When you know what to put in it, a smoothie is an excellent way to start the day. It’s a good idea to ditch most foods that contain added sugar.
There are five main foods that you should always add to each and every smoothie you make. Each of these foods will dramatically boost the nutritional value of your typical smoothie and bring you much closer to a healthier body.
Coconut
Sadly, many people don’t give coconut the respect that it deserves. The coconut is actually a fruit that has a lot of nutritional value to offer. By eliminating other liquids and adding coconut liquid to your smoothie, you will have a tasty drink that is full of electrolytes and hydration.
Adding coconut liquid in the place of other liquids provides you with all of the hydration that you could need while eliminating fat. Coconut comes in several forms, and some of the best are coconut oil, coconut-based milks and coconut powder.
Flax
Although it might not sound very appealing, what flax lacks in flavor it makes up for in nutritional value. However, to take full advantage of what flax seeds have to offer, it’s crucial to ground the seeds. Every single flex seed is packed with omega-3 fats, which are released when the seed is ground.
Plus, ground flax seed will go great with most other ingredients that you would add to a smoothie. Inside every golden or brown-colored flax seed, you will also find an abundance of fiber and protein. If you’re the type of person who prefers a morning smoothie to be very smooth, you can always go with flax powder.
Banana Powder
Many people prefer to simply add whole bananas to their morning smoothie, but banana powder is an excellent alternative. By using banana powder, you can still get all of the potassium that you would get from whole bananas but without the trouble of preparing them.
Most banana powders are made from dried bananas that have been finely milled, and if you do workouts in the morning, you will find that the potassium from banana powders acts like an energy drink.
Chia
There is a reason why the Aztecs were into chia seeds. Aside from being full of fiber, chia seeds contain a wealth of omega-3 fats, and they’re also full of calcium. Chia seeds have been the center of research for the role that they play in preventing diabetes.
In case you’re wondering, it’s true that chia seeds are the exact seeds that are used on the famous chia pets. If you choose to add chia seeds to your smoothies, understand that they do add quite a bit of thickness.
Greens
Everyone wants to make smoothies with all of the naughty ingredients that contain too much excess fats and sugars. However, by adding some good ingredients like greens, it’s easier to offset some of the bad ingredients.
Statistics show that most people need more greens in their diet, and how could you go wrong adding them to a morning smoothie? Something as simple as a handful of spinach or kale will provide essential minerals and vitamins, which also includes healthy polyphenols.
Regardless of what ingredients you choose to use, a morning smoothie is a great way to start the day. By adding just a pinch of all of the above ingredients, you will be on your way to a healthier lifestyle. Whenever you make a smoothie, always try to avoid ingredients that add too much excess fat and sugar.
