Banana Almond Smoothie

jhornbecker — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:14:55 +0000

This recipe was given to me from my dear friend Richelle. It has been a great after dinner treat for my entire family. My husband says this one is his favorite and my kids request it frequently. I often give this to my husband and son after hockey practice for a good boost of protein. It is filled with natural ingredients that will make you feel good all day. I love adding protein to this shake when I don’t have time for a meal. We use Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein — a certified organic, raw, vegan protein powder. It provides 17 grams and 33% of the Daily Value including all essential amino acids. It mixes instantly and has a pleasant neutral taste. Just add one scoop to the recipe below.

Here is a breakdown of the smoothie and why it is good for you:

Bananas: Fight infections, reduce stroke risk, curb sugar cravings, boots circulations, fight obesity, prevent ulcers, ease heartburn, enhance absorption of nutrients, anti-inflammatory, reduce blood pressure, ease nicotine withdrawal, lessen diabetes risk and helps to fight depression and anxiety. Don’t throw away your ripened bananas, use them in a smoothie. As a banana ripens its levels of antioxidants increases. These antioxidants in ripe bananas protect your body against cancer and heart diseases.

Almond Milk: More nutrients than other dairy milk alternatives, promotes heart health and normal blood pressure, helps lower blood sugar levels, contains 50% of the RDA of Vitamin E, low calorie, zero cholesterol, naturally rich in minerals such as magnesium, iron, copper, calcium, zinc, maganese, potassium, selenium and lactose, contributes to eye, skin and bone health, no hormones or antibiotics, you can make it yourself at home, good source of omega fatty acids, no refrigeration needed for storage, great addition to smoothies, free of animal byproducts and protects against free radicals. Try this recipe with homemade almond milk!

If you don’t have time to make it on your own, it is good to remember that while most store-bought almond milk contains carrageenan, Silk Unsweetened Almond milk does not. If you choose to buy your Almond Milk, Silk brand is a good choice.

Almond Butter: The number one health benefit of almond butter is that it is good for the heart. It is rich in monounsaturated fats, which are the type of fats that reduce levels of cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart ailments. Almond butter can help control levels of blood sugar in your body by reducing the sudden increase in blood sugar and insulin which usually happens after you eat a carbohydrate-packed meal. This butter is full of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and flavonoids which help protect cells from oxidative stress and reduces the risk of heart disease and other ailments associated with it.

There is a common misconception about nuts and weight gain. Since nuts, such as almonds, are high in calories, many people who are on a weight loss program tend to avoid eating them. However, almonds are high in protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fats. People who eat nuts are less likely to become overweight than those who avoid them.

Honey: Helps to prevent cancer and heart disease, reduces ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-fungal (“All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide,” said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand). Even though honey contains simple sugars, it is NOT the same as white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Its exact combination of fructose and glucose actually helps the body regulate blood sugar levels.

When purchasing your honey, raw unprocessed honey is a good choice. 75% of all honey sold in stores contains no honey at all. A comprehensive investigation conducted by Food Safety News (FSN) has found that the vast majority of so-called honey products sold at grocery stores do not contain any pollen, which means they are not real honey. “Raw honey is thought to have many medicinal properties,” says Kathy Egan, dietitian at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. ”Stomach ailments, anemia and allergies are just a few of the conditions that may be improved by consumption of unprocessed honey.”