Healthy Smoothie Recipes: Our healthy smoothie recipes are all optimized for their nutritional content including antioxidants, vitamins, and plant based phytochemicals. Eat one of these every day and you won't need a multi-vitamin!
An interesting twist on a virgin pina colada, this smoothie will take you to the tropics! The mint leaves make it even more refreshing. If it is too tart, try it with less lime juice. Coconut water is known for its hydrating properties and has a natural balance of electrolytes. Pineapple contains bromelain, a protease enzyme that helps muscles heal after exercise. Mint leaves have long been used to aid in digestion, and mint oil has been shown to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome by relaxing the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Enjoy this tasty smoothie recipe as a medicinal treat for your muscles and digestive system.
A filling meal in a glass that will keep your energy up. Use this smoothie to start or end your day in place of a meal. It contains all of the essential macronutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates and water. Not your average protein source, pea protein is a healthy alternative to soy or whey protein powder with a mild flavor and reports of easy digestibility due to the removal of the fibers that cause flatulence. Pea protein is great for those allergic to dairy or soy. Protein smoothies make convenient meal replacements to help you meet your weight loss goals or just as part of a busy but healthy lifestyle.
Tune up your cardiovascular system while drinking a delicious smoothie. Carrots and leeks both contain compounds that improve cardiovascular health. Although scientists have not been able to pinpoint exactly what it is about these vegetables that protects the cardiovascular system, studies have shown that people who eat more carrots have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. It is thought that the benefits come from the unique combination of antioxidants present in the orange color pigment. Leeks are in the same family as garlic, which is known to improve blood flow by actually lowering cholesterol. This smoothie is a spicy treat for a healthy heart!
You have heard of the V-8, now try the V-10 for even more of a nutritional power shot! When combined, all of these vegetables provide most of the needed macronutrients (carbohydrates and protein) and virtually all of the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) needed for the day. The only nutrient lacking here is fat, which probably is not lacking in the remainder of your diet for the day. However, to add this final nutrient to the mix to make a complete meal, 1 tablespoon of flax seed oil could be added as a source of healthy fats that would aid in satiety and promote a healthy immune system.
A clear complexion can be a lot of work if you were born with oily skin. Doctors usually recommend chemicals applied to the skin that can severely dry it out. Why not work from the inside out by including plenty of vitamins A, E and water in your diet. Get all of this and more with our clear skin smoothie recipe. This is a mild tasting, brightly colored smoothie that supplies vitamin A, which strengthens skin cells and reduces sebum, an oil-producing substance. This smoothie also has Vitamin E, which helps protect the skin from damage by free radicals. Additionally, the recipe has healthy fats to give you the building blocks needed for continued skin renewal.
All of the ingredients in this smoothie recipe have been said to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. Inflammation is a process that is basically an exaggeration of the immune response in the body. When the body thinks there is an intruder, it fights back by mounting an army of special warrior cells called neutrophils and macrophages. These white blood cells build up at the battle site causing swelling and sometimes pain. This is the body’s natural defense system, but sometimes the culprits are harmless and the inflammation itself begins to cause problems in the body leading to chronic disease. So, to help prevent this unnecessary war, try this delicious smoothie recipe.
This smoothie recipe has it all! Sweet, tart, satisfying, and surprisingly it will not raise your blood sugar as much as other foods! The glycemic load is a concept based on the glycemic index of foods. The glycemic index is an estimate of how much the food will raise blood sugar. The glycemic load is a calculation that considers carbohydrate to fiber, fat and protein ratio in the food, which attenuates the effects on blood sugar. The total glycemic load of this smoothie recipe is 16. This means that this smoothie has a medium effect on blood sugar. Not bad for a sweet treat!
This calming, tasty smoothie recipe contains bananas, which are a good source of B-6, a precursor to melatonin production in the body. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates circadian rhythms (our sleep-wake cycles). Kale and milk are both good sources of calcium. A calcium deficiency may contribute to insomnia. Tart cherry juice was shown in a study to aid in sleep because it also contains melatonin. This smoothie recipe combines all of these natural sleep-inducing ingredients while providing a slightly tart but sweet bedtime treat. Try it with sweet cherry juice in place of the tart juice for a mellower flavor.
As outside temperatures rise, you need more creative and delicious ways to cool off. Try this scrumptious strawberry lemonade smoothie recipe! Tart and sweet to the palate, your vitamin C requirements will be taken care of for the day with one 12 oz glass. I bet you never imagined eating half of a lemon could be so tasty! Lemons and strawberries are both known for their high vitamin C content. Vitamin C is one of the most studied antioxidants and has actually been shown to reduce the duration of colds. So cool off and stay healthy with our strawberry lemonade smoothie.
A vegan diet is a healthy way to eat and live, especially if careful attention is paid to getting “complete proteins” from foods. The human body will only use protein from food to build muscle if it contains all of the essential amino acids. Animal foods contain all of them in a similar proportion to that of our muscles so it is simple for the body to take them and build body tissue. Plant foods contain different ratios of amino acids, but it is easy to get them all if your diet contains a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Soy beans are one of few plant foods that contain all the essential amino acids, so enjoy this delicious high protein smoothie recipe.
