super smoothie!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a delicious cold beverage packed with nutrient-rich super foods! I know that it's almost fall, but come on. Even in cold weather, smoothies are delicious and convenient. This smoothie is a powerhouse of health and doesn't taste half bad. There's not much to making it other than putting everything in a blender and blending it so I won't bore you with those details. Instead, here's a little more about the ingredients inside:

The Fruit: For my smoothie this morning, I chose bananas and mangos. They're both thick and will add density to the otherwise liquid'y mixture. If you're having the smoothie for breakfast, bananas are a good option because they have a lot of substance to them and you won't feel hungry later. They're also high in potassium, something that we all know! In addition to the banana (one whole banana, frozen and sliced) I used some frozen mango. Mangos taste great and help to mask the taste of some of the other components in this smoothie as well as offer various health benefits. They're high in Vitamin A, (helpful for the eyes) contain high levels of fiber, Vitamin C, (for that immune system) have cancer-preventing antioxidants, and help improve digestion. If mangos aren't your thing, berries are also high in antioxidants and various vitamins.

The Juice: Obviously you can't throw frozen fruit and a bunch of dry ingredients into a blender and expect anything good to come out, which is why I chose Coconut Water as the lifeblood of this smoothie. Obviously, use as little or as much as you like. I used the whole can but if you like your smoothies a little thicker, use less. Coconut water contains all of the electrolytes of sports drinks but without the sugar and sodium. It's also very high in potassium and will make you feel instantly rehydrated. (This is why I drink coconut water instead of Gatorade for my soccer games.) In fact, it has more hydrating properties than your average tap water so it'll help with digestion and the absorption of food into your body.

The "Secret Ingredients": You already have a pretty good smoothie, why not add a few things to make it a GREAT smoothie? Flaxseed has been referred to as possibly one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. Word on the street is that it can help preventing heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke. This ancient, tiny seed boasts extremely high levels of Omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are the "good" kind of fat that does wonders for your heart. They're also high in fiber and Lignans, which have both plant-estrogen and antioxidant properties. They're especially good for women's health and are known to lessen heat-flashes during menopause. Goji Berries have been used in Asia as a healing agent for centuries and are now being made available on a large-scale level, which is good for us! Goji berries are also high in Vitamin A and may have anti-aging benefits. They're found to be effective in protecting against age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's and its variants. According to WebMD, "Other studies using goji berry juice founds benefits in mental well-being, and calmness, athletic performance, happiness, quality of sleep, and feelings of good health." Seaweed, the other secret ingredient, is another powerful food. (Don't worry, you won't be able to taste it!) Seaweed is one of the only few plant foods that contains Vitamin B-12, which is a good boost of energy. It's also high in potassium, iron, calcium, iodine and magnesium, which can all be found in the ocean. As for the amounts of these items to use, ease your body into it if it's not used to these foods. (Especially the flax. All of that fiber can be a lot for somebody who isn't used to it... need I say more?) I used 2 tablespoons of flax, one tablespoon of Goji power, and two pinches of seaweed. 

If the color of the smoothie freaks you out (it tastes amazing, by the way.) add a few berries or some beet juice to color it. Enjoy!

xo, e.m.