Some of my favorite smoothie ingredients
I love smoothies! I’ve been blending pretty consistently for a few years. I may have them as a snack or as a meal replacement. It definitely depends what I put into it. I don’t blend a lot of milk based smoothies but there are a few I like. I primarily blend with coconut water and even some fresh juices. Whether I’m blending something fruity or vegetable based, there are some things I never leave out of my blends! I almost always blend with hemp protein, organic supergreens and flaxseed oil.
Hemp Protein
When searching for a new protein powder about two years ago, I wanted something that was low in sugar, high in fiber and vegetarian. I stumbled upon hemp protein. Hemp protein is made from ground hemp seeds, which is in the same plant family as marijuana but it does not have any similar effects and contains very little (no more than .3 percent) of THC.
Hemp protein is considered a complete protein because it has all essential amino acids that people need from food. It’s easy to digest, higher in fiber than a lot of plant based proteins and contains a robust amount of minerals and antioxidents. I definitely felt the difference when I switched protein. I had less bloating, it curbed my hunger cravings and I didn’t feel heavy after drinking a blend.
Organic Greens Powder
I love this powder! I’ve been using the Purely Inspired brand for years and found it cheap at Walmart for $15! This is not a protein powder. So that is why I add this in addition to the protein powder I use in my blends. It’s powder greens with superfoods and multivitamins that can give your blends an extra nutritional boost. This particular product includes 39 superfoods, active probiotics and 18 vitamins and minerals. It’s organic, gluten free, non gmo and vegan.
To give you a better breakdown:
Organic greens, sprouts and grains (8,755 mg), which includes broccoli, flaxseed, whole grains, wheatgrass and more.
Fruit veggie plus probiotic blend (1,190 mg), which includes banana, beet, sweet potato, spinach and more.
Some products like this will tell you on the front that they have like 100 vitamins but it doesn’t show a great breakdown on the back. I would say this brand is ahead when it comes to that.
Flaxseed Oil
I love the benefits of flaxseeds. They are rich in proteins, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart, They can aid in weight loss, digestive health and blood pressure. While I believed in them, I hated blending with them. I’m a huge texture person and don’t like the grainy texture that comes from flaxseeds. So recently I started to add flaxseed oil to my blends instead, game changer! I instantly noticed a difference in my food digestion but didn’t have to deal with grinding flax seeds.