New and improved Daily "Green Monster" Smoothie

About two years ago I posted my Daily Smoothie Recipe. Since then I have made some edits and changed it up a little bit, both for taste and for the health benefits of various ingredients.

The Base Smoothie:

• Raw Cacao Powder (natural caffeine great if you don't like coffee and don't want to drink pop)
• Low Fat or Greek Vanilla Yogurt  (Sometimes I use Activia for added probiotics)
• Vanilla Almond Milk (I avoid soy milk, it can cause higher estrogen in women and men)
• Rainbow Chard/ Baby Spinach (Both and great for you and have little taste, I prefer the chard)
• Ground Flaxseed
• Cinnamon (Read about the health benefits of cinnamon)
• Frozen Banana (The riper the better, peel them before you freeze them! See my buying/freezing bananas post)
• Frozen Blueberries (cranberries, acai berries, etc.) - for antioxidants
• Protein Powder (again no soy)
• Honey (Read about the health benefits of honey)
• Vanilla

Optional Ingredients:

• Frozen Apple Slices and Cinnamon (Read my post on why apples are awesome)
• Apples and Peanutbutter
• Peanutbutter and Cinnamon
• Anything you want!

Apple Cinnamon Metabolism Boosting Water

Want to cut out sugary drinks but can't stand plain water? There are tons of great flavored water recipes out there, this one has been great for me! I love the taste, it boosts metabolism, and gives me a little extra energy! It is so simple to make too!

Apple Cinnamon Water:

• Cut up on whole apple - Place in pitcher 
• Add 1-2 whole cinnamon sticks
• Fill pitcher with water 
• Place pitcher in the fridge for at least two hours and viola, Yummy Apple Cinnamon Water! When the water is getting low simply add more water once or twice before you switch out the apples and cinnamon!

(Recipe originally from LoseWeightByEating.com)

Why I love Apples (and you should too)

Besides from the fact that apples are absolutely delicious, they also have a ton of amazing health and weight loss benefits! Because of how many benefits apples have (and the fact that they are easier/quicker to read any way) I/m just going to use bullets, so here we go:

1. Eating one apples gives you the same hydration as one 8oz. glass of water. For athletes this means no water sloshing around in your belly while you are performing. Everyone else- water is good for you, keeps you energized, aids in digestion, and helps with weight loss!
2. Apples are low in calories 100g of fresh apple slices equals about 50 calories! (www.nutrition-and-you.com)
3. Apples help fight heart disease by lowering blood fats (www.whfoods.com).
4. Apples help curb your appetite, studies show eating an apple 15 minutes before a meal lowers the caloric intake by 15% - people who ate apples also felt more satisfied with their meals - apple juice/applesauce or processed apple products did not show the same results as whole apples (www.whfoods.com). 
5.  Apples help maintain good two forms of good bacteria in the large intestine, this helps with stomach discomfort, regularity, and weight loss! (www.whfoods.com)
6.  Full of anti-oxidants (www.nutrition-and-you.com)
7.  "Apple fruit contains good quantities of vitamin-C and beta-carotene. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body." (www.nutrition-and-you.com).
8. Apples are a great source of B-Complex vitamins which help with the immune system, metabolism, and other bodily functions.  (www.nutrition-and-you.com)

 

If you aren't convinced - go buy a yummy Honey Crisp apple take a big bite and you will be! Apples rock - they are a great snack and meal for kids too. Imagine the health benefits an apple a day can give you and your family!