YEAH! - It's time to Spring Forward and start enjoying longer evenings! I love this time of year and Spring is always beautiful in Texas. Each morning I make a smoothie for me and my son and we have been experimenting with various foods to incorporate as much power superfoods as possible in one little drink to really pack the punch!
Today is a really good one! I call this a Power Superboost Breakfast Smoothie because look at what all is inside this little sucker...
Papaya – Contains
rich sources of antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes, vitamin C and
flavonoids; the B vitamins, folate and pantothenic acid; minerals, potassium,
copper, magnesium and fiber. Together
these nutrients promote the heath of the cardiovascular system and also provide
protection against colon cancer. In
addition all that great stuff papaya contains a great digestive enzyme which also
helps with lowering inflammation.
Ginger Root –
Added for a little zip of spice to balance out the sweetness – ginger has a
long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of
gastrointestinal distress. In herbal medicine, ginger is regarded as an
excellent carminative (a substance which promotes the elimination of
intestinal gas) and intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes
and soothes the intestinal tract). Ginger possesses numerous therapeutic
properties including antioxidant effects, an ability to inhibit the formation
of inflammatory compounds, and direct anti-inflammatory effects.
Blackberries - Fresh
berries are an excellent source of vitamin-C
which is a powerful natural antioxidant.
They contain adequate levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Further, blackberries contain a good amount
of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper,
and magnesium. Copper is required in the bone metabolism as well as in
production of white and red blood cells.
Blueberries – Have
reached superstar status in terms of their unique health benefits and packed
with phytonutrients. There is exciting
new evidence that blueberries can improve memory. Antioxidants and their potential benefits for
the nervous system and for brain health and berries in general are considered
low in terms of their glycemic index. They
provide whole body antioxidant support, cardiovascular benefits, eye health and
anti-cancer benefits.
Strawberries – My
personal all time favorite berry – The strawberry unique combination of
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, it's not surprising to see strong
research support for strawberry health benefits in three major areas: (1)
cardiovascular support and prevention of cardiovascular diseases (2) improved
regulation of blood sugar, with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, and (3)
prevention of certain cancer types including breast, cervical, colon, and
esophageal cancer.
Coconut Milk – I’ve
been a long advocate of coconut benefits before the big boom and switched to
milk from coconut several years ago.
Rich in vitamins and minerals, coconut milk’s uses extend far beyond the
beach into the realm of hair, skin, arthritis, potassium and amazing
electrolyte. Potassium helps your heart
beat and does wonders for high blood pressure.
Raw Coconut Butter
– Is made from raw dried shredded coconut and when you puree the shredded
coconut the natural oil and meat mix together and turn into a buttery
spread. Using raw coconut butter in a
smoothie gives it a velvety texture and you get all the wonderful benefits of
the coconut!
Spinach - We all
know that spinach makes you super strong, but you may be surprised to learn
that spinach will help protect against inflammatory problems, oxidative
stress-related problems, cardiovascular problems, bone problems, and cancers at
the same time.
Superfood Superboost Blend - I purchase this from David Wolfe and it's a unique blen of 4 top superfoods - Chia , Goji Berries, Raw Cacao and Maca. Just a tbsp per smoothie rocks it!
There You GO! Bet you didn't see all of those health benefits in one little smoothie from the photo. Damn...it was good!
