5 Ways To Boost Your Smoothie

5 Ways To Boost Your Smoothie

by | Jun 2, 2020

Have you heard about different ‘superfoods’ that can be added to smoothies to make them even more healthy?

There’s a long list of them; so many that it’s easy to get overwhelmed in the land of superfoods.

I always recommend to keep things simple, but I can understand the urge to test out something new, especially if there are health benefits attached to it.

To save you the time and energy required to sort through all the superfoods out there, I’ve put together a short list of my favourite smoothie boosters. Check them out and give them a try!

5 Ways to Boost Your Smoothie

1. MACA POWDER

Known for its hormone balancing effects. Maca has been studied to help normalize the symptoms of premenstrual/menstrual symptoms, as well as the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, cramps, fatigue and lethargy. Look for gelatinized maca for easier digestion and absorption. Add 1 tsp.

2. COLLAGEN

The ultimate anti-aging smoothie booster! As we age, our bodies’ natural production of collagen starts to slow. Collagen supplementation has proven to be effective in supporting the strength and flexibility of bones, tendons and cartilage, as well as the appearance of skin and nails, and GI tract health. Incorporating a collagen powder into your smoothie is an easy way to support many areas of your health and stay forever young. Learn more about the benefits of Whole Body Collagen. Add 1-2 scoops.

 

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3. CACAO NIBS

These little guys are loaded with antioxidants, even more so than tea, wine and blueberries! In addition, cacao nibs are a high source of magnesium, iron and fibre. A great way to add extra nutrition and crunch to your smoothies. Stir in 1 tbsp.

4. SEA SALT

Not only will a high-quality sea salt enhance the flavour of your smoothie, but it will add life-giving nutrients. Sea salt is rich in trace minerals that are hard to obtain from food due to the lack of nutrient-rich soil. Sea salt can help promote vascular health, healthy pH & electrolyte balance, as well as increase energy, regulate sleep and improve symptoms of adrenal fatigue. Look for Pink Himalayan or Celtic. Add a pinch.

5. CINNAMON

Popular for its blood sugar lowering effects, but also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and immunity-boosting abilities. Great way to naturally sweeten your smoothies as well. Opt for Ceylon cinnamon over Cassia (aka “fake”) cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon contains a higher amount of coumarin, a natural plant chemical that can be toxic to the liver and kidneys, and it may also be carcinogenic, in large doses. Add 1/2-1 tsp.

Maca Matcha Smoothie (AIP, Plant-Based, Paleo)

Maca Matcha Smoothie (AIP, Plant-Based, Paleo)

by | Aug 7, 2019

Maca Matcha Smoothie is creamy and refreshing! Two powerful ingredients, maca and matcha, make this smoothie great for hormone balancing and anti-aging. Truly the perfect smoothie for looking and feeling your best! Dairy free, AIP, low-carb, plant-based & paleo.

DID YOU KNOW? Maca is a root vegetable in the Radish family that is known for its hormone balancing effects.

Maca is an endocrine adaptogen, meaning that it does not contain any hormones, but rather it contains the nutrients necessary to support normal hormone production.

This root has been studied to help enhance fertility, normalize symptoms of premenstrual/menstrual symptoms, as well as the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, cramps, fatigue and lethargy.

You can easily add maca to your diet by blending it into a smoothie. Look for gelatinized maca for easier digestion and absorption.

Maca Matcha Smoothie (AIP, Low-Carb, Paleo)

What you need for Maca Matcha Smoothie:

BOOST your smoothie with anti-aging collagen! Add 1-2 scoops Whole Body Collagen.

Want more smoothie recipes? You’re going to love these …

Maca Matcha Smoothie (AIP, Low-Carb, Paleo)

Maca Matcha Smoothie

Maca Matcha Smoothie is creamy and refreshing! Two powerful ingredients, maca and matcha, make this smoothie great for hormone balancing and anti-aging. Truly the perfect smoothie for looking and feeling your best! Dairy free, AIP, low-carb, plant-based & paleo.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Course: Smoothie
Cuisine: AIP, Low-Carb, Paleo, Plant-Based
Servings: 1

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut or almond milk, use full fat or light canned coconut milk for an extra creamy smoothie.
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 tsp matcha tea powder
  • 1 tsp maca powder
  • 1 tsp honey, optional
  • A few ice cubes, recommended if your banana isn't frozen
  • 1-2 scoops Whole Body Collagen, optional

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Notes

  • Use full fat or light canned coconut milk for an extra creamy smoothie.
  • Use coconut milk (not almond milk) for AIP version.
  • BOOST your smoothie with anti-aging collagen! Add 1-2 scoops Whole Body Collagen.
Keyword banana, coconut milk, cold drink, collagen, dairy free, female hormones, gluten free, grain free, honey, hormone balancing, maca, matcha
9 hacks for creating YOUR perfect smoothie

9 hacks for creating YOUR perfect smoothie

by | Jan 8, 2019

Although making a smoothie isn’t anywhere near rocket science, it still takes some experimentation to create just the right flavour, temperature and texture for your palate.

