This is my all-time favourite smoothie. I love the colour, I love the taste, and I love that it keeps me full all morning long. It’s pretty awesome starting your day with 2 servings of spinach, a serving of fruit, and a giant dose of Omega-3s (More on why those are so important, here), vitamins, and a superfood! Kind of makes you feel like a superhero, no?
Let’s take a minute to talk about this superfood, maca powder. Maca powder is ground from the maca root, whose healing properties go way back. When I first heard the term, “Superfood,” I was a little like…ok, c’mon, seriously?! But I’ve looked into it a bit more and have to agree, maca is pretty damn awesome.
I first got interested in trying maca powder out when I read about it’s ability to balance hormones and therefore lessen depression and anxiety, and boost your mood. That, in itself, is awesome. In my field of work, I see depression and anxiety all the time. I wish I could say that in Canada all of my clients were able to get the medical support they need, but it simply isn’t true. Often they don’t have prescription coverage, and they certainly don’t have benefits that will cover alternative medicines like naturopathic or holistic approaches. Balancing this need through food and supplements, like maca powder, can be an effective way for some people to manage the symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses.
Maca powder also naturally increases energy levels. I recently was able to give up my morning coffee addiction and I whole heartedly attribute that to my morning smoothies.
Maca powder is known to increase libido and increase fertility in both men and women. Who doesn’t want to have more sex?! But be careful if you’re not into that whole baby thing yet….!
It’s also full of nutrients like vitamins B, C, and E, antioxidants, magnesium, and iron. I recently read that 80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium, which has been shown to be deficient in people with depression. I’m thinking, the more magnesium the better, people!
That’s not all… it helps you gain muscle, improves skin tone and acne, makes your bones, teeth and hair stronger, and relieves stress. And all it takes is 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon a day!
Try this smoothie out and you will not be disappointed with the taste, or the energized feeling you’ll have all morning. It’s the easiest, healthiest, 5 minute breakfast. You won’t regret it!
| My Go-To Green Smoothie | Print |
- 1½ frozen bananas
- ½ - ¾ cup almond milk (or whatever type you prefer)
- 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 tsp. maca powder
- 1½ Tablespoons all-natural peanut butter or almond butter
- 2 packed cups of spinach
- 3-4 ice cubes
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. If you prefer your smoothies thinner, add more milk a little at a time, and eliminate the ice cubes.
