This healthy Lemon Ginger Energy Balls recipe is a great way to combat the effects of nausea when going through chemo or during pregnancy. Their soothing slightly sweet lemony ginger taste is packed with protein which makes them a perfect light snack for everyone.
As a mom with a house full of kids, I found it very difficult to take care of my family when I was feeling nauseous from chemo treatments. I took the medication my oncologist prescribed for nausea, but I needed more so I discovered a few natural ways that helped complement my medicine to reduce the feeling of being sick.
One way was by combining ginger and lemon into these healthy Lemon Ginger Energy Balls recipe.
Ginger for nausea
Ginger can be an excellent natural alternative to help combat nausea. According to a study in the NCBI, Ginger root powder was effective in reducing the severity of acute and delayed nausea as additional therapy to ondensetron and dexamethasone in patients receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy.
I personally used ginger during my chemo. I juiced it fresh, drank it as a tea and took the ginger powder in pill form.
On my really bad days, I knew I had to eat something even if I didn’t feel like it, so I tried to incorporate ginger into some food to help with nausea. One idea for doing this is putting freshly grated ginger into my Lemon Ginger Energy Balls recipe. These little power balls pack a punch of protein with the cashews and another form of nausea control with the lemon.
Lemons for Nausea
Lemons according to Health Line are a popular treatment for morning sickness. They contain citric acid, a naturally-occurring compound thought to aid digestion and soothe the stomach.
A big bonus for eating this Lemon Ginger Energy Balls Recipe is the benefit of the freshly grated lemon peel I add.
In a study on NCBI, Citrus peel has anticancer activities and contain multiple beneficial nutrients for human beings. Flavonoids, as a class of plant secondary metabolites, exist in citrus fruits abundantly. Due to their broad range of pharmacological properties, citrus flavonoids have gained increased attention.
Accumulative in vitro and in vivo studies indicate protective effects of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) against the occurrence of cancer. PMFs inhibit carcinogenesis by mechanisms like blocking the metastasis cascade, inhibition of cancer cell mobility in circulatory systems, proapoptosis, and antiangiogenesis.
Because I had cancer I always try to avoid sugar as much as possible now. I also do not want to use artificial sweeteners or even stevia products that have alcohol fillers.
There are no fillers, just stevia powder which I can get on Amazon.
If you would like more great energy ball recipes, check out my Matcha Energy Balls. They are filled with sweet dried dates, raw cashews, cocoa powder and matcha which creates a quick healthy energizing snack.
Lemon Ginger Energy Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup of quick cooking oats
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 3 tablespoons no sugars added peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 3 scoops of Pyure organic stevia 100% stevia with no fillers
- zest from 2 lemons divided in half
- juice from one lemon
- 2 teaspoons fresh finely grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
Instructions
- First, add the oats to your food processor and process until a fine flour forms. Toss in the raw cashews and pulse until finely ground as well.
- Add all remaining ingredients except for half of the lemon zest to the food processor and pulse until a thick, uniform dough forms. This will take about a minute or two.
- Use a 2 tbsp scoop to measure out each ball, and roll each ball in between your hands until it forms an even circle. Roll each ball in the other half of the lemon zest to coat lightly.
- Store these bites in the fridge for up to 10 days, or in the freezer for up to a month. If you opt for the freezer, let each ball thaw for 5-10 minutes before enjoying.
Made these today. I enjoyed them. Easy to make and a good snack between meals. Thank you!
Thanks Judy, I’m happy you liked them.