Sweet potato and coconut breakfast porridge – gluten, wheat, dairy and refined sugar free

Let’s be honest, every now and then, we all miss bread, cereals and other sugary meals for breakfast.  When you are following a low carb, keto or paleo type of diet or you have food sensitivities, a slice of freshly baked bread with jam and cheese or sugary cereal or muesli are some of the meals you probably miss most.  Sometimes all we want is a warm comforting bowl of porridge for breakfast, especially in the colder months.

This sweet potato and coconut breakfast porridge is naturally sweet and deliciously creamy and comforting.  With no added sugar or dairy it will satisfy most paleonistas who miss something sweet for breakfast.

Cinnamon has a naturally sweet taste and is a powerful spice that has been used medicinally around the world for thousands of years.  A little bit of cinnamon goes a long way and as little as ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon daily can have a positive effect on blood sugar levels, digestion, immunity and more.  Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and contains anti-inflammatory properties.  It can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk factors and has a plethora of other impressive health benefits.

Blueberries are sweet, nutritious and wildly popular.  They are low in calories but high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese.  Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all commonly consumed fruits and vegetables.  Several studies have shown that blueberries can protect against DNA damage, a leading driver of aging and cancer.  The antioxidants in blueberries have been shown to protect LDL lipoproteins (the bad cholesterol) from oxidative damage, a crucial step in the pathway towards heart disease.  Several more studies have shown that blueberries have anti-diabetic effects, helping to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels.

Coconut milk is made by grating the flesh of a brown coconut, soaking it in water and straining it to produce a milk like consistency.  Coconut milk is a high calorie food but also a good source of several vitamins and minerals.  Coconut milk is high in saturated fats called medium-chain-triglycerides (MCT).  MCT may reduce appetite, increase metabolism and help loose belly fat. Studies have shown that cholesterol and triglyceride levels improve with coconut intake.  Coconut milk may also reduce inflammation, decrease ulcer size and fight the viruses and bacteria the cause infections.