Gluten-Free Partridgeberry Orange Flax Muffins

Nutrition, Recipe

By Julia Howard, MPH, RHN

Partridgeberries!

How lucky are Newfoundlanders to have these ruby red gems practically at our doorsteps?

Known as lingonberries on the mainland, partridgeberries are typically ready to be picked in early fall and may even last through the winter under the snow. Find them in acidic soil near barrens or coastal areas. 

If you can figure out a way to enjoy these tart little berries (e.g., muffins, pancakes, smoothies, or sauces), you will be rewarded with their health promoting effects.

Health Promoting Effects of Partridgeberries

One study, found that women who ate partridgeberries (as either a puree or a juice) along with sucrose (sugar) actually experienced lower blood sugar and insulin levels immediately after the meal compared to when they consumed only sucrose in water. The women also experienced a reduced drop in blood sugar one to two hours later.

Another study in men found that the intake of partridgeberry powder reduced the elevated blood sugar effects of eating added sugar by slowing the absorption and digestion of sucrose. 

The positive effects of partridgeberries may be attributed to their fibre and/or their polyphenol content which stabilize blood sugar and reduce oxidative stress.

In addition, studies in mice point to positive effects of partridgeberries on gut health and liver bile acid gene expression. One study found preventive effects on atherosclerosis when mice genetically prone to atherosclerosis were fed a high fat diet. In particular, the study found that the intake of partridgeberries increased gut bacteria associated with healthy gut mucosa and lowered levels of inflammation.

High-Fibre, Wholegrain Muffins

Oftentimes, we take these beautiful, whole food ingredients and combine them with heavily refined flours and sugars in baked goods but it doesn’t always have to be this way!

Check out this Gluten-Free Partridgeberry Orange Muffin Recipe for a nutritious, high- fibre way to introduce partridgeberries into your diet.

Gluten-Free Partridgeberry Orange Flax Muffins

Dry Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups brown rice flour
  • 2/3 cups ground flax seed
  • 1 heaping tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup partridgeberries
  • 1/2 cup orange pieces, chopped 
  • 1 tsp orange zest

Wet Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup coconut oil melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • ½ cup maple syrup

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Mix together all dry ingredients in a bowl except berries, oranges, and zest
  • Whisk together wet ingredients in a separate bowl
  • Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir well 
  • Fold in berries, oranges, and zest  
  • Spoon batter into muffin tin and bake for approximately 35 minutes
  • Makes 12 muffins

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading,

~Julia 

Want to make the shift to healthier eating? We offer nutrition coaching!

Julia Howard - Nutritionist

Sources

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27170557/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22854401/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27125264/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26890232/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22901554/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23365108/

trap bar deadlift

Dawn Armstrong

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

A few of my wonderful friends and colleagues recommended JKC. I was told by one colleague that “It’ll be the best thing you ever do for yourself” and she was right! To be honest, I didn’t have much experience in any gym setting. And NO prior weight training experience. It was always so overwhelming! But from the first day, nothing was intimidating about JKC. Each workout is set up just for me, and with my specific skills and goals in mind. There are no stupid questions, you learn as you go, and what I really love, I always feel included and important, regardless of my skills/experience.

David Squires

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

Not having much if any experience with professional gyms I though it would be along the lines of going to a facility and doing your own thing, getting some instructions from time to time, if you asked for it, and for most part working out on your own, in a large impersonalized setting. I was a bit apprehensive as I figured I’d be standing around a lot looking at all this equipment wondering what to do with it, or worst doing something to hurt myself. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong. Both Jon and Thomas are very attentive, professional trainers, who lay-out an exercise program, from start to finish, for you. They demonstrate the exercise they want you to do and then watch you do it to make sure you got it right. Jon and Thomas are very thorough, patience and non-assuming.

Tara Stuckless

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

I heard really good things about it from my sister, and I could see the positive results she was getting.  I needed to do something.  I was overweight, depressed, and recovering from a back injury.  I had reached a point where simply getting up out of a chair was becoming difficult.  I knew that if I didn’t do something about it my senior years would be very burdensome to the people close to me.  I’m so glad I did!  After just a few weeks my day-to-day pain was drastically reduced, and my mobility increased. I had the confidence to try sea kayaking, and I now play ice hockey twice a week!

The key difference is the expertise.  The trainers know the gym equipment and the exercises, but they also have degrees in kinesiology, and can apply what they know to your workout.  As someone who was in poor physical condition starting out, I was worried about hurting myself.  Previously I tried an outdoor weekly bootcamp and injured my knee by pushing too hard.  The trainers at JKC constructed a program that started at the right level for me, evolving it as I grew stronger and more fit.  I feel well looked after.

Darrin Goulding

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

Chris Stratton

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

I had been struggling with work-life balance resulting in not exercising or playing hockey as much as I had been doing in the past. In addition to being out of shape, I was starting to experience some back/shoulder issues and realized I needed to make some changes. Around this time, a friend (who was also a client) recommended JKC and that’s when I started!

You really feel part of a community where everyone is welcoming and supportive. You get a program that is designed specifically to achieve your goals, with the ongoing coaching, progress tracking and support required to achieve them. The JKC team are very knowledgeable about fitness and conditioning, and very engaging with everyone to answer questions or discuss anything and everything training related. I also like the flexible scheduling and gym times that work for my schedule (I like early mornings and evenings).

See All Reviews Write a Review
As Seen On: