Smoothies are hands-down the easiest way to get your nutrients daily. For most, a smoothie in the morning is a fantastic way to kick off your day. You are providing your body with a solid source of antioxidants (if you use berries) as well as protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients.
The beauty of a smoothie is that you can easily add ingredients that you wouldn’t normally take in otherwise. Some of these ingredients may not taste great, but when combined with sweet fruits the less-than-ideal taste is masked! This makes smoothies especially great for kids who not want to eat their veggies.
Take a look at some of these amazing ingredients you can throw into your morning smoothie to really maximize its health benefits.
Hemp Seeds
This superfood has gained some popularity as of recent, but is still widely underused. Hemp seeds have been known to improve digestion, balance hormones and improve metabolism. Improving your metabolism in the morning is a huge advantage for those looking to drop some pounds. Just add a tablespoon of hemp seeds to any of your favorite smoothie recipes and you will hardly notice a difference in taste at all. What you will notice, however, is an improvement in how you feel throughout the day.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds may look really small, but boy do they pack a punch. In just 1 ounce or chia seeds, you will find:
- 11 grams of fiber
- 4 grams of protein
- 9 grams of fat (5 Omega-3’s…the good kind)
- 18% of your recommended calcium intake
- Magnese
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Zinc
- Vitamin B3, B1, B2
The list goes on. Adding just an ounce to your fruit or vegetable smoothie will give you incredible benefits. It’s loaded with antioxidants and high in fiber, keeping you less hungry throughout the day. The best part is they hardly taste like anything!
Flaxseed
Not to hype flaxseed up too much, but it has been down to help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. All from this tiny seed that has been around forever. While the preventative aspects of this seed are great, it also has essential nutrients needed to get your day off to a great start. Flaxseed contains 3 healthy nutrients:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Lignans
- Fiber
Make sure you use a high quality blender when adding seeds to your smoothie. Really liquefying the seeds makes it easier for your body to absorb the nutrients quicker. This goes for all of your ingredients.
Kale
Unless you have been living under a rock you know how healthy kale is. The only issue with kale is that it sometimes gets a bad rap by people who don’t like the way it tastes. Well like these other ingredients, you can just toss it into your blender and reap all of the benefits without have to struggle getting it down! There are some really amazing smoothie recipes that call for kale which you can find around the web.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This one is a bit of a stretch. Apple cider vinegar has been known to cure JUST about everything (that’s an exaggeration, but there are seriously too many health benefits to list). The issue is, it has quit the overpowering taste.
Vinegar is pretty hard to mask. However, adding 1 or 2 tablespoons to your smoothie full of sweet fruit will really help drown out that taste. Adding something like coconut milk or almond milk will also help neutralize the vinegar. If you don’t believe me, just give it a try!
Sources:
http://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds/
http://draxe.com/7-hemp-seed-benefits-nutrition-profile/
http://efm.net.au/what-is-the-best-blender-for-smoothies/
http://upcominghealth.com/99-healthy-smoothie-recipes/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/benefits-of-flaxseed
