Great and Sunny Friday Everyone!
I hope weekend will bring you relaxing time after busy week. I am off today, so need to prepare my shopping list for upcoming week.
This time I concentrate on buying seasonal fruits and veg for my healthy breakfast – smoothies. It is getting hot and I am light breakfast lover. 🙂 Making smoothies is the best and quickest way to get a healthy booster of an energy for the day. I have my personal reasons for that, as I wake up at 4:30, and I am 47 …so need to look after my metabolism. I thought it would be helpful for others too, so I would like to share some useful information with you.
While many of the reasons are associated with a particular health benefit, several others made the list. After reading this I think you’ll be convinced that developing the habit of making healthy smoothies on a daily basis is an excellent investment of your time and money :
Energy – Supply your body with the right fuel for more energy in the short and long term.
Brain boost –  Give your brain all the vitamins and nutrients it needs to improve your mental clarity, focus, and memory. Say goodbye to brain fog.
Detox – We’re exposed to and bombarded by thousands of man-made chemicals in today’s world, which leaves our body begging to detoxify. Give your digestive system a break while adding detoxifying ingredients like dadndelion greens and kale into your smoothies to aid your body’s detoxification processes.

Strengthen your immune system – Getting sick is no fun. Reduce the number of times you get sick and lesson the severity by empowering your immune system.
Healthy ingredients galore – The number of healthy ingredients available for smoothies is practically limitless. After your basic fruits and vegetables, you can add an array of the various spices, herbs, superfoods, and other health foods. The possibilities and combinations are endless. It is very good option for picky children! 😉 You can even hide veggies in your kid’s smoothies that they would never eat on their own.
Beauty – Think radiant skin, hair, and nails. Supply your body with the vitamins and minerals it requires to grow healthier hair and make your skin glow.
Healthy eating education – By learning what constitutes a healthy smoothie, you’ll also educate yourself and your beloved ones on what comprises a healthy diet. This will allow you to make better decisions when the blender isn’t around. You’ll be more confident in your food choices.
I always have in my freezer: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, mixed berries, mango slices, pineapple chunks, Pomegranates, peaches, cherries, papaya, banana, kiwi, cranberries
Spinach, kale. You may ask why frozen? I buy them fresh on the market, but freeze after. Most of fresh fruits shortly after harvested, they’re allowed to fully ripen, which means they loose full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and freezing “locks in” many of their nutrients. I make a smoothies mix and put them in small freezing containers
My other super food essentials for making smoothies are:
Oats mix,
Acai,
acai has few calories, plenty of fiber, proteins, trace minerals, and monounsaturated fats. They have been shown promising in preventing atherosclerosis, lowering cholesterol, and killing cancer cells. Use the frozen pulp of acai in your smoothies to get the whole food without added ingredients. Pair it with cacao or other fruits and add a little of Manuka honey to bring out the rich, fruity flavor of these berries.
Aloe Vera Juice,
These include slowing tumor growth, lowering cholesterol, reducing inflammation, preventing kidney stones, relieving muscle and joint pain, improving digestion, relieving constipation, stabilizing blood sugar levels, and hydrating with electrolytes. For your smoothies, you can buy also aloe vera leaves at the grocery store. Cut back the outside of the leaves to get to the gel inside. You can add it to any smoothie without changing the taste.
Cacao,
Raw cacao contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that can improve your health in a number of ways. Cacao has been shown to increase blood flow, lower bad cholesterol levels while raising levels of the good type, lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, and improve brain function, vision, and mood. Add cacao to a smoothie, but do not expect it to be sweet. Raw cacao is bitter and needs a little natural sweetener- honey.
Chia seeds,
These small seeds are very high in fiber, which makes them good for weight loss and weight maintenance. They are also high in healthful omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Chia seeds also have a significant amount of protein, no cholesterol, and several important minerals. Add a couple of tablespoons of chia seeds to your smoothies and you will get many benefits. They can control your blood sugar levels, prevent blood clots, reduce high blood pressure, reduce inflammation, improve your digestion, and give you energy.
Coconut oil,
Coconut oil has also been shown to have an antibiotic effect. In studies, it helped to treat pneumonia and to kill the bacteria that cause acne. Add a tablespoon to a fruity or chocolate smoothie and you will enjoy the subtle flavor of coconut as well as all these health benefits.
Goji Berries – They are packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Goji berries are an excellent plant-based source of protein, and are perfect for vegetarians and vegans. They can help protect you from heart disease and improve your eye health. Goji berries have some interesting compounds not found in many other foods. A class of oils called sesquiterpinoids that is found in goji berries boost the production of human growth hormone, which produces anti-aging effects. Other components of the fruit can improve the functioning of your immune system and even help patients with serious autoimmune disorders. Goji berries taste great in any fruit-based smoothie.
Honey and Bee Pollen,
Honey has strong antibacterial properties and contains antioxidants. In fact, honey can be applied to wounds to speed healing. Honey can also combat seasonal allergies if you use a product that is made in your area. When you have a cold, honey can ease coughing and the inflammation of a sore throat. Bee pollen is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. It has been used to treat asthma, indigestion, anemia, acne, arthritis, and fatigue. Like honey, bee pollen may help with allergies. Both products are easy to add to smoothies, as they provide a natural sweetness that enhances any other flavor. Doctors recommend that you never give any amount of honey to an infant.
Organic Raw Maca Powder
Today you can buy it in pill, powder, or liquid form. The powder is a good choice for smoothies, and you can add a tablespoon or two to any recipe. One of the main reasons the native Peruvians used maca was to enhance virility. It is thought to improve energy and mood, lower stress, and to increase sexual function and fertility. In addition to these positive effects, maca is rich in protein and B vitamins, which makes it a great supplement for vegans and vegetarians. Maca also has vitamins C and E, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorous.
Organic Spirulina Powder
It is high in protein, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, beta carotene, zinc, copper, iron, and trace minerals. Spirulina can relieve allergy symptoms because it blocks histamine production. It can also improve the functioning of your immune system and help bring relief to people suffering from autoimmune disorders. Spirulina also acts like a sponge for toxins and can remove heavy metals from the body. You can get powdered spirulina and add it to any smoothie. Try using it with ingredients that have strong flavors, as many people do not like the taste of the algae.
Flax seeds,
It has been recognized as a potent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and are therefore, an excellent way to reduce inflammation. They are also high in fiber and antioxidants. You do need to grind these seeds before you use them, or they will pass right through you.

When I have my freezer and cupboard re-filled with all necessary ingredients it takes me 5 min. to make my healthy breakfast ready to go!
Here’s how to make a smoothie in 5 steps: 

Get your Personal Blender ready!
Add liquid. Start by adding about 1/2 cup of liquid to the blender – this is your base. Go for almond or coconut milk, natural yogurt, coconut water, plain water, or fruit juice.

Add fruits or vegetables. Banana makes for an awesome base in almost any smoothie, as it has a mild taste and a creamy consistency. Same goes for avocado. Other fruits and veggies that work really well in smoothies are berries, papaya, mango, pineapple, peaches, and spinach.
Thicken smoothie to get just the right texture, creaminess and thickness, and to balance the acidity from the fruit. This will also make your smoothie more filling and nutritious. Add nut butter, chia seeds or oats for a smoother, tastier smoothie.
Boost flavour. Sweeten your smoothie by adding some dates or a little honey, maple syrup or agave syrup. Add spices or herbs such as cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and mint to make your smoothie extra special.
Add super foods!
Happy and energetic day my readers!