I'm quickly learning that the beauty of green smoothies is that it's nearly impossible to "mess"up! Start with what you have in your fridge/freezer and let your creative "juices" take over! Blending green smoothies is truly something that you can begin practicing immediately, and continue to build upon your ingredient offering as you work to grow your list of superfoods. It's not at all necessary to run out to the health food store and pick up every superfood out there. Come on now, that would just be silly!
Instead, start with some basics - such as organic spinach, blueberries, bananas, chia or flax seeds, raw honey, almond milk - and add a new one to your fridge/cupboard once a month - or, if you are like me, with every shopping excursion. Also, the beauty of starting out with a short list of ingredients and adding along the way will help you determine which foods treat body best. I promise you that you'll quickly become an addict of green smoothies, once you try it and feel the benefits, yes, FEEL the instant energy buzz - you won't want to stop!
Instead, start with some basics - such as organic spinach, blueberries, bananas, chia or flax seeds, raw honey, almond milk - and add a new one to your fridge/cupboard once a month - or, if you are like me, with every shopping excursion. Also, the beauty of starting out with a short list of ingredients and adding along the way will help you determine which foods treat body best. I promise you that you'll quickly become an addict of green smoothies, once you try it and feel the benefits, yes, FEEL the instant energy buzz - you won't want to stop!
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| Chocolaty Green Super Smoothie Shown with Raw Cacao Beans |
Chocolaty Green Super Smoothie - Ingrediants
4 Large Handfuls of Fresh Organic Spinach
1/4 to 1/2 Cup Organic Blueberries - Frozen
1/2 Organic Banana - Frozen
1/4 Cup Raw Cacao Beans - or one big handful
1 Cup Almond Milk
2 Tbsp Raw Wheat Germ
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
Blend well, and enjoy! I loved the guilt-free chocolaty taste. I'm also a fan of texture - with this smoothie each drink brings you a mouthful of cacoa nibs to crunch. So good. I promise!
Not sold yet? Let me just tell you a bit more about some of the powerful ingredients listed above.
Green Leafy Vegetables - Green leafy vegetables are so highly nutritious. Recent studies continuously confirm that populations that eat a diet high in green leafy vegetables - such as spinach, kale, and arugula - run a far lower risk of heart disease and cancer. Fresh raw green leafy vegetables contain high doeses of chlorphyll, easily digestible proteins, enzymes and a wide-range of vitamins and minerals. Also, organic spinach is widely available and inexpensive. A true baby step to investing in your health is upping your greens...start today!
Raw Cacao - Raw Cacao (pronounced "kuh KOW") is chocolate! The best form of chocolate in its original state, unprocessed, unheated, no fillers, and no additives. Just 100% raw organic chocolate, unsweetened, and ready to eat. Raw cacao beans contain possibly the worlds most concentrated source of flavor compounds and antioxidants found in any food. Cacao is extremely high in magnesium, and cacao beans are also one of the of the best snack foods for those looking to shed the extra weight as they contain very few calories, are extremely satisfying, and are natural appetite suppressors. If that's not all, just one small 28 gram serving of raw cacao beans gives 314% of the recommended daily allowance of iron. Put that into perspective, that's 14 times more than antioxidant flavonoids than red wine, 21 times more than green tea, and 7 times more than even dark chocolate! Who would have ever thought that chocolate could be so healthy? Be sure to attain certified organic raw cacao in a powder, nib, or whole bean form as the temperature will not have been allowed to exceed 40 degrees Celsius - thus allowing all the heat sensitive vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to remain intact. Source: Foodmatters.tv
Chia Seeds - Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax seeds. Another advantage of chia seeds are that because of their high antioxidant content, the seeds stay stable for much longer, whereas flax has a tendency to turn rancid. You can substitute chia seeds in any recipe that calls for flax. And, unlike flax, they do not have to be ground to make their nutrients available to the body. Chia seeds also provide an excellent source of fiber (25 grams give you 6.9 grams of fiber) as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. Don't get me wrong, flax seeds are amazing - I just prefer the low maintenance that chia brings to my every day living!
If that's not enough, chia seeds are said to have two times the protein of any other seed or grain, five times the calcium of dairy milk (plus boron which is a trace mineral that helps transfer calcium into your bones), two times the amount of potassium as bananas, three times the reported antioxidant strength of blueberries, three times more iron than spinach, and copious amounts of omega 3 and omega 6, which are essential fatty acids. Super, indeed!
Another advantage: when added to water and allowed to sit for 15 or so minutes, chia seeds form a gel-like substance. Researchers suggest that this reaction also takes place in the stomach, slowing the process by which digestive enzymes break down carbohydrates and convert them into sugar.
Spirulina - Algae, anyone? Sprirulina (pronounced "spy-ru-leen-uh) is a cultivated micro-algae which has been consumed for thousands of years by the indigenous people in Mexico and Africa. It is one of the highest known protein sources on earth as it contains 70% complete protein in comparison to steak which consists of only 25% protein once cooked. Studies have shown that Spirulina can help control blood sugar levels and cravings! Source: Foodmatters.tv
Natural Raw Wheat Germ - Wheat germ is the heart of the wheat berry. It has a delicious nut flavor and is packed with nutrition. In fact, just two tablespoons of wheat germ provides vitamin E - best known for its positive association with heart disease prevention, vitamin E has also been linked with a host of other health benefits including strengthening the immune system. It also provides 15% of the recommended daily value of folic acid. This B vitamin is necessary for heart and blood vessel health, and for proper cell replication.
You gotta be sold now!?! One delicious meal jammed packed with amazing, powerful nutrients...And to think, this is just the start! Green Smoothie Combinations = Endless Possibilities!
Have a green smoothie recipe? Please share! I would love to give it a whirl!
Keep it Clean & GREEN - Get blending friends!
Mrs. Skinny Fat
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