Smoothies are so much more than the sweetness of the fruit, and the convenience of having a breakfast to go. They pack a powerful punch in terms of nutrition, especially when you change the types of ingredients that go in your smoothie.
I make a smoothie EVERY morning and I’ve developed, experimented with and concocted hundreds of ideas. It’s kind of like cookies to me; you can add anything to it! But in terms of health benefits, the smoothie wins hands down…
There are times when my clients ask for smoothie recipes that will help with a specific health concern.
Here are three areas of health that can be improved just by choosing how to make your smoothies. All smoothies serve 1.
1. Improve Your Cardiovascular Health
One way smoothies can help with your heart health is by helping to lower your blood pressure. Even though you may have to take high blood pressure medications, you can take an additional step to reduce your blood pressure and regulate it. One of those steps is to drink smoothies designed with heart healthy ingredients in mind. Here’s one of my favorites:
Simple Smoothie with Berries and Banana
1/2 cup of blueberries (frozen or fresh)
1/2 banana
1 cup baby spinach
1 cup coconut milk
2 scoops Shaklee Vanilla Life Shake (my protein powder of choice)
Handful of ice
Mix the ingredients in a blender and enjoy.
This specific smoothie has ingredients that can be purchased year-round. Researchers believe that the antioxidants in blueberries work to reduce the buildup of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in artery walls that contributes to cardiovascular disease and stroke. And the potassium in the banana is a mineral that is essential for heart health — especially blood pressure control. A potassium-rich diet can help lower blood pressure, and people who eat plenty of potassium have up to a 27% lower risk of heart disease.
2. Reducing Your Risk for Diabetes
You can also make yourself a healthy smoothie that helps reduce your risk for getting diabetes, or a smoothie you can have when you already have type 2 diabetes. When you have diabetes, keeping a healthy balance of fruit and vegetables in your diet is vital to your health. Depending on the type of diabetes and severity, you may find yourself having to check your insulin several times a day, or you may even be in a position where you can lose weight and change your diabetes level.
If you need something quick and simple to help you balance out your blood sugar, this smoothie only has a few ingredients. Strawberries are low on the glycemic index. Also, by adding in protein powder, which contains fiber, you slow down how fast the natural sugars are entering your bloodstream. And the chia seeds are rich in antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and magnesium.
All of these may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications. One ounce of dried chia seeds provides almost 10 g of fiber.
It’s All Coming Up Strawberries
1 cup fresh strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup almond milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
1 T. chia seeds
2 scoops Shaklee Strawberry Life Shake
Handful of ice
Blend and enjoy
3.Improving Your Digestion
Your gut health is one of the health issues that can make or break how you feel. If your gut health is positive, you’ll have good digestion and you’ll reduce your chances of fatigue and other body issues. If you have poor gut health you can find yourself having issues with weight gain, toxin build-up, and digestive issues that can cause further problems in your body. Just one smoothie a day at breakfast can make a drastic difference in your gut health and overall health.
A Smoothie Perfect for Gut Health
1 cup full-fat coconut milk (from a can)
1/2 cup kale, chopped and de-stemmed
1/2 avocado
1/4 inch fresh ginger, peeled
1 T. hemp hearts
2 scoops Shaklee Cafe Latte Life Shake
Handful of ice
Blend and enjoy
By drinking this smoothie daily, you can start to see an increase in your digestion, reduced stress on your gut, reverse leaky gut symptoms, and an overall cleansed digestive and gut system.
I’d love to hear your favorite smoothie ideas!
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