Protein Power Smoothie

Want a quick way to provide your body with high and easily absorbable amounts of health promoting nutrients, found in vegetables, fruits and super foods? You should try a smoothie!

1. Source a blender and Wash and chop ingredients well before adding to the blender

My pick of the bunch is a Thermomix, Vitamix or you can pick up cheaper brands to kick-start your blending adventure like a nutribullet. It is crucial if your ingredients are not organic.

2. Add some fruit

Fruit is not a compulsory ingredient in smoothies, but will improve the taste of most recipes. To reduce the sugar load, limit to a maximum of 1 piece, or 2 small handfuls. Avocado, banana, kiwi fruit, mango, pear, berries and stone fruit are popular choices. Frozen berries add an icier texture, and frozen bananas, avocados and mangoes, create a creamy smoothie. Delicious!

3. Include some greens

Leafy greens such as silver beet, spinach, swiss chard, romaine lettuce (cos lettuce) and celery. Cucumber is another healthy and refreshing green addition.
Note: if you have an underactive thyroid, it is best not to have cruciferous vegetable raw (kale, cabbage, bok choy, swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts), as they will compete with iodine in the body. Iodine is an important mineral for the thyroid gland.

4. Pour in the liquid base

For a protein-based smoothie, you could use nut or seed milks such as almond, cashew, brazil nut, hemp seed and coconut milk. Otherwise, filtered water with a handful of nuts or a scoop of nut butter will be a fresher op on. Adjust the amount of liquid to suit your desired consistency.

5. Sweetening

The fruit you use should be plenty to sweeten your smoothie. Spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, along with vanilla and cacaco powder can improve the taste.

6. Add more super foods and your protein Powder

When you are con dent in making smoothies, add an extra nutrient boost by experimenting with super foods. These include coconut oil, MCT Oil, spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, wheat grass, acai, camu camu, bee pollen, chia seeds, cacao, goji berries, hemp seeds and maca powder.

7. Blend and enjoy This is such an easy way of adding more greens into your day!