We live in times when technological advances have simplified our lives in unimaginable ways.
Today, people live at a fast pace, rushing to get to work and take the kids to school, among other things. There is little time to sit down and have breakfast with the family, let alone prepare it.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as experts often say. It activates our brain, keeps it alert throughout the day and increases our energy levels to carry out our daily activities and tasks.
Nowadays, smoothies have gained relevance as we consume most of our food in a single drink, on the go. They require less time and are easy to prepare.
All you need is a high-speed blender, your fresh produce or frozen fruits and vegetables and you’ll have your smoothie in less than 20 minutes.
We don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables as experts recommend due to our busy schedules.
Drinking a glass of smoothie every morning makes a difference, as you will get the most nutrients your body needs, but that doesn’t mean skipping other meals, as they are just as important in providing your body with the necessary nutrients.
In today’s world, it is essential to maintain a strong immune system to protect us from various diseases and ailments. A healthy immune system is our best defense against illness.
It is essential to take care of our body and in return, it will take care of us. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, we can thrive and live life to the fullest.
Drinking a smoothie a day is a good idea, as it can be a delicious and effective way to support our body’s natural defenses and promote overall health and well-being.
How does a smoothie benefit our health?
Experts always recommend that eating fruits and vegetables every day is good for your health.
Plant food sources are packed with nutrients and phytochemicals that the body needs, such as antioxidants and polyphenols, among others.
These plant compounds are believed to boost the immune system and thus strengthen our health. When we eat fruits and vegetables in smoothie form, our body reaps the benefits and thus sets the stage for good health in the long run.
It helps limit the sugar content when making a smoothie.
Fiber is good for digestion and helps bowel movement. If we have a smoothie made from fresh produce, especially unpeeled, this will help digestion and keep us regular.
Foods rich in fiber are satiating, so they reduce our total calories and we feel fuller for longer.
Fresh fruits and vegetables provide us with the minerals and vitamins that our body needs. Vitamin E and C are found in most foods, especially in citrus fruits and leafy vegetables, respectively.
These nutrients act as antioxidants that are believed to prevent oxidative stress and boost immunity.
“Vitamin E in the form of tocopherol is found in edible vegetable oils, especially wheat germ, sunflower and rapeseed oils. Other sources of vitamin E include green leafy vegetables such as spinach and chard, nuts (almonds and peanuts) and nut butters, avocados, sunflower seeds, mango and kiwi.“
3 smoothie recipes that may be useful to you
1) Beet smoothie
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 beet
- 1 banana
- 1 pair
- 1/4 onion
- Small pieces of ginger (or 1 tablespoon grated ginger)
- A few mint leaves
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk (any type of milk, according to your preference)
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon ground sunflower seeds
Instructions
First, wash the fruits and vegetables. Cut the beetroot into small pieces along with the beetroot and ginger. Chop the onion as well.
Place them inside a blender, with water in the base and blend them. Then, place the sliced banana, mint, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds and mint into the mixture and continue blending until smooth. Finally, pour in the milk to add more flavor and smoothness.
Voila! Your smoothie is ready to consume.
Note: You can use any fruit or add other ingredients to customize your smoothie. Too much sugar is not good for your health. It is helpful to limit the sugar content in your smoothie.
Check out my other favorite smoothie recipes in the video below!
2) Green smoothie
Ingredients
- 250 milks of your choice.
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon maca powder (optional)
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- 1 stoned Medjool date
- 1 small ripe banana
- Handful of black kale/spinach
- A tablespoon of almond butter
Method
Pour the milk into a high-speed blender, then add the ground flax seeds, maca powder (if using), and cinnamon.
Add the remaining ingredients and then mix until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
My other Green smoothie recipes are in the video below!
3) Banana and cherry smoothie
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 3 minutes
Total time: 8 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup pitted cherries
- 1 large banana
- 1/4 yogurt
- A tablespoon of almond extract (optional)
Instructions
Place milk, frozen cherries, banana and almond extract in a blender.
Place the lid on the blender and blend the ingredients for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. Serve immediately.
Alternatively, you can try the cherry smoothie from the video below!
Additional ingredients to add to your smoothie to increase nutritional value
- Mint
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Peppers
- Onions
- Yogurt
- Almond butter
- Hemp seeds/Chia seeds/Quinoa seeds/Pumpkin seeds/Sunflower seeds
- Ground flax seeds
- Milk/dairy/soy/almonds/coconut
- Oatmeal
To take home
Taking care of our health is essential and our lives depend on it. We can do so with simple actions such as drinking a healthy smoothie every day, among other things.
The interesting thing is that we can eat different foods in one drink. However, it is essential to use the products while they are still fresh to get the most out of them.
Blending has become useful as we can efficiently produce a smoothie in just a few minutes, unlike normal cooking which seems to take a lot of time, especially in the morning when we are in a hurry to get to work.
A healthy smoothie provides our body with the nutrients it needs, increases our energy levels and paves the way to good health in the long term.
These products lose their nutritional value when they remain in the refrigerator for too long. In the end, we throw them away because they become rancid.
Eating them fresh in smoothie form is a brilliant way to eat our raw produce in a very tasty way.
If we make a nice and interesting smoothie, even kids will love it more than if it were a raw vegetable. This is a strategic way to get them to eat fruits and vegetables.
Benefits of smoothies: the path to good health
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