In previous smoothie recipes, I’ve suggested using maca as an additional (add-on) ingredient to boost the nutrition of your smoothie, but haven’t given it the full attention it deserves until now. This is one of my favorite superfoods for a number of reasons.
Vegan Smoothies
The smoothie recipes below don’t contain a hint of animal products and therefore can be categorized as vegan. Note, none of these recipes contain cooked food either; so they also qualify as raw vegan for anyone adhering to that diet.
The Brain Booster Smoothie Recipe
Photo by hockeycrew
Brain health is vitally important in this fast-paced world we live in where things are coming at us from every direction. The ingredients in this smoothie recipe all play a role in improving your mental clarity, memory, and overall brain function. Here’s a run down of each ingredient and its respective brain boosting benefits.
The base of this smoothie is apple juice, which prevents the loss of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, critical for memory and brain health.
Cherry Berry Smoothie Recipe
Photo by lakenvelder
This is a popular smoothie recipe that comes in many different variations. I think you’ll dig the version I created below. As with any smoothie recipe I post, feel free to tweak to meet your needs.
Here are a few reasons why consuming cherries on a regular basis is good for your health. They are an antioxidant powerhouse, and contain important nutrients such as beta carotene (19 times more than blueberries or strawberries) vitamin C, potassium, iron, magnesium, dietary fiber and folate. These vitamins and minerals offer much in the way of healing and prevention.
Outrageously Orange Smoothie Recipe
Photo by ericsbinaryworld
There’s nothing like a tall refreshing glass of OJ in the morning – except for this outrageously orange smoothie. This is the perfect smoothie for orange lovers with its sweet and tangy taste.
Oranges are renowned for their vitamin C content, but what other nutritional benefits do they offer? They contain a variety of phytonutrients, which when combined with vitamin C provide significant antioxidant protection and immune system support. The phytonutrients found in oranges have been shown to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol in animal studies.
Banana Hemp Smoothie Recipe
Photo by bezajel
I know what some of you may be thinking. No, this smoothie won’t get you buzzed.
This is the first smoothie recipe I’ve posted containing hemp; so let’s take a look at why hemp is a great addition to your smoothies.
Hemp Health Benefits
A complete protein, rich in essential fatty acids omega-6 and omega-3, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, hemp is a bona fide superfood. Hemp contains many B vitamins, vitamins A, D and E, calcium, iron and is a good source of dietary fiber. Here’s a quick list of the top health benefits attributed to hemp.
Antioxidant Berry Blast Smoothie
Photo by mellowfood
How often do you read or hear someone talking about antioxidants? They’re all the rage. Foods and supplements high in antioxidants are held in high esteem, and for good reason.
Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules, better known as free radicals. Free radicals are produced through the process of oxidation, which is the interaction between oxygen and other molecules. A rusty car bumper is an example of damage from oxidation.
Your body produces free radicals when your cells use oxygen, as is the case when breaking down food and exercising. Exposure to environmental toxins like smoke and radiation also produce free radicals. Free radicals are implicated in a number of diseases including cancer and heart disease.
Antioxidants to the rescue!