Top 5 Superfoods Your Smoothie Is Missing!
If you've made it to the end of January and your resolutions are still intact, congratulations, you're one of the few! The average person tends to be a little too ambitious with their goals and it makes it harder to sustain. In today’s fast-paced, obesogenic environment, it becomes very easy to just say “screw it” and go for a cheap quick fix like a coffee and a donut. This is especially true when you feel you have just “crushed” a workout in the gym, believe me, the only thing you are crushing is all your hard effort.
However, let’s not focus on the problem, let us instead find a solution. Smoothies are great on-the-go alternatives that you can make as dense or as light as you like. If you use fresh fruit and vegetables and a low sugar base like unsweetened nut milk, they are highly nutritious. They also contain much more fibre than juices as the whole fruit or vegetable is used, rather than removing the plant cell walls, making them the wiser choice. Thanks to clean eating becoming more of an increasingly popular trend, you don’t just have to rely on yourself either! More and more healthy smoothies are available in local stores like Vitasave in North Vancouver, who use only organic high-quality ingredients for a super affordable price.
You can also jack up your smoothies with superfoods, these are extremely nutrient dense foods and herbs that pack a huge punch when it comes to optimizing health. Here are a few of the top ones we recommend (in no particular order):
Organic traditions Superfood Trail Mix: a combination of 8 powerful Certified Organic Superfoods. Chia seeds, Hemp hearts, Raw Shelled Almonds, Goldenberries, Black Mulberries, Shredded Coconut, Cacao Nibs, and Vanilla are combined to provide the perfect, nutrient dense snack. Chia seed and hemp give you a hit of omega-3, almonds also provide some healthy monounsaturated fat along with protein, while the berries, coconut, cacao and vanilla blend together creating a wonderful flavour, as well as supplying vital vitamins and minerals.
Amazing Grass green superfood: A full spectrum of alkalizing green superfoods, antioxidant rich fruits, and support herbs unite with organic Acai and Goji berries to provide a powerful dose of whole food nutrition. Working towards 9 portions of fruits and vegetables has never been easier! The delicious berry flavour of this greens powder sets it apart from others, and won’t make your smoothies taste like pond water like some other brands!
Four Sigmatic Reishi spores: These are high in triterpenes which have shown promising results in animal studies for reducing inflammation and combating cancer.
Genuine health Organic Gut superfoods +: This product is a rich source of prebiotic fibre and can be used in conjunction with Genuine Health probiotics to help nourish a healthy gut. So important for whole body health, particularly immunity! For more insight on this, take a peek at my previous blog on the importance of probiotics whilst traveling!
Vega Maca Powder: one of my favourite additions to smoothies. This Peruvian ginseng acts as a powerful adaptogen and helps to increase energy levels, perfect for a busy schedule or a workout!
Vega Chlorella powder: A micro-algae that is around 45% protein and a great source of vitamins and minerals.
Organic Traditions Probiotic Smoothie mix: an excellent way to get your daily probiotics in! Featuring not only probiotics and prebiotic fibre, but also a variety of nutrient-dense ingredients depending on which flavour you choose!
That should give you plenty of ingredients to experiment with! Use these alongside whole foods to create healthy on the go meals or snacks. These convenient alternatives to quick junk will help to keep you on the right track, whatever your goals.
Fiohann Shanahan-Dover
Nutritionist, Mandy Gill APP