We all know the importance of good nutrition in keeping us as healthy as possible.
However, it’s not always easy to make sure that we are covering all of the right bases when it comes to better health.
One of the things I love about smoothies is the ability to pack in a whole range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other things needed for looking and feeling your best. This makes them a perfect option for boosting your health and with the right ingredients, smoothies can help with a range of health related scenarios.
Here are five delicious and super healthy smoothie ideas that will boost your immunity, give you more energy, improve your mood and even help to keep your heart healthy!
Stronger Immunity
Sick of catching any bug or virus that is doing the rounds? You can boost your immunity with a hefty dose of vitamin C, aided by this delicious smoothie!
Orange Delight Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 large orange (peeled)
- ½ banana (peeled)
- ½ cup nut milk
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon honey or vanilla to add a touch of sweetness
Directions:
Add everything to the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
More Energy
Feeling tired and sluggish most of the time? This smoothie contains a host of ingredients that will increase your energy levels.
Leafy greens are a nutrition powerhouse of vitamins and minerals (including iron and vitamins A and K) and the banana adds in some potassium and b vitamins for a natural energy lift.
That’s not all though—berries give a vitamin C boost too!
Berry Banana Green Smoothie
Ingredients
- Handful of leafy greens
- ½ banana (peeled)
- 1 cup berries (blueberries, raspberries or strawberries can all work well)
- ½ lemon or lime for a citrus twist
Directions:
Throw all of the ingredients in your blender and combine until smooth.
A Healthier Heart
Cardiovascular disease is one of the biggest killers around the world but you can reduce the risks with smoothies that will lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.
This green smoothie contains celery, which might not seem like the obvious choice for keeping your heart healthy but is a great source of phthalates that help the heart to work less hard in pumping blood.
Green Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 banana (peeled)
- 3 celery ribs
- 1 cup greens
- ½ cup nut milk
- Optional: 1 inch piece ginger root for an extra flavor kick
Directions:
Add all of the ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.
Feeling Happier
What you eat can have a big effect on how you feel and with the right ingredients, you can even feel better.
This smoothie is full of mood boosting berries, chia seeds and banana. The latter contains carbs that help the brain to absorb tryptophan more efficiently and vitamin B6 that converts tryptophan into serotonin, the “mood boosting” chemical.
Berry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 banana (peeled)
- ½ cup berries
- 3/4 cup non-dairy milk
- ½ tsp ground chia seeds
- ½ tsp spirulina powder
Directions:
Add everything to the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Improve Aches and Pains
Most of us get aches and pains every so often but you don’t necessarily need to choose between riding it out or taking painkillers.
This smoothie has strong anti inflammatory properties, which makes it the perfect choice for days if you’re struggling with aches and pains. Pineapple contains bromelain, a natural anti inflammatory that can ease pain. Turmeric is also anti inflammatory and can easily be added to lots of smoothies.
Pineapple + Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1/2 banana
- ¼ small avocado (pitted and skin removed)
- 1 cup leafy greens
- 1 ½ cups nut milk
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- ½ tablespoon lime juice
Directions:
Put all of the ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
An Important Word on Blenders
Frozen fruit tends to work better in smoothies for both taste and consistency. They have two important advantages—no diluting of the smoothie, and easier to blend than ice.
Not all blenders can cope with ice or frozen ingredients. Use a strong countertop blender, or one of the top bullet blenders such as these. Small personal blenders or weaker countertop blenders will not blend the frozen ingredients well and could even get damaged.
Photo by Brenda Godinez
Daniel Pelegreen
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- Get a Health Boost From These Five Great Smoothie Ideas - May 29, 2017
