Blend health and refreshment for a frozen summertime treat
There is a sweet, satisfying and delicious refreshment for the warmer weather? A smoothie is a healthy choice for heavenly tastes as well as nutritional benefits.
You have a lot of freedom to be creative and mix in a variety of ingredients when making smoothies. You can even sneak in various seeds and spices that can make your smoothie even healthier.
Pumpkin seeds and cinnamon have been shown to reduce inflammation and blood pressure levels, according to livestrong.com. The site also says chia seeds have a high fiber content, which promotes regular elimination and detoxification. Coconut water is “an all-natural way to hydrate, reduce sodium, and add potassium to diets,” according to WebMD. Those are just a few examples of simple ingredients that can make a big impact on one’s health.
Whether you use fruits or veggies, and no matter if you’re aiming for energy, recovery or simply a yummy treat, there is so much experimentation to be done. Here are a few recipe ideas to bolster your creativity:
Proteinserves 11 scoop chocolate protein powder1 cup milk (chocolate, if you want)½ tablespoon peanut butter½ medium banana1 scoop of ice
Coffee serves 11 cup coffee (cold, brewed strong)1 banana8 oz. low fat vanilla yogurt2 tsp. granulated sugar1/4 cup ice (cubed)
Fruitserves 21 cup frozen strawberries¾ cup milk (or water)¾ cup pineapple juice½ cup vanilla yogurt
Veggieserves 1¾ cup carrot juice½ cup avocado1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice¼ cup water1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger1 pinch of cayenne pepper
Contact Christina Spencer at cspencer15@my.whitworth.edu