Berry Smoothie - Guest Blogger Recipe
Smoothies are great to drink after a yoga session. Not only do they taste absolutely delicious, they also help to provide your body with a potent dose of essential vitamins and minerals.
To make a smoothie all you need is some fruits, vegetables, a liquid and a blender. You can also add in some nuts & seeds for good measure.
This smoothie has the following ingredients in it:
1 cup of frozen mixed berries – namely blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Berries are excellent sources of powerful antioxidants which means eating them helps to reduce damage caused by free radicals in your body. This in turn helps fight off diseases such as cancer. Using frozen berries will give the smoothie a thick milkshake like consistency.
1 cup of spinach – spinach has long been known to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet and for good reason. Even though it is made up of more than 90% water, it is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin K, folate and manganese. In place of spinach you can also use kale or Swiss chard.
1 cup of coconut water – coconut water is naturally sweet, which when combined with the sugars found in the berries helps to make this smoothie more palatable. Coconut water also contains potassium and magnesium, both of which are important for heart health.
1 tablespoon of almond butter – nuts and nut butters are some of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. They contain minerals such as phosphorus, zinc and copper, all of which are needed by your body in small amounts.
1 Medjool date (pitted) – dates are one of the most delicious fruits on the planet and are a great alternative to chocolate & candy. Adding a date to the smoothie will really help to enhance its flavour.
1 tablespoon of chia seeds – these seeds though tiny are a good source of calcium and dietary fiber. When they are added to water, they swell up, thereby helping to thicken up the smoothie. You can also use flax or sunflower seeds instead.
To make the smoothie, add the coconut water to a blender followed by all of the other ingredients and process for 30 seconds until everything is well mixed. For added thickness, throw in a few ice cubes and process further.
If you enjoyed this recipe, try out some of these smoothie recipes as well.
Guest Blogger Veronica writes for Healthsomeness.com, a website dedicated to providing information on fitness, healthy eating and general wellbeing.