Avocado Smoothie Recipes

For smoothie recipes featuring the awesomeness of avocado, an ideal ingredient for creamy, delicious, and nutritious smoothies, look no further.

Most of the popular diets of the day (vegan, vegetarian, paleo, etc) openly embrace avocados. Their flavor, richness, versatility, and numerous health benefits put them squarely at the front of the class. Read on for the low down on why avocados are such a health supportive food, or skip ahead for three avocado smoothie recipes.

The nutrients avocados are high in include dietary fiber, healthy fats, carotenoids, folate, potassium, B vitamins, and vitamins C, E, and K. All of which work synergistically to deliver the following health benefits.

• Heart Healthy: The folate and unsaturated fat in avocados contribute to a healthy heart. The primary fatty acid in avocados, oleic acid, in conjunction with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) have been shown to improve heart health.
• Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouse: Several nutrients in avocados help to reduce inflammation throughout the body. For those suffering from arthritis, in particular osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, regular consumption of avocados can offer relief.
• Anti-Cancer Benefits: Preliminary studies have shown the ability to help prevent cancers in the mouth, skin, and prostate, likely due to the combination of anti-inflammatory nutrients and antioxidants.
• Eye Health: Look no further than the carotenoids for this health benefit.
• Better Nutrient Absorption: Studies have shown the improved absorption of certain nutrients when consumed with avocados.
• Blood Sugar Regulation: The carbohydrate profile doesn’t lead to spikes in blood sugar levels.
• Reduce Cholesterol: Nutrients in avocados have been shown to help lower cholesterol.

Fun “alligator pear” fact: of the dozens of varieties of avocados, Hass avocado is the most common, and the original mother tree is still standing in California.

For years I’ve used banana to thicken and provide that signature smoothie creaminess, but lately I’ve been using avocado more because of its superior health benefits. I also feel satiated for longer periods after a creamy avocado smoothie.

Note on blending avocados. You might need to add a little extra liquid to your smoothie if you don’t have a powerful blender such as a Blendtec or Vitamix.

Here are three of my favorite avocado smoothie recipes. Enjoy!

Avocado Smoothie Recipes

Tropical Avocado Smoothie

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 avocado, peeled and seed removed
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen mango chunks
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen pineapple chunks
• A little honey, maple syrup, or stevia to sweeten (optional)

Chocolate Cherry Avocado Smoothie

• 1 cup of almond or coconut milk
• 1/2 avocado, peeled and seed removed
• 1/2 cup frozen pitted cherries
• 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
• A little honey, maple syrup, or stevia to sweeten (optional)

Spinach Avocado Smoothie

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 avocado, peeled and seed removed
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• A little honey, maple syrup, or stevia to sweeten (optional)

The Add-ons

• 1 tablespoon maca
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon chia or flax seeds
• 1 serving of your preferred protein powder
• 1 serving of your preferred green superfood powder
• Spices such as cinnamon, ginger, or cayenne pepper.

Show Time

For each of these smoothies, simply add the ingredients into your high speed blender and blend for around for 30-45 seconds or until the desired consistency is reached.

Please leave a comment below if you try one of these tasty avocado smoothies. Happy Blending!

Sources for this blog post include:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=5

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-avocados.html