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Vegan Gingerbread Muffins – Weekend Treats (gluten-free)

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

Gluten free Vegan Muffins

Gingerbread muffins are perfect as a breakfast treat or healthy(ish) snack. This vegan muffin recipe can get very hot during baking, so make sure to let some of the steam escape before eating them. They’re moist, like banana bread or cake, and taste best once they’ve cooled and set a bit. While you don’t have to wait, they do reach peak scrumptiousness after around 30 minutes of resting.

These delicious ginger muffins are vegan, gluten-free and nut-free, so their moist, warm flavour can be enjoyed by most. They’re also completely devoid of soy, so those sensitive to soya products needn’t worry either!

Ingredients

  • 250ml canola oil
  • 250ml plus 2 tablespoons light agave nectar 
  • 375ml unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 360g Basic Gluten-Free Flour Mix
  • 3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 200g plus 2 tablespoons raisins or currants

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven on gas mark 4, then line a cupcake tray with 12 cake cases.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the canola oil and agave nectar, by mixing on medium speed for roughly 20 seconds.
  3. Add the applesauce and ginger and mix for about 20 seconds.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour mix, xanthan gum, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined.
  6. Turn off the mixer and fold in the raisins.
  7. Fill the liners to the rim with batter.
  8. Bake in the centre of the oven for 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Rotate the pan halfway through.
  9. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before eating.

Heal your Gut

Posted on by Kate Young

Here at Lifelab Testing, we’re dedicated to helping teach our readers how they can best improve their health. The gut has a major impact on one’s health, since it determines what nutrients your body absorbs, and which toxins, allergens, and microbes are kept out. It heavily impacts the health of your entire body. Many factors affect gut health, such as diet, food intolerances, lifestyle, hormones, sleep, and medications. These all affect how your gut digests and manages what you consume. We’ve put together a few tips to help you heal your gut.

Probiotics

Consuming probiotics is an excellent way to reintroduce healthy bacteria into your digestive tract. Remember that probiotics are the good bacteria that are essential to proper gut health.

You can consume probiotics by taking a probiotic supplement or adding fermented foods to your diet. We’d recommend starting with the latter, rather than running to the supplement aisle right away (unless your doctor recommends you do so).

Probiotic-containing foods include;

  • Fermented vegetables
  • Yoghurt
  • Kimchi
  • Kefir
  • Sauerkraut
  • Tempeh
  • Kombucha
  • Miso

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are how you can nourish those healthy bacteria, so they stick around and keep helping your gut. Think of it as feeding the good guys.

Probiotics eat prebiotics, which are natural soluble fibres, and then produce short-chain fatty acids, inhibiting the growth of pathogens and prevent disease. Ultimately, this helps maintain your intestinal and overall health.

Here’s a list of prebiotic foods you can add to your diet;

  • Bananas
  • Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Onions
  • Asparagus
  • Chicory
  • Whole Grains
  • Garlic

Ginger

Ginger has various health benefits, from blood-thinning (great for preventing blood clots) to relaxing muscles. One gut-helping example is the smooth muscle of the intestines. This is a godsend for those who suffer from gas or cramping. As if that wasn’t enough, ginger can also stimulate saliva, bile and gastric enzymes, making it an all-around supporter in your digestion.

Limit FODMAPs

FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols) are short-chain carbohydrates found in certain types of food, such as wheat and beans. Studies show a strong link between FODMAPs and digestive symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation. Low-FODMAP diets are shown to provide exceptional benefits for many people with common digestive issues.

Here are of a few high FODMAP foods to avoid;

  • Beer
  • Fortified wines
  • Soymilk
  • Milk (from cows, goats and sheep) and other dairy products
  • Fruits
  • Beans and Lentils
  • Barley
  • Rye
  • Fructose
  • Wheat 

It might feel overwhelming to start with, but we can help you on your path to a healthier gut. Purchase an intolerance test today, to quickly find out which foods that are currently a problem and shorten your initial elimination phase.