Adaptogenic Bliss Balls
GLUTEN FREE, GRAIN FREE, DAIRY FREE SOY FREE, EGG FREE, REFINED SUGAR FREE, PALEO VEGAN
This little recipe was created a touch differently from my usual "allergy friendly"/"toddler friendly" criteria. That said, they definitely tick both those boxes anyway!
These bliss balls were created out of my desire to help support fluctuating hormone levels of women experiencing sudden drops in estrogen. Be it from menopause, PCOS, or otherwise. Fluctuating hormone levels can leave you feeling retched, out of control, and pretty emotional.
Having endometriosis means that I am well acquainted with the burden of imbalanced hormones. When I got my diagnosis I found great relief in altering my diet to support my body and help balance my wacky hormone levels. As a result I wanted to make a little something that might help women going through similar.
So let me explain a little about why I have chosen the ingredients in these yummy bliss balls:
LINSEEDS: Linseeds (also known as flaxseeds) are extremely high in phytoestrogens (plant estrogen that have a similar chemical structure to our own body's estrogen). It is able to bind to the same receptors that our own estrogen does. Studies show that eating phytoestrogens can produce some of the same effects as human estrogen, and hence, has the ability to ease symptoms of a sudden drop in estrogen levels.
During menopause estrogen levels can plummet rather suddenly, leaving you feeling pretty crummy, so foods high in phytoestrogens are a good choice.
Not to mention that linseeds also boast a great omega 3 - omega 6 ratio, bonus!
BRAZIL NUTS: Eating just 3 brazil nuts a day gives you your total recommended amount of selenium. Selenium is an important mineral in supporting your thyroid by acting as the catalyst for converting inactive hormones to their biologically active forms.
They are also a fantastic source of fibre, protein, thiamine, copper, and magnesium.
MACA AND ASHWAGANDHA: I have found these two ingredients to be simply amazing for my own anxiety and hormonal fluctuations. They have the fantastic ability to calm our nervous system, helping to stabilise mood and reduce anxiety. They are also recognised and used as 'adaptogenic' foods as part of many alternative therapies to support and bring stability to imbalanced hormone.
MEDJOOL DATES AND PRUNES: These delights are great sweeteners of choice, not only are they rich in minerals and vitamins (magnesium and potassium especially!) they give these bliss balls a luscious chewy, 'truffley' consistency.
CINNAMON: Did you know that cinnamon is one of the foods richest in antioxidants? Yep, it's a waaayyyy underrated "superfood"! If you love the flavour go ahead and get heavy handed with the cinnamon sprinkling!
Recipe
50g brazil nuts
3 tbsp linseeds
3 tbsp almond butter
6 fresh medjool dates (pitted)
6 pitted prunes
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ashwagandha powder
1 tsp maca powder
1/2 tsp pure vanilla essence
Pinch of salt
Coconut cinnamon sugar (for dusting): mix 2 parts coconut sugar to 1 part cinnamon
Method
Pop your brazil nuts and linseeds in a high speed blender and blitz on high until a sticky flour forms.
Next pop all remaining ingredients into your blender on top of the ground linseeds and brazil nuts.
Blitz until all your ingredients are well processed and evenly combined.
Now roll the mixture into balls of your desired snacking size (I make 12 balls with this recipe).
Finally roll your bliss balls in coconut cinnamon sugar and place in the fridge to firm up.
These bliss balls are fairly stable at room temperature but I do recommend popping them in the fridge to help them set to begin with. That said, I do prefer eating mine straight out of the fridge
