I'm a smoothie guy in the morning. They are quick and easy to make, easily digestible and packed with nutrients. I make my own and add or subtract ingredients depending on what is in my fridge that morning. The following smoothie is a standard smoothie that I mix up quite often.
1 cup water
1 cup plain oats
1 large handful of spinach
1 banana
1 handful of frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds
1/4 teaspoon of kelp
1 scoop of Vega brand clean protein powder (vanilla).
- Oatmeal is a great whole grain that is full of dietary fiber which helps to regulate blood sugar.
- Spinach is packed full of vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamnin K which plays a role in maintaining bone density.
- One banana provides approximately 400 mg of potassium. Potassium primarily regulates fluid balance and controls the electrical activity of the heart and muscles.
- Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits.
- Ground flax seeds are easier to digest than whole flax seeds. Flax seeds are rich in the essential fatty acid omega 3 which we typically seem to fall short on. It is also a great plant source of lignans which have been shown to have anti-oxidant qualities.
- Kelp is rich in Iodine which is required by the thyroid to function adequately. The thyroid controls the body's metabolic rate, blood circulation and is related to the heart's funtion. Our iodine uptake is decreased due to many common environmental factors.
- Vega brand clean protein is my go to protein powder. It is a plant based protein powder that also contains the all important branched chain amino acid glutamine. Glutamine helps reduce the stress to our immune system that is related to long distance training.
Mix it all in a blender and enjoy. No ice is needed if you use frozen blueberries. If they are not I would add two or three ice cubes.