Smoothies are a fantastic way to start the day. They are thick, nutritious, delicious and perfect for every season. Stellar smoothie recipes give you an instant boost of energy and are highly recommended by nutritionists.
It can be hard to pack the recommended amount of fruits and veggies into your day when you have a busy schedule. Smoothies are a great way to address this, by giving you your daily dose of fiber and nutrients. Making smoothies a regular part of your diet will also give you radiant, clear skin.
Make sure you include ingredients that are full of nutrition and good for you. Smoothie recipes will include ingredients that keep you full, well-hydrated, and contain good fats to fuel your body.
The smoothie recipes mentioned below are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, while still being flavorful and delicious.
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Cucumber and Ginger Smoothie
This smoothie contains digestion-aiding ingredients, which are perfect for soothing your stomach. It is packed full of ingredients that have a detoxifying effect on your body and help give you clear skin.
Ingredients:
Half a cucumber- medium sized
1-inch piece of ginger
half cup mint
Juice of 1 lemon
Water or Ice
Directions:
Add the lemon juice, ginger, cucumber, and mint to a blender. Pulse until ingredients are pureed. Add water or ice to get the desired consistency. Garnish your smoothie with a few mint leaves.
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Sweet Potato and Cinnamon Smoothie
Sweet potatoes are a great source of protein and fiber. They contain complex carbohydrates which provide sustained energy. Cinnamon improves circulation and keeps blood sugar balanced. It also brings blood and oxygen to the surface of skin and can help unclog pores and prevent excess oil formation.
Ingredients:
1/2 cooked sweet potato
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of cinnamon
A pinch of nutmeg
Directions:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and pulse until pureed. You can drink this at room temperature or add ice.
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Spinach, Banana, and Bell Pepper Smoothie
This smoothie is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that give your immune system a boost. Antioxidants protect skin from free radical damage. Spinach is full of vitamins and nutrients like magnesium, potassium, manganese, and folic acid. Spinach is rich in iron, almost double the amount found in other vegetables like cabbage or carrot. Ginger has antibacterial properties.
Ingredients
1/2 cup spinach
1/4 cup parsley
1/2 cup Swiss chard
1 kiwi- peeled and chopped
1/2 lime – peeled and chopped
1/2 bell pepper – seeds and stem removed
1-inch fresh ginger
1 banana
Water
Directions:
Place the Spinach, parsley, and Swiss chard along with a little water in a blender and puree. Add the kiwi, lime, bell pepper, banana and ginger and blend until smooth.
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Grape, Berry and Chia Smoothie
Grapes are a great source of vitamin C and powerful antioxidants. They also contain manganese and potassium. It is a great idea to add grapes to smoothies as blending them breaks down the skin which is packed full of skin friendly nutrients. This allows them to be easily absorbed by your body. Additionally, the chia seeds add a boost of protein and fiber to help you power through your day.
Ingredients:
1 cup grapes-seedless
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1/2 cup blueberries
Water or ice
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Add water or ice as required. You can substitute the water with almond milk to add creaminess.
With these simple smoothie recipes, you’ll never have to miss breakfast again. They are low on effort and will give you all the nutrients you need to get radiant skin while powering you through the day.
