This is the second of four spring smoothies I’ve added into rotation for my Spring Smoothie Series. This is the ONLY smoothie I’ve ever made that my kids liked and drank - they are NOT smoothie people. Go figure. But this smoothie they actually liked and sipped all the way to the bottom of the glass. It was awesome. Especially because this smoothie is brain fuel - and we can all use that :)
Ingredients:
1/2-1 avocado, pitted
1 handful baby spinach
1/2 cup frozen, organic blueberries
1/4-1/2 frozen banana
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (I use the vanilla flavor)
1 1/2 Tbsp almond butter
1 scoop collagen or unsweetened protein powder
1 Tbsp chia seeds
Directions:
Place spinach and almond milk in blender. Blend until all greens are broken up. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Add additional milk or water if needed to achieve desired consistency. I like to top mine with a sprinkle of granola and a drizzle of almond butter.
Why it’s good for your brain:
Avocado - a great source of healthy fat - the monounsaturated kind - which contribute to healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow = healthy brain.
Banana - a great source of vitamin B6 which has been shown to help improve cognitive function and decrease mood-related symptoms of PMS and hormonal swings.
Spinach - leafy greens are known to be packed with brain-boosting vitamins and minerals including folate, vitamins E & K, iron, and calcium. Regular consumption of leafy green veggies has even be shown to keep your brain younger and help fend off brain affecting diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Blueberries - an antioxidant powerhouse believed to have the highest levels of antioxidants of all fruits and vegetables. It’s oxidative stress that negatively affects the brain’s ability to function, so the high antioxidant content in blueberries makes them a super food for supporting the brain’s ability to function, strengthening memory, and protecting against cognitive decline.
Almond Butter - in addition to being another good source of vitamin E and monounsaturated fat, almond butter contains both riboflavin and L-carnitine, nutrients that have been shown to positively affect brain activity. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can help neutralize free radicals known to accelerate aging in the body and brain.
Almond Milk - since it’s made from almonds, unsweetened almond milk is widely considered anti-inflammatory, which is brain protective since inflammation has a large association with neurodegenerative disease. Almond milk may even help slow the process of cognitive decline due to it’s vitamin E content.
Chia Seeds - these tiny seeds are loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory power in a nutrient-dense package. Chronic inflammation is associated with chronic diseases of all types, including the brain so anti-inflammatory foods have been shown to be brain-protective.
Collagen - collagen peptides are a good source of the amino acid glycine which has been shown to improve sleep and help calm the brain to increase focus and concentration.
