Sweet potato brownie recipe

Something I have been doing for a while is eating according to my menstrual cycle. I have noticed an improvement in my hormonal health and the early stages of perimenopause in doing this. Cycle syncing is understanding hormonal fluctuations throughout the cycle and aligning and tailoring certain nutrients and lifestyle to certain points of your cycle to support the body, hormonal balance and production.

During my luteal phase - the second half of my cycle - I notice such a big increase in my appetite and start to crave more sweet and comforting foods. This is due to progesterone levels rising. Something like these sweet potato brownies is perfect for this stage. They are a good source of complex carbohydrates that support progesterone production and blood sugar balance. Complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly than simple carbs such as sugar. Better blood sugar balance can help with mood swings, PMS, and cravings often experienced during this phase.

These brownies are nutrient-rich, containing important nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins, which support PMS. The cacao contains important antioxidants that support oxidative stress in the body during this time and also magnesium and iron.

They are most certainly delicious and nutritious!

Ingredients
300g cooked and mashed sweet potato flesh
150g black beans
120g almond butter
120ml honey
80ml almond milk
120g cacao powder
1tsp baking powder
Good pinch of sea salt
125ml cold pressed rapeseed oil
100g dark chocolate chips

Toppings- hazelnuts and cacao nibs

Method

Roast your sweet potato, scoop out the insides and allow it to cool, then make a puree with the black beans using a food processor.
Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
To a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients and combine.
Pour into a lined dish and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for 25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out relatively clean. It will be a bit gooey, but you don't want it to be overly.