Smoothies featuring coconut oil

Hot and Spicy Green Smoothie

Hot and Spicy Green SmoothieEvery once in a while I find myself in the mood for a hot and spicy smoothie. In order to heat up my smoothies I simply add a little chili powder or cayenne pepper.

If you haven’t tried a hot smoothie, I encourage you to give it a whirl. Besides being a nice change of pace, spices such as chili powder offer their own unique health benefits.

Chili powder is rich in vitamins A and C. Vitamin A supports your eyesight and the health of your bones, teeth, and skin. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, boosts your immune system, and helps in recovery from injury. Chili powder is also rich in the minerals potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and iron and contains a little zinc, manganese, and selenium.

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Natural Protein Smoothie

Natural Protein SmoothieAre you looking for a protein-packed smoothie that doesn’t call for a supplement or powder, just natural protein from the ingredients?

If you search for protein smoothies around the web you’ll find most of them call for some sort of protein powder. Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with a good protein supplement (I recommend Sun Warrior and a few whey based ones), but some people would rather get their protein from whole foods and/or don’t want to shell out the cash for a high quality product. I’m starting to lean this way myself.

Part of the inspiration for this smoothie came from a brief conversation I had in the comments of a recent recipe, Greek Yogurt Smoothies. The commenter indicated not wanting to use protein powders and how he was able to craft protein rich smoothies without.

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Tropical Acai Smoothie

Tropical Acai SmoothieTake a trip to tropical paradise with this delicious and highly nutritious fruit smoothie.

Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, this recipe is a great way to start your day, or as a healthy snack or dessert.

All of the ingredients in this smoothie are healthy, but acai is in a class of its own as a legitimate superfood. While researching the health benefits of acai I came across one article that thoroughly encapsulated the magic of this super berry.

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Coffee Smoothie

Coffee SmoothieThis delicious and nutritious smoothie recipe was concocted for all the coffee and smoothie lovers out there.

Health experts can’t seem to agree on whether coffee is healthy or not. I believe in bio-individuality, meaning for some people coffee is great, while for others it’s not so good.

There’s a reason many indigenous cultures across the globe have sought out caffeine bearing plants. Caffeine, like alcohol, has been shown to extend lifespan, but only when consumed in moderation.

Here are a few of the health benefits coffee has to offer.

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Greek Yogurt Smoothies

Greek Yogurt SmoothiesThere aren’t many smoothie ingredients better than thick, creamy, and healthy Greek yogurt.

When you strain the liquid whey, lactose, and sugar from regular yogurt you’re left with the thick and creamy goodness known as Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt has roughly the same amount of calories as regular yogurt, but it contains about twice as much protein (6-ounce serving contains 15 to 20 grams) with half the sugar content.

Most health experts agree that it’s much healthier than regular yogurt.

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The Numerous Health Benefits of Coconuts and Coconut Oil

Coconut OilOne of the tastiest of all superfoods is the delightful coconut. Whether you eat the meat of the fruit, drink the water or milk, or use the oil, you can get some serious health benefits and even improve your appearance with this tropical food.

One of the striking and unusual features of the coconut compared to other fruits is the amount of water it contains. This water has provided important hydration for people for thousands of years. In addition to the water in the young fruits, people have always eaten the meat, or the white part of the fruit. The milk, which is the juice made from the meat has also been consumed.

One of the most important and most commonly used byproducts of the coconut today is the oil. It is used extensively both internally and externally, and perhaps most commonly consumed for weight loss and increased energy. Coconut oil is comprised primarily of medium-chain fats, which the body uses for energy as opposed to storing as fat.

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