The ever enjoyable smoothie comes in all sorts of colors and flavors, and we’ve certainly had our share of wonderful recipes posted on steemit lately. Though I haven’t tried anyone else’s recipes yet, I’ve definitely been drinking more smoothies, all because of steemit. These are a five more ingredients that you should consider adding to your smoothies, and some quick reasons why I think you should.
TURMERIC
Turmeric is a rhizome (or root) similar in structure to Ginger, just slightly smaller and orange in color. It is sold in either rhizome form or, more commonly, dried and powdered. It has long been used as both a food and a medicine. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is a great antioxidant. The antioxidant properties of Turmeric can help heal wounds, and there is some research concluding that it can improve your mood as well.
Since I consider to have a subtle flavor, it is a worthwhile and easy ingredient to add to any smoothie.
HONEY
Honey is as versatile as it is beneficial. It can be in so many ways, and we would do well to be ingesting more of it. For one, it is a great natural sweetener and good alternative to everything from white sugar to aspartame. Though most fruit smoothies do not need to have sugar added to make them sweeter, who wouldn’t enjoy a little extra sweetness in their morning smoothie?
As far as benefits are concerned, the anti-fungal ans anti-bacterial properties of honey are some of the most notable and well known. Honey is great for battling infections and boosting the immune system. One word of advice would be to use raw honey whenever possible. Obviously this sweet ingredient can give a great boost to your smoothie.
KALE
When it comes to easy to grow garden vegetables that pack a nutritious punch, Kale rates pretty high on my list. Even if you don’t grow your own, It is relatively cheap to purchase and super easy to add to any smoothie or salad.
Kale has been considered by some to be one of the healthiest foods that we can enjoy, and many use it to help detoxify the body. It is an incredible source for Vitamins C, K & A, and also supplies a good amount of minerals like Manganese, Copper, Potassium, and Calcium. It is a quick and easy way to "beef up" any smoothie, and a great alternative to the wild greens that I recommended last time (link provided at the bottom of this post).
GARLIC
Now this suggestion is a little less subtle than some of the other options that I’ve shared, but it does work. I threw three whole, raw cloves in my test smoothie, and other than leaving a slight lasting effect on my breath for the moment, I didn’t really notice the flavor in the smoothie itself. If I hadn’t been the one who made the smoothie, I don’t think that I could have placed it’s subtle presence on the perimeter of the smoothie's flavor blend.
The health benefits of Garlic include such capabilities as boosting the immune system and detoxification, almost like a combination of the Honey and Kale already mentioned. I like to increase my Garlic intake prior to the cold & flu season of winter anyways, so throwing some into a smoothie just makes sense.
Though I wouldn’t suggest drinking a Garlic-enhanced fruit smoothie before going to a meeting or job interview, I still think that throwing a raw clove into the mix can be beneficial and worthwhile.
CHIA SEEDS
If you’ve got some extra Chia Seeds left over from your Chia Bob Ross Head, then you’re in luck. Yes, Chia Seeds can be used in other ways besides covering clay sculptures to grow some poofy, green "hair" on them.
Chia seeds are a super nutritious food that is also gluten-free. They are a great source of dietary fiber, and such minerals as Manganese, Calcium, and Phosphorus. Though they are very tiny individually, they are often used in weight loss programs and diets to help people feel full and not crave more food. A handful in the morning smoothie should easily help you make it until lunch!
MY EXPERIMENT
To test how well these potential ingredients actually work in a smoothie, I did some quick research and development in the kitchen. After my last smoothie experience, I wanted something with Pineapple in it. I used Pineapple, Strawberries, Kiwis and Yogurt for the base, and then added all five of my suggested ingredients to it.
I would call this experiment a success as well. My wife said that she could taste the Kale, and I was able to pick out the presence of Garlic, though perhaps this was because I was intentionally looking for the presence of that flavor. I think that it went down smooth, though, and tasted great overall. If it was that easy for me to add all five of these beneficial ingredients to my simple smoothie recipe, I think that you should have no problem trying at least some of them in your next smoothie.