I’ve put together some smoothie hacks that will not only help troubleshoot issues you may encounter in the land of smoothie making, but also help you create smoothies that will tickle your taste buds.

Check them out …

The recommendations below are based off the smoothie formula found in the Quick-Start Guide To Smoothies and the LIVE 7-Day Smoothie Challenge.

9 hacks for creating YOUR perfect smoothie

1. Know your palate

The most important part of creating your perfect smoothie is using the right ingredients. Know what flavours you enjoy and try blending them together. Think of your favourite ice cream flavour or dessert recipe when trying to decide what you might like. Better yet, give some of my dessert-inspired smoothie recipes a try!

Also, don’t be afraid to recreate the same smoothie recipes you love — repetition is a great approach to developing new healthy habits.

2. One bitter B!*@#

No, not you–the smoothie. Yes, greens can make your smoothie bitter tasting. If you’re following the formula I’ve provided, you probably won’t encounter this issue, but if you do, here are some suggestions:

1) Use frozen vs. fresh greens since they taste less bitter;

2) Use less bitter greens (like spinach) until your palate is welcoming to the others.

Tip #3 is also a great way to balance the bitterness.

3. Mother Nature’s candy

The sweetness of fruit–and stevia in the PurePaleo Protein powders should be enough to balance out the bitter flavour of greens and satisfy your sweet tooth. If you need added sweetness, I suggest adding 1/4 cup extra fruit OR add a pinch of stevia for a smoothie that is lower in sugar content (I recommend Better Stevia by NOW).

4. Ice, ice baby

If you crave a smoothie that sends chills down your spine, then I recommend using frozen fruit and/or greens. Not only will you get an ice-cold smoothie, but using frozen produce makes smoothie making way easy since there’s no washing or chopping required.

If you don’t want to use frozen produce, but still want a cold smoothie, just throw in a few ice cubes.

5. Brain freeze!

Maybe you don’t enjoy super cold smoothies, especially during the cold winter months. One solution would be to use fresh produce instead of frozen.

If you want to use frozen produce (because it just makes life easier), here’s a solution… Add ½-1 cup hot or boiling water instead of room-temperature or cold water. This hot trick will help balance the temperature of your smoothie so it’s just right.

6. Silky smooth

If your smoothies aren’t turning out as smooth as you’d like or you find yourself chewing through chunks of greens, I suggest blending water and greens first for 30+ seconds (or until smooth). You can then add the remaining ingredients and continue to blend for another 30+ seconds.

Smooth and chunk-free should be the end product. If not, maybe it’s time for a new blender (check out my blender guide here)

7. Big or little spoon

Avocado is not only a wonderful way to add quality fat to your smoothie, but it’s also the perfect way to create a thick and creamy smoothie.

When building your smoothie use ½ an avocado and only ½ cup water to get a thick smoothie you can eat with a spoon. Think of it as a smoothie yogurt!

8. Smoothie gag

OK, so maybe you’re gagging over thick smoothies? Let’s put a quick end to that. This hack is simple… just add more water.

If 1 cup of water isn’t enough, try adding 1/4 cup more at a time. Avoid adding too much water as this will dilute the flavour of your smoothie.

9. Drew your smoothie

Drink + chew = drew! Many people avoid smoothies because they feel unsatisfied with drinking their food and would prefer to chew their food.

Before you write-off smoothies, try this… After blending your smoothie, stir in 1 tbsp. of cacao nibs, crushed raw nuts, seeds, coconut flakes/chips, or soaked tiger nuts to create a smoothie you can chew through. It’s a cool little trick to get your digestive enzymes flowing at the same time as satisfying the need to chew your food. Check out more info on how to “drew” your smoothie here.

I also recommend tip #7, since a thicker smoothie will help you feel more satisfied.