Energizing and Brain Supportive Green Smoothie

This Smoothie recipe is shared by Sarah S, a Cross Fit Coach and Elementary School Teacher.  I like this smoothie recipe for several reasons (see below).

Smoothies are a great way to start the day to boost your nutrients and they are quick and simple (and not just for breakfast!)

This Recipe is gluten, soy and dairy free with a nut free option

Ingredients

  • 1 c. of unsweetened almond milk
  • ½ c. filtered water
  • ½ avocado
  • 1 T. homemade walnut butter or nut butter of choice (see note below)
  • 1 scoop Bulletproof Collagen Protein Powder, chocolate flavor. Get one type here and here
  • 1 tsp. Four Stigmatic Matcha and Lions Mane Powder. Get it here
  • 2 c. organic raw spinach

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth and serve.
  2. Makes two servings

Tip: If you don’t have time in the morning to put a smoothie together, put everything into the blender right before bed. Place in fridge. Put the base on the counter with your smoothie cup.  In the morning turn it on, go and do something for a minute, come back and there you have it.  Let the blender soak in water in the sink while you head out the door. When you get home, just rinse it out and make a fresh smoothie for the next day. 

For Homemade Walnut Butter: Soak walnuts for 2 hours, then roast in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Puree in food processor or blender with an added a pinch of cinnamon and coconut oil and puree until smooth. 

Quicker Option: There are many health stores that now carry freshly ground nut butters.  Look at the container for the date they processed it and try to find one ideally on the day of or day before your purchase for freshness. Store in fridge

Allergies: Sunflower seed butter makes a great alternate option if you cannot eat tree nuts. 

Almond Milk: You can make your own too.  Many boxed milk alternatives have added ingredients.  But they are super convenient.

If you want to make your own almond milk: Soak raw almonds overnight in filtered water.  Drain the water and rinse the almonds.  Combine almonds and fresh filtered water in a blender.  Blend at high speed for 2 minutes.  Line a strainer with cheese cloth (or like I do, buy paint strainer bags and use as nut milk bags), and after the milk has been poured through, twist the bag and squeeze out as much as possible.  Add a little honey or monk fruit to sweeten if need be. 

The longer you soak the almonds, say even for 2 days, the creamier the milk will be.  Almond milk only lasts about 2 days in the fridge so only make as much as you will need.  Use a ratio of 1 cup almonds to 2 cups of water.  

Collagen Protein Powder Benefits: Collagen protein powder is good for your joints, bones, skin, hair and nails. 

Matcha Benefits: Matcha is the young green tea leaves that have been steamed, dried, and ground into a fine powder. One cup of Matchan green tea can have the antioxidant benefit for 10 cups of regular tea.  It is not only antioxidant rich, but also boosts metabolism, can aid with anxiety, and can enhance mood and concentration. 

Lions Mane Mushroom Benefits: Lions Mane is considered a medicinal mushroom and for good reason.  It is knowns as being supportive for brain function and improving mental health and overall feelings of well-being. It also, it antioxidant rich and can reduce systemic inflammation. 

The Four Sigmatic Matcha Lions Mane powder (this brand has become of my new favorite product lines) also contains ginger and Astragalus.  Ginger has many benefits, everything from helping digestive issues to easing pain and inflammation to sea sickness and fungal infections. Astragalus is a powerful plant for its immune boosting properties.  It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used as a cold and flu remedy.  I also like from Four Sigmatic this one that my son drinks and this one I add to my tea and to foods  

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