I love starting the morning off with a smoothie, especially when the weather is warm. The greener the better, packed with fresh berries, dark greens and of course Spirulina. Cultivated for centuries, spirulina is a blue-green algae that grows in fresh water in some of the most exotic locations on our planet. Packed with protein and antioxidants, it is a perfect way to fill your body with nutrients to start your day before having a full meal. Fruit and vegetables are also naturally detoxifying, helping to cleanse the body and digestive system. I usually will have my smoothie around 7:30/8am which will keep me full for about 1.5 hours. Fruit and vegetables are best absorbed in the morning on an empty stomach, which is the best time to have this smoothie. You can also have it 1-2 hours after or before your next meal as a healthy snack. All spirulina is not created equal and so you want to make sure you are purchasing from the right place. Hawaiian Spirulina is a brand I love. You can find it at the Natur Shop.
Want to learn more? Check out this great article with more details on the incredible health benefits of the superfood.
What you need to make the perfect smoothie:
– Nutri-Bullet (easy to clean, use, and cost effective)
– Frozen or fresh spinach
– Berries (low glycemic index) or any other fruit. I like to use the left over fruit from my kids breakfast
– Half frozen banana
– Coconut water or nut milk of choice
– 1 teaspoon spirulina
If you don’t have spinach or a dark leafy greens, cucumbers are a great additional or sub.