Here’s a question I get asked all the time: are smoothies even good for you?
The answer is, it depends.
Most smoothies you buy from places that don’t favour organic produce, or places who load your “fruit smoothie” with concentrates or yogurts, are likely not healthy.
But when made with the right blend of nutrients (fats, minerals, iron, protein, and veggies – not just fruits), smoothies can be very, very nutritious to the body.
For those who follow a diet in favour of raw ingredients, smoothies are the perfect playground to mix in all kinds of healthy ingredients.
The trick with smoothies and making sure they remain healthy, is knowing when to cut the ingredient list.
And obviously being smart about your ingredient choices, too. Like I said, when made well, a nutritious smoothie should contain healthy fats.
Don’t shy away from nut butters! A lot of people who do, often miss out on absorbing the rest of the ingredients in the smoothie, as the fat acts as a conduit for the protein and other minerals.
Integral to most of my smoothies, and particularly this green hulk smoothie, are cruciferous greens!
My favourite kinds of greens. I’m talking broccoli, kale, cauliflower, maca. And countless others. If you’re not a fan of the earthy flavours, the beauty of a smoothie is that you can mask it with healthy, sweeter fruits.
But trust me, your body would love some cruciferous greens in there!
Something I love adding to my smoothie is this Beyond Greens powder by Flora. It is fantastic!
The first ingredient on the list is an Organic Fermented Grass Blend, containing wheatgrass.
A scoop or two in my green hulk smoothies and I’m set. It’s packed with cruciferous greens.
And for those of you who know the benefits of consuming wheatgrass, you’re in good hands.
It’s also got ingredients like chlorella, broccoli, spirulina, ginger root, and kale. All thegood stuff that you don’t have to worry about buying.
Ahhhhh, convenience! Something I happily pay a premium for 🙂
At the end of the day, what makes this green smoothie so great, is the easy access to healthy greens. And it’s all certified organic, which is a big bonus in my books!
If you don’t have a powder like Flora’s Beyond Greens readily available, you can always add the ingredients to your smoothie individually.
Here’s the super simple recipe to this powerful nutrient packed Beyond Greens smoothie:
Ingredients:
- 1 organic banana
- 3 cups of baby kale (spinach works well, too)
- 2 scoops of Flora Beyond Greens
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup almond milk
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- 1 heaping tbsp peanut butter
Mix all your ingredients in the blender until smooth, and enjoy. And if it’s the weekend and you like to enjoy your smoothies slowly like I do, you can pour it in a bowl and add any toppings you like.
For my toppings I used frozen blueberries, oats, hemp seeds, coconut flakes, and chia seeds!
What do you add to your hulk smoothie recipes?!
Nick Joly | Inspired by Nick
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