1 tbsp milled flax seeds
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• ⅔ cup toasted shredded coconut

Method

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
• Roll and compress the mixture into 1 inch rounds & place on greaseproof paper.
• Chill for 30 mins and store in an airtight container. Enjoy within 1 week.