A smoothie can be a beautiful thing, especially in the morning. At its best, it’s a mish-mash of all the things your body needs to start the day nourished and energized – all in one convenient glass.
In this post, let’s discuss a few ways you can kick your smoothie into high gear. For the sake of brevity, let’s presume you already know about the fundamentals of a nutritious smoothie. You’ve got your berries for antioxidants and a little fiber. This can come in the form of aronia berries from J&J Aronia. You have your leafy greens adding a small dash of protein, ample minerals, and further fiber. And maybe you throw in a banana for potassium, carbs and bind the whole thing together.
But how do you take your morning smoothie to the next level? How do you ensure that it’s the platonic ideal of an AM pick-me-up? Here’s how.
Add Reishi Mushroom Powder for Focus and Calm
Reishi powder is the ace up your sleeve. This adaptogen mushroom, used in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia, may boost the immune system, improve your mood and help you feel more relaxed.
Typically, the powder is used to make reishi mushroom tea by adding hot water, but it works just as well in your smoothie. Find a company that mixes their reishi mushroom powder with other organic spices like cinnamon and ginger to add another dimension to your morning mix.
Add Oats for a Morning Dose of Fiber
Fiber is essential for lowering cholesterol, promoting good gut bacteria, and helping you lose weight. While there’s some fiber in both berries and greens, it isn’t necessarily always enough.
Enter oats. Oats are notoriously high in fiber and, despite some misconceptions, are also gluten-free. They add body and nuttiness to your smoothie and pair beautifully with berries, reishi powder, and bananas.
Hemp Seeds Take Care of Your Morning Protein
Protein powder does offer a high amount of protein (as the name suggests), but it can also be high in added sugars and may even cause digestive distress. If you want to keep your drink natural, turn to hemp seeds instead.
Hemp seeds offer an impressive 10 grams of protein per three tablespoons (even more protein than an equivalent amount of chicken breast!) They have a nutty taste reminiscent of sunflower seeds and, like oats, pair well with various smoothie staples. Whether you’re vegetarian and need the protein or just want a natural substitute for protein powder, give hemp seeds a try.
Cacao Powder Brings the Antioxidants and the Flavor
Cacao powder is the remaining cocoa bean solids left after chocolate makers extract the fatty cocoa butter. Unlike the similarly-spelled cocoa powder, cacao powder is processed at much lower temperatures, meaning more nutrients are still intact.
Cacao powder is rich in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals present in your cells. Additionally, it tastes great. Its naturally sweet earthiness goes with just about anything but pairs particularly well with reishi mushroom powder.
Experiment with the ingredients listed above and see how they make your body feel. Try different ratios, supplementary ingredients, and fruits. After some tweaking, you should be able to create a smoothie that’s perfect for you.
Featured Photo by alleksana from Pexels
