A Simple Smoothie Recipe With Health Benefits

There are three things that almost every health guru agrees with and that is getting more sleep, exercising 3 to 5 times a week, and eating more green vegetables.

In fact, statistically, these are the three things most individuals are pretty bad at. This green smoothie recipe will help you get your day started along with your cup of coffee. It is the perfect breakfast packed with nutrients that will keep you full and keep you going until your next meal.

Green Smoothies vs. Green Juice

 There are two schools of thought when it comes to drinking greens. One who advocates green juices may say that you can consume much more of the nutrients in the form of juice than you can by eating the veggie.

This is somewhat true, but as a green smoothie advocate would explain, juices of any kind do not have the fiber that is naturally present in fruits and vegetables and can drastically spike your blood sugar levels. So, Green Smoothies solves this problem by combining the two.

The Green Breakfast Smoothie

Yields: 2 smoothies

• 2 cups almond or coconut milk (Unsweetened)
• 1 banana
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 cup kale
• ½ blueberries
• ½ blackberries
• 1 avocado (skin and seed removed)
• 1 spoonful of peanut butter (crunchy and unsalted)
• 2 scoops collagen powder
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds

Instructions

1. Place milk in the blender
2. Add all remaining ingredients and blend on high until smooth texture
3. Serve immediately and enjoy

*Note:

As soon as you get home from the grocery store, clean your berries and place them in your freezer. Adding frozen berries to your smoothie will keep your smoothie cold instead of adding ice cubes.

Why These Ingredients?

Almond milk vs. Coconut milk: Aside from being a great alternative to dairy, almond, and coconut milk have great health benefits. Almond milk is cholesterol free and contains heart-healthy fats.

Almond milk is high in vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that helps fight against free radicals. There is also 50% more calcium in fortified almond milk than in dairy milk. Almond milk also helps aid in weight loss.

Coconut milk: is helpful in nourishing the digestive lining which helps improve your gut health. Coconut milk keeps you energized because it contains electrolytes that help replenish your body.  

Bananas: One banana is packed with dense nutrients. Bananas are rich in fiber so adding one to your smoothie will keep you full for a longer period of time. Bananas are rich in essential vitamins and minerals to help keep your body properly functioning.

The potassium in bananas helps regulate heartbeat, and blood pressure and keeps your brain alert. Bananas are also a great source of iron.

Berries: Blackberries and blueberries are packed with antioxidants to help keep free radicals under control. They can also improve your blood sugar and insulin levels.

Berries are a good source of fiber which means that they can aid digestion, leading to reduced hunger and increased feelings of fullness. They are also a brain and energy booster to help keep you going throughout your day.

Spinach: Like other dark green plants, spinach is rich in lutein, a phytonutrient that helps protect the eyes and reduce inflammation. Lutein may have anti-aging properties as well. Spinach is also rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium.

Kale: Just one serving of kale has more calcium than six ounces of milk and more fiber than three slices of whole-wheat bread. Kale is a good source of cancer-fighting antioxidants and heart-protective glucosinolates.

Avocado: Adding an avocado to your smoothie will create a creamy-thick texture. Avocados are a good source of vitamin E, folate, potassium, and magnesium. They are also an excellent source of fiber. The fat is in the form of monounsaturated oil, the same “good” fat that abounds in olive oil.

Peanut butter: Just a spoonful of peanut butter is packed with monounsaturated fat and has many powerful vitamins, protein, and fiber content which makes you feel fuller and is essential for repairing and building bones. It’s also an awesome energy booster for your morning.

Collagen Powder: For starters, hydrolyzed collagen is helpful for improving your skin, hair, and nails. Collagen may also increase muscle mass, prevent bone loss and relieve joint pain.

Ground Flaxseeds: The health benefits of flaxseeds are mainly attributed to the omega- 3 fatty acids, lignans, and fiber content. So, if you are a vegetarian or don’t eat fish, ground flaxseeds can be one of your best sources of omega- 3 fatty acids.

Lignans are plant compounds that have antioxidant and estrogen properties, both of which lower the risk of cancer and improve health. The fiber content in flaxseeds may aid weight control by suppressing hunger and increasing the feeling of fullness.

*Important Note to Flaxseeds: Your body can not absorb whole flaxseeds, they must be in the form of ground or meal to get the health benefits.

Have you had your smoothie today?