Weightloss Superfood!
Mesquite powder is a little know gem from the desert regions of South West USA and South America. A member of the legume family the Mesquite is an unassuming shrubby tree bearing golden long pods that can be picked and ground into a fine flour like powder. Mesquite pods have been a traditional part of the diet of the native people of the region for many years and when you read their nutritional profile it is not hard to see why.
Mesquite flour is high in bio-available protein (16%) and soluble fiber (25%). Mesquite flour also offers a good micro nutrient profile including: lysine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. and is high in antioxidants
Mesquite flour is a versatile product. Traditionally used as a baking flour, sweetener, sweet drink, and fermented alcoholic drink mesquite has a mild molasses and caramel sweet flavour.
Today, you can buy Mesquite flour in most good health food stores. It can be used as a sweetener in hot drinks, added to smoothies and yoghurt, swapped one for one for wheat based flour (mesquite is gluten free) in baking, added to slices and energy bars, used as a binding ingredient , and mixed in with nut butters. It can even be sprinkled on deserts as a topping and added to savoury dishes as a seasoning. Mesquite does not need to be cooked and works very well in raw food recipes.
Mesquite flour helps to keep blood sugar levels even because it is slow to digest. It has a low glycaemic index for a sweetener at 25.
For a weight management health food mesquite powder is a natural product that may help control energy levels and contribute to nutritional intake. It makes for a nutrient dense, low carb alternative to wheat flour and a low GI natural sweetener. Mesquite flour also contains the phytochemicals quercetin (anti-diabetic), serotonin (antidepressant), and apigenin (anti-inflammatory) which are great for overall wellness and disease prevention.
Mesquite does contain fructose as its main sugar and whilst I have touted vigorously about the drawbacks of fructose in this case many of the negative side effects of fructose are counterbalanced due to its other nutritional properties and high fiber content.
5g is 20 calories
CACAO MESQUITE SUPER-FOOD BALLS
1 cup walnuts
¼ cup raw cacao
¼ cup mesquite
¼ cup soaked goji berries (5 mins)
½ cup raisins
Pulse nuts until no large pieces remain and add cacao and mesquite
Add in the berries and raisins and pulse until a soft dough forms
Roll in to balls and refrigerate for an hour…store sealed in the fridge