Are you out of inspiration when it comes to ingredients for your morning smoothie? Are you bored of the boring banana and strawberry smoothie, but don’t know what else to use? The possibilities for making a morning smoothie are endless and there are plenty of ingredients you can use that you may not have thought of yet. Here are 7 excellent ingredients for your morning smoothie.
1 Ginger
Ginger improves the absorption of nutrients in the body, so adding this to your smoothie will help you benefit from all the vitamins that are in there. It also fires up the digestive system and helps bloating and tummy pains, making ginger one of the essential ingredients for your morning smoothie.
Frequently asked questions
2 Vanilla
Do you make faces while sipping your kale smoothie? Adding pure vanilla can make the difference. The sweetness will not only make your smoothie much tastier, but vanilla also has health benefits. It reduces stress and anxiety and it regulates the menstrual cycle, which is especially helpful for those who have irregular periods.
3 Mint
Fresh mint in your morning smoothie is delightful, especially when you combine it with a piece of ginger. Mint aids digestion and it functions as a healing compound. It gives your smoothie an interesting, almost tangy flavor and you don’t have to use large amounts to enjoy the flavor and benefits. Just a few leaves of fresh mint will do the trick.
4 Cinnamon
Adding cinnamon to your smoothie means adding sweetness without calories. Excellent! Cinnamon helps to manage cholesterol levels as well as blood sugar levels. If you’re using lots of kale or spinach in your smoothie, cinnamon is a great addition to make it sweeter and more flavorful. Remember that cinnamon has a strong taste, so you don’t need much of it.
5 Cayenne Pepper
Do you fancy a kick to your morning smoothie? Then cayenne pepper may be your ultimate smoothie ingredient. Using cayenne pepper works best with water based smoothies and it’s especially a great addition to use in green smoothies to give it some balance. Cayenne pepper will boost your circulation and metabolism, as well as your digestion. Be careful with the seeds.
6 Flaxseeds
Be sure to use ground flaxseeds, as you’ll enjoy the benefits more than from whole flaxseeds. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, so it’s especially great for those who don’t get enough fiber in their diet. Start slow by adding only half a teaspoon and build up to one tablespoon. Flaxseeds are also known to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.
7 Cashew Nuts
Adding cashew nuts to a smoothie is especially useful for those who suffer from diabetes. The monounsaturated fats in cashews can help to lower triglyceride levels, a form in which fats are carried in the blood. High levels of triglyceride can increase risk of heart disease, so using cashews to keep these levels low could be a life-saver. If you want to add cashew nuts to your smoothie, go for the unsalted ones. You could also opt for cashew butter, if there are no additives.
If there’s one thing everyone should do, it’s making a delicious smoothie in the morning. It’s easy, it’s healthy and it’s a fast breakfast. Above all, it never gets boring; you can use fruits that are in season next to your favorite ingredients and you can use all types of super foods. Both the possibilities and benefits are literally endless. What do you like to use in your morning smoothie?
