When I choose to have sweets, I try to always make sure there are some health benefits included in my indulgence. That usually makes it super guilt-free in my book. 😉

These Anti-Inflammatory Spiced Peach Bars are moist, perfectly sweet,and have medicinal benefits from the ginger, turmeric, and ceylon cinnamon (google the difference in cinnamon – I’ll spare you that explanation now, and save it for a different post). There is even some black pepper in them to maximize your body’s absorption of the turmeric! These are things that help your body function properly. Read on to hear just what I’m talking about!

So, what’s the big deal about this anti-inflammatory stuff? WELL, let’s go into a mini explanation of inflammation of the body. Anti-inflammatory foods help to…you guessed it, reduce inflammation. Inflammation is triggered when your immune system is activated by something foreign entering your body, i.e. pollen, chemical, microbes, or a number of other things. Small happenings of inflammation can protect your health by threatening these invaders of your body. Wait, so that should be a good thing, right? Why would you want to reduce inflammation? Sometimes, inflammation persists daily even when you are not threatened by something foreign in your body. Depending on what foods you consume, you could be triggering inflammation day in and day out in your body! This is when it can become un-friendly. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s have been linked to chronic inflammation. Clearly, that’s when it has become your enemy. Instead of medical looking charts showing all of this, I’m still going to show you pictures of these bars, because, let’s be real, that’s why you’re really here!

A healthy diet that stays away from foods that increase inflammation is a great start to regulating inflammation and your risk of many diseases. Refined carbohydrates, fried foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, margarine, processed meat, and even too much RED meat can all cause an increase of inflammation. So, how do you know if you’re a victim of chronic inflammation? If you have a diet completely filled with these foods, that is a dead give away. Other signs include: aches and pain, fatigue, irritated skin, excess weight or inability to lose weight. These are some signs that you might have a war going on in your body. Much like when you’re sick and you feel tired – because your immune system is fighting off an illness which is causing inflammation – you could be causing similar fatigue from eating that fast food burger and fries for dinner.

Eating foods such as nuts, leafy greens, avocados, pineapple, salmon, bone broth, coconut oil, broccoli, blueberries, chia or flax seeds, papaya, and….cinnamon (ceylon cinnamon specifically), turmeric, and ginger (all three of which are in this recipe!) can reduce unwanted inflammation in your body. Now, keep in mind, I am not suggesting that you make these bars and consume them on a regular basis just because they include some beneficial ingredients. They are still a treat! 🙂

Life is about balance, but when you can treat yourself with good, beneficial whole foods – WHY CONTINUE TO EAT CRAP INSTEAD? It’s just not always worth it, especially after feeling just how great your body can function, it’s hard to go back to letting it just not function at it’s best. Analogy time! > It’s kind of like filling up a lawn mower with tainted gas. Sometimes, gas can become filled with water, sediments, or a number of things that prevent a gas motor from functioning properly. It still runs, yes, however, it just chugs along most of the time, and doesn’t sound or look very good. This has happened when some rainwater got into one of our gas tanks and we filled up a mower with said gas. IT WAS FANTASTIC – NOT. We ran the gas out of the tank, and refilled it with quality gas and it was good to go. Same goes for your body. You can repair damage by simply putting some good fuel in your tank. Once you fill up with the good stuff, your motor is going to run so well, you’re going to want to keep filling it up with the same quality fuel. Ok, my rant and cheesy perspective is over. 🙂 Let’s get to the goods!

Print Recipe

Anti-Inflammatory Spiced Peach Bars

Cook Time

16 minutes

Servings

bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup Almond Flour
• 1/2 cup Sweet potato puree
• 2 Eggs
• 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/2 tsp Pink salt
• 1 tsp Ceylon Cinnamon
• 1/4-1/2 tsp Nutmeg depending on preference
• 1/4-1/2 tsp Ginger depending on preference
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tsp Ground turmeric
• 1/4 cup Coconut sugar
• 1 Peach sliced

Cook Time 16 minutes Servings bars Ingredients 1 cup Almond Flour 1/2 cup Sweet potato puree 2 Eggs 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar 1/2 tsp Pink salt 1 tsp Ceylon Cinnamon 1/4-1/2 tsp Nutmeg depending on preference 1/4-1/2 tsp Ginger depending on preference 1/4 tsp Black pepper 2 tsp Ground turmeric 1/4 cup Coconut sugar 1 Peach sliced

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs, vanilla, vinegar, and sweet potato until combined.
3. Add in remaining ingredients, except for the peaches.
4. Pour batter into a greased or lined baking pan. I used a square 8X8 pan.
5. Lay peaches slices across the mixture.
6. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until the center is done.
7. Serve warm with homemade coconut whipped cream or yogurt for some creaminess!