My Top 6 Smoothie Boosters You Need to Use Every Day
My Top 6 Smoothie Boosters
Most of us take little convincing of the benefits of adding a daily smoothie to our diet to boost our immune systems and keep us healthy and functioning well.
I’ve recently added a daily dose of dense nutrition to my diet consisting of a nutritious shake. Sometimes I drink just the shake as it is. However, as I tend to have it as a lunch substitute, and particularly after a hard workout, I get super hungry and so add a few healthy ingredients to it to make it even more filling.
Since drinking my shake every day for the past 8 weeks I enjoyed huge success. I’ve kicked my wine habit, have lost 8 – 10 cm around all my body parts and my mummy tummy has finally gone in! What’s more, my hair and skin are in better condition than ever and I’m feeling on top of the world.
Here’s my list of top six smoothie boosters:
Almonds:
I am addicted to these little fellas and it takes all my willpower to not eat too many of them. For a smoothie, I soak them for a couple of hours before using, or grind them in a coffee grinder. Almonds are rich in protein as well as minerals. They include calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper. They’re high in fibre which keeps your feeling fuller for longer and so can help prevent weight gain (so long as you don’t eat too many of them!) Almonds have high levels of antioxidants as well as vitamin B6 which boosts the immune system. Vitamin E helps the skin to maintain elasticity and firmness.
Chia seeds:
I have some of these every day, whether in my smoothie, on my porridge or in some Greek yoghurt as a dessert with a few goji berries and cacao nibs to end off my day in a very pleasant way. Two tablespoons of these little power houses contain a third of your daily fibre requirement and 10% of your protein requirement. They also have calcium, manganese, magnesium and phosphorous. They’re high in omega-3 fatty acids and contain tryptophan. Tryptophan is needed to activate serotonin which keeps us feeling happy and helps us sleep. Studies are showing that they help reduce cholesterol and help digestion.
Hemp seeds:
Another of my daily regulars are hemp seeds. They’re called the perfect protein source as they contain all 20 amino acids as well as being rich in gamma linolenic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid which is important for hormone balance. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, iron, zinc, carotene, phospholipids, phytosterols, vitamins B1, B2, B6, D, E, chlorophyll and essential minerals. They’re high in fibre and work as appetite suppressants. They are also linked to aiding heart health.
Maca powder:
This has a reputation for boosting both energy and the libido. Its effect on hormone production is also said to help stave off the extremes of the menopause. It’s rich in amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
Wheatgrass:
I love adding this to my vanilla shakes as it gives them a beautiful green colour. Wheatgrass is renowned for its rejuvenating and alkalising properties. It contains all the minerals known to man as well as vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, I and K. it’s a rich source of protein and contains 17 amino acids.
Matcha tea:
I add this to my shake nearly every day. It boasts 137 times the antioxidant load of green tea. It’s known for its metabolism boosting properties and is said to help with focus and concentration. It’s packed full of antioxidants, helps the body to detoxify, is rich in chlorophyll and fibre, contains vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium and helps to lower blood cholesterol sugar.