Try this 2-ingredient spread once and you’ll never want Nutella again

(Note from Erin: When I showed this story to my editor she got very interested. While she keeps a tight rein on what food her kids eat, she does let them indulge in sweets during Christmas and summer break. However, she really hates Nutella and has been on the hunt for a replacement for a while. Let us know if you try it and what you think, below!)

Many people, especially us Westerners, like to start our days off with toast. It makes a great addition to any breakfast and is a cheap source of nutrition. Although we all know the dangers of processed wheat and gluten, we have been able to come up with healthy alternatives to them, such as the use of ancient and sprouted grains.

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Although we have been able to recognize the need to change the bread we eat, many people are still consuming the same unhealthy spreads. Spreads such as butter, which is high in unhealthy fats and sodium, or jam, which is high in sugar. This is why I am introducing a two-ingredient spread that is not only healthy nutrition-wise but will also help you fight off bacteria that is possibly harmful to your health. Let’s go over the ingredients.

Honey

Honey is a natural sweetener and has also been used as a medicine for thousands of years. It is a great alternative to other sweet spreads as it has been found to not raise blood sugar as much as typical sweeteners such as glucose and fructose. Honey has also been found to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol while raising HDL (good) cholesterol. This makes it a great accompaniment for high-fat spreads such as coconut oil.

Aside from lowering cholesterol levels and not significantly raising blood sugar despite being a sweetener, honey is also perfect for warding off bacteria. Honey contains the natural compounds hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal, which give it it’s antibacterial properties. Manuka honey specifically has world-renowned antibacterial properties, and is often used to treat wounds and infections due to this.

Topical honey for canker sores

Researchers have also found that ingesting honey is able to inhibit stomach infections such as S. typhi (Typhoid fever), S. flexneri and E. coli. Aside from having antibacterial properties, honey also contains a variety of healthy antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it incredibly useful for treating sicknesses such as a sore throat or nasal congestion.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been linked to a variety of health benefits ranging from helping your heart and your thyroid to protecting against illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Despite this, many people tend to shy away from coconut oil due to its high-fat content. Although it is true that 86% of coconut oil’s calories come from saturated fat, the type of fat that it is made up of can help you lose weight.

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Coconut oil‘s saturated fat is mostly made up of medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs. Your body processes MCTs differently than it does the fats found in vegetable oils, dairy, and fatty meats. Instead of storing MCTs away as body fat, they are burned up throughout the day and give you the energy you need to stay focused and exercise. MCTs also raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

Honey and Coconut Oil Spread

Making a spread out of these ingredients is as simple as putting the two together.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
3-4 tablespoons honey

Directions:

Simply place half a cup of virgin coconut oil and three to four tablespoons of honey in a bowl.
Then use a hand mixer to mix until it is light and fluffy thoroughly.
Spread this over gluten-free toast and bagels, or use it as a replacement for butter in recipes.

Or, try this recipe:

*Article originally appeared at Healthy Holistic Living.