RECIPE: Hormone Balancing Cinnamon Almond Butter Oatmeal Cookies!

Cinnamon Almond Butter Oatmeal Cookie Mix

As if the thought of cinnamon almond butter oatmeal cookies couldn't sound more enjoyable, The Moon Cycle Bakery takes them one step further. Not only are these cookies totally drool-worthy but they are packed with intentional hormone balancing ingredients too. Count us loyal for life. 

Devon Loftus, Owner of Moon Cycle Bakery gave us the inside scoop on each ingredient and how they help us support our hormones. 

Hormone Balancing Baking Ingredients & Benefits:

Flax Meal

Flax can help reduce pain caused by menstrual cramps. To test whether adding omega-3 fatty acids to their diet made a difference, women stopped taking omega-3 for a week and were given a placebo for 3 months. After 3 months’ treatment, the mean pain severity score was markedly reduced among women who received omega-3 fatty acids, and remained high for those receiving the placebo ( 7 )

Oat Flour

Gluten-free // In the follicular phase, our bodies are working hard to grow a new egg, properly metabolize estrogen, and prepare for ovulation. Oats are a great source of a specific type of fiber called beta-glucan, which acts as a prebiotic for beneficial bacteria in our gut microbiome. Some of these little microbes in our gut help eliminate excess estrogen, which is important throughout the entire cycle, but especially as our hormone levels begin to increase (we don’t want to build estrogen up too high, too quickly). Excess estrogen is a common cause of PMS symptoms.

Almond Flour

Gluten-free // Studies show that participants who consumed boron supplementation noticed that the severity and duration of menstrual pain was significantly lower in the boron group than in the placebo group, implying that boron supplementation can reduce the severity and duration of menstrual pain through exerting anti-inflammatory effects ( 11 )

Cinnamon

Helps to balance blood sugar // In one study,  subjects whose blood sugar remained low reported greater tension than those whose blood glucose was higher. This could be due to activation of the autonomic nervous system, in an attempt to return blood glucose to normal levels, resulting in increased feelings of tension and cravings. Cinnamon can also help with menstrual pain. In One study, participants were either given Ibuprofen or cinnamon. They reported less severity and duration of pain in ibuprofen and cinnamon groups than placebo groups. However, the average pain severity in the Ibuprofen group was significantly less than cinnamon and placebo groups. So cinnamon is not as effective as ibuprofen BUT definitely better than nothing ( 6 ). 

Almond Butter

Choosing meals higher in protein and good fats is essential for keeping hormonal cravings at bay. Protein triggers hormonal responses that differ to those caused by carbohydrate; fats alter how quickly you feel full and how well your belly works( 3 ) Almond butter is a plant based food higher in protein and healthy fats. 

Grab A Bag & Make Them Yourself! 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and let sit for 5 minutes to thicken to create a flax “egg”. Skip if using a traditional egg!
3. In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl), combine maple syrup, almond butter, vanilla extract and coconut oil. Mix until it is creamy and smooth. Add in the flax egg (or traditional egg) and mix again to combine.
5. Add the dry ingredients and continue to mix until a dough forms.
6. Create cookies using 1.5 tablespoons of dough at a time. Gently press down with a fork to create a crisscross pattern. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, do not overbake.
7. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Sprinkle a bit of sea salt or flaky salt on each cookie and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.