In the blender, ready to whirl!
Several tasty ingredients coming your way in this colourful and delicious smoothie. The thing to remember when putting together ingredients for smoothies and smoothie bowls, is to keep a sound balance between fruits and vegetables. Yes, I said vegetables. Fruits are high in natural sugars and it’s important to include vegetables, and healthy fats in your smoothie to help avoid a spike in blood sugar levels. I try to go for a 60:40 ratio of veg + fats, to fruits.
In this smoothie, I’ve combined the following:
- purple kale (leaves from one stalk)
- coriander (handful)
- cucumber (10cm piece)
- banana (one)
- blueberries (1/2 cup)
- ground flax seeds (1 Tbsp)
- pumpkin seeds (1 Tbsp)
- Brazil nuts (4)
- maca powder (1 Tbsp)
- coconut oil (1 Tbsp)
- almond milk (1 cup, plus one cup water as needed to thin the smoothie)
Blueberries are highly acclaimed for their anti-inflammatory properties. High in resveratrol because of their dark purple skins, blueberries are an excellent antioxidant. Kale is a blockbuster, high in Vitamins A, C and K which means it’s heart-healthy also loaded with antioxidants. Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. It is also touted to help burn fat! Flax seeds are high in Omega 3s and phytoestrogens which help to lower cortisol levels, reducing the negative effects of stress. Like Brazil nuts, flax seeds are another good source of healthy fat. Maca root powder is an adaptogenic herb which helps the body deal better with stress by helping balance hormones and lower cortisol levels.
I invite you to be mindful the next time you are creating your smoothie. Consider the balance of fruits to veg and plan accordingly. There’s SO much goodness in a freshly made smoothie and it’s a great way to start the day and keep you going until lunch. Cheers, to your health!
P.S. If you’d like to make your own almond milk, please check out my recipe