It has been talked about more and more how our health begins in the gut, so keeping our gut happy is one of the key things for overall health. And as we age balancing our hormones is key to keep us looking and feeling young.

I am always looking for ways to add nutritional benefits to our food. AND—  as I love a sweet treat, but have slightly high blood sugar I try to eat healthy alternatives that are just as satisfying.

So I created this delicious paleo and gut-friendly pumpkin chocolate muffin recipe!

They are made with almond flour instead of grains, maple syrup for the perfect sweetness, organic pumpkin puree and I added a little bit of collagen for overall gut health.

Add to that cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and chocolate chips and it is Fall flavor perfection in a muffin!

Nutrition Tips:

Before we dive into the recipe (which by the way is a super easy gluten-free and paleo-friendly recipe to make), here are some nutrition tips on the benefits of some of the ingredients that I used:

Almond flour

Basically, ground almonds. You can make your own by grinding almonds in the food processor or you can buy them pre-ground. Just make sure to put them in the freezer so they last longer (by preventing oxidation).

Maple Syrup

A natural sweetener that has the advantage of having a good amount of antioxidants. Consuming high levels of refined sugar can contribute to candida, IBS, leaky gut syndrome and other digestive issues. One of the best steps you can take to heal leaky gut and autoimmune disorders is to reduce your intake of refined sugars and opt for small amounts of natural sweeteners instead. Like Maple Syrup.

Collagen Peptides

Collagen supplements have been claimed to promote brain, heart, and gut health as well as keeping your hair and nails healthy.

Dark chocolate

My favorite type of chocolate!!! It contains a wide variety of powerful antioxidants and the potential to improve several important risk factors for disease (heart disease, improve brain function and blood flow, etc), it is one of my favorite treats. Try to go for one with 70% or higher cocoa solids.