Mom’s Ginger Coconut Muffins

by Noor H. Salem

While you may be oblivious to the entire system within you that works in utmost perfect harmony, when you study the human body you will be left with a dropped-jaw at the precision.

Whether you are in your youth, or have experienced decades of life thus far, it’s fundamental that you comprehend how much the food you eat truly impacts your physical and mental health alike.

Your entire body depends on you to feed and nourish it properly; you may be insensible to how much the junk food, fast-food, or processed food you consume negatively affects you in various ways. You may not develop health conditions overnight, but when bad habits become consistent, they will begin to take a detrimental toll on your health. Even if you feel like you are at your peak health, it’s crucial that you put in perpetual effort to care for your wellbeing. Consume more whole foods and less of anything processed; fill your plate with colorful vegetables and fruits, as they’re bursting with phytonutrients, dietary fiber, free radical antioxidants, and a myriad of minerals and vitamins.

Additionally, consume healthy fats, such as extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic grass-fed butter, or even cold-pressed avocado oil, instead of genetically engineered oils that lead to internal inflammation. Eliminate fast-food all together, for it’s truly unhealthy for you, leaves you depleted of energy, and effects your neurotransmitters leaving you in a cranky mood. That breakfast muffin you grab with your cup of coffee that’s loaded with cream and sugar will probably give you a burst of energy, due to the extremely high amount of refined sugar and carbohydrates.

Nonetheless, give it several hours, and you’ll begin to experience what I’d like to call, “hangry.” Suddenly, you’re cranky, you feel on the edge of your seat, and you snap at anyone who interacts with you. You’re mouth starts watering at the mere thought of additional sugar, causing you to lead to more junk food. Or perhaps, you feel like your energy is at a low, and you’re ready to fall asleep at your office desk. With that being said, it’s so important that you are cautious of what you put in your body, and strive to make better choices for your personal benefit later in life.

Protect yourself against a pathogenic autoimmune system down the line, or various other health conditions that are consequences of unhealthy habits and lifestyles. Instead of reaching for a bag of chips, donut, muffins, cookies, or packaged low-calorie snacks that are loaded with chemicals, prepare fresh-cut vegetables, and dip them in hummus or almond butter as a snack. Or, get your cooking apron on, and make a batch of muffins or cookies at home. You will recognize the ingredients you place in them, and will be able to enjoy a treat without devastating your blood sugar levels, digestion, and mood. You’ll recognize that your digestion is better, you have more energy, your mood is boosted, and you’re ready to keep going.

Grabbing muffins from your favorite coffee shop may leave you feeling irritable and hungry due to the high carbohydrate, unhealthy fats, and overload of refined sugar. These ginger muffins are in fact loaded with anti-inflammatory benefits, due to the ginger. Moreover, they are free of refined sugar, Trans fat, genetically engineered ingredients, enriched bleached flour, gluten, dairy, and unnecessary additives or preservatives. They are very high in protein, as well as medium-chain fatty acids, leaving you satisfied thereafter, instead of reaching for more. At times, it’s challenging to share your mom’s delicious recipes, but these muffins are simply remarkable and therefore make it difficult to hold back. I enjoy using The Ginger People’s organic ginger spread, due to their clean-ingredient recipe, as well as remarkable taste. Feel free to add in extra ground ginger, for a boost of a pungent taste, along with anti-inflammatory properties, digestive relief, and neurotransmitter boosting properties as well. Make sure to share some with your spouse and kids! 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup organic coconut oil
• 2/3 cup organic coconut palm sugar (or organic brown sugar)
• ½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla (alcohol-free)
• 6 organic eggs
• 2 tablespoons water
• ½ cup coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (aluminum-free)
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• ½ cup pure raspberry preserve
• ½ cup organic ginger spread
• 1 teaspoon ginger, ground (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Whisk oil, coconut sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs, and water in a large mixing bowl.
3. In a small bowl, mix coconut flour, coconut and baking powder (and ground ginger if using).
4. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and stir to combine.
5. Line a dozen muffin cups with liners; fill each until ¾ full. Drop a teaspoon of raspberry preserve in the center of each muffin.
6. Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Allow to cool; top with organic ginger spread.

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.