Proper nutrition along with regular exercise is key to maintaining health. The rising popularity of healthy eating on the go is reflected in today’s trend of substituting quick, unhealthy meals with nutritious smoothies. Not only do they make for quick and nourishing meals, they can also be prepared in larger quantities, frozen and then used on busy working days. (When buying frozen smoothies, make sure to read instructions on smoothie labels.)
There’s no end to smoothie combinations that can cater to different dietary or health needs, personal moods or social events. Take a look at the following information and graphics, and learn what it takes to “smoothie” out your life or properly attune to different situations in only a few minutes.
10 Smoothies for Different Occasions
Smoothie for the Brain
Sometimes the amount of work that piles up does not let you prepare and enjoy proper meals, but that doesn’t mean you can’t whip up a brain power boosting smoothie in only a few minutes.
Essential ingredients that make up a perfect smoothie for the brain are chia seeds, raspberries, blueberries and pomegranates.
Chia seeds are low in calories and high in nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates (mostly fiber), vitamins and quality protein. Raspberries and blueberries are rich in antioxidants. Pomegranate contains an incredibly powerful compound called punicalagin which contributes to preventing neuroinflammation related to dementia. The result of combining these ingredients is a real superfood that can help brain functions perform better and protect you from free radicals that harm brain cells.
Smoothie for Weight Loss
Weight loss tips are never out of style, especially those that are practical and easy to pull through. Smoothie for weight loss will not disappoint in that respect, because all you need to do is ensure you have the right ingredients, most importantly green tea and cinnamon. Studies show that green tea speeds up the effects of certain fat-burning hormones, while cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar and supports digestive functions. Note that cinnamon + green tea alone won’t work miracles on your body if you aren’t physically active and if you eat more calories than you burn.
Smoothie for Energy
You need energy to accomplish great things. Sometimes those things are pretty demanding, and you need more energy to perform them. What better source of energy than a quickly prepared energy-boosting smoothie at the beginning of your day?
Make sure you include kale, which is rich in vitamin A, K, C, B6, calcium, magnesium, iron and more, and is considered to be one of the most nutritionally dense foods. Also, don’t forget spinach, high in iron and other compounds that increase the efficiency of mitochondria (that produce energy inside our cells). This combination will leave you feeling supercharged long after you’ve consumed it.
Kids Smoothie
Getting kids to eat healthy food is always a feat. That’s why fun smoothies are invented! You can throw in nutritious ingredients along with some tasty treats and you’ll know your kids got the necessary nutrients for the day. Peanut butter is a perfect kids smoothie ingredient because it makes everything taste better. Though high in fat and calories, peanut butter is a rich source of protein and it is very filling, so adding just a spoonful of peanut butter to fruits or veggies can really make a tasteful difference. If you also mix in a banana which is both sweet and valuable because of its high percentage of potassium, you’ll get a perfectly nutritious, yummy and quickly prepared meal for your kids!
Party Smoothie
Alcohol in smoothies not only helps people get into the party mood, but it can also be a sign of the host’s skill and good taste. You can’t just mix any type of alcohol with any fruit or juice. They need to match. Show a bit of creativity and experiment with various types of alcohol to find what really works. We discovered that white rumgoes quite nicely with strawberries, strawberry sorbet, lime and orange juice.
Alcohol Detox Smoothie
There are many ways to detox after a drunken night, but smoothie is probably one of the quickest and healthiest. Since liver is that part of your body that works hard every day to eliminate toxins from your system, use ingredients that will have a healing effect on this organ. Beets and carrots, for example, stimulate the liver’s function. Kale and spinach neutralize heavy metals and toxins.
Dandelion greens stimulate the flow of bile, the product of liver that aids digestion. Vitamin C in lemon helps synthesize toxic materials into substances that are eliminated from the body through bodily fluids, and applealso helps cleanse toxins from the digestive tract. Cabbage aids in enzyme production in the liver, and finally, water solves the problem of dehydration that results from the excess alcohol intake.
Gluten-free Smoothie
Gluten has been receiving a negative rep lately because many people report experiencing gut inflammation and more serious diseases stemming from consuming this mixture of proteins from wheat. To prevent health problems caused by gluten, people are trying to avoid products that contain it. A gluten-free smoothie is a perfect way to do that and get a high dose of healthy nutrients.
Breakfast Smoothie
Research suggests that skipping breakfast may not be such a good idea since it can lead to gaining weight, so breakfast smoothies are an excellent solution for people who skip breakfast due to lack of time to prepare it.The best thing about breakfast smoothies is that you can shape them according to your particular taste and use any ingredient you love, all in just a few minutes. You don’t need to wake up earlier in order to have a decent, nutritious, filling or simply tasty breakfast. You can just throw in several ready ingredients in your blender and you’re all set to seize the day with a beautiful feeling in your stomach.
Anti-Depression Smoothie
Chocolate smoothie might not cure your depression, but it will surely make you feel better at least for a little while. Cacao is one of the main ingredients in chocolate, and it raises the levels of dopamine and serotonin – neurotransmitters in our organism that enhance the feelings of happiness and well-being. The good thing about this smoothie is that you can add other nutritious ingredients in it and have yourself a proper meal. So it basically comes down to killing two birds with one stone: a quick meal without any fuss + getting rid of those blues!
Exotic Smoothie
A day in paradise doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but only as much as you will pay for some exotic fruits. If you want to feel like you’re cruising the beaches of South Asia, try preparing a delicious smoothie with a ripe, tasty mango which is the national fruit in some South Asian countries. For a taste of Brazil try the grape-like acai berry, but make sure not to mix it with caffeine. If you’re in for an Oriental-flavored adventure, treat your taste buds to fresh figs and Medjool dates from Turkey.
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