The adventurous smoothie maker that I am, I don’t know what took me so long to try blending fresh basil. Procrastination aside, let’s just say I’m delighted to have found another super smoothie ingredient to play with and benefit from.
Incorporating herbs and spices into your smoothies is a great way to boost nutrition and improve the flavor. Basil is no exception. So, how can you improve your health with basil?
This past Sunday I did a little foraging with my friend and one of the goodies we collected were black raspberries. They’re a little smaller than the conventional store bought variety, but pack a hefty nutritional punch and are quite tasty.
Black raspberries are often referred to as the “king of berries” because of their superior health benefits. They are best known for their potent antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, and also provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. Black raspberry supplements such as capsules, soft gels, and powders are a testament to their health promoting properties.
After yet another successful trip to the farmers’ market this morning I decided to make a smoothie using a few things that I purchased. Strawberry season is fast and furious here in Michigan so I make sure to load up on these delicious treats, and put some up in the freezer for future use. Along with strawberries I got a couple bags of salad mix and a bag of kale, all of which made their way into my blender.
This is my go to green superfood smoothie when I get cravings for chlorophyll. I like to mix my smoothies up to ensure I get a good healthy balance of vitamins and minerals (and keep things fun and interesting), but truth be told, I’d have no problem guzzling this guy every day.
Starting my day with plenty of greens puts me in a good mood, with plenty of energy, feeling good about myself! The combination of ingredients in this smoothie provide an abundance of goodness. Let’s delve into the myriad health benefits.
Ryan pouring homemade Kefir into the blender
This is a quick and easy to make smoothie that imparts plenty of good nutrition. Probiotics, healthy bacteria, and friendly flora are all terms that are becoming more mainstream, which this smoothie has plenty of via the kefir.
Kefir is a traditional fermented beverage teaming with the “good” bacteria that live in your digestive tract. These friendlies help digest your food, help you assimilate nutrients, and play a starring role in the health and effectiveness of your immune system. Their importance cannot be overstated.
Besides being a great snack, cashews and cashew nut butter also blend will in smoothies and provide a rich creamy consistency. Like any healthy food, the more ways you find to integrate it into your diet the more you’ll consume, and the healthier you’ll be :)
Cashews are one of the healthier nuts you can consume. They are rich in copper, manganese, tryptophan, magnesium, phosphorus, and healthy fats. The monounsaturated fats found in cashews promote good cardiovascular health in tandem with magnesium and antioxidants. Here are 6 other health benefits attributed to cashews:
