Seasonal Smoothies for Spring
29 April 2019 at 14:59
Seasonal Smoothies for Spring
There’s nothing better that using fresh, seasonal produce - recently harvested and with minimal time spent in transit or storage means fruit and vegetables are at their prime and vibrating with energy.
Spring is a time to cleanse and energize our bodies after the winter, and nutrient-packed smoothies are an ideal way to make the most of the rainbow of fresh produce that’s available. Choosing organic is ideal as you can maximise on the nutritional benefits while avoiding potentially harmful pesticide residues.
Top tips for creating your own smoothies
There are hundreds of smoothie recipes online but we all have our own personal tastes, and they are so easy to make there’s no reason why you can’t create your own recipes once you know the basics. Simply choose a base for your smoothie, add the fruit and veg of your choice, adjust the sweetness and texture and decide if you want to add a booster – for example to improve the protein or omega 3 content.
- Green tea makes an excellent base for a smoothie, or choose a non-dairy milk like almond milk if you like a creamy texture
- Lemon juice is not only an excellent liver cleanser, it also helps bring all your flavours together
- Berries add sweetness but are low GI so wont upset the blood sugar balance
- For a thicker texture, avocado or banana are popular choices • To increase the protein content, seeds like flaxseed and chia are perfect as they also contain beneficial omega 3 fats. They can also be used as a thickener if you don’t fancy banana.
- To top it off, fresh herbs are packed with antioxidants, stimulate the digestion and have anti-inflammatory properties – ginger, peppermint and coriander leaves are great additions.
10 of the best Spring smoothie ingredients:
- Cold green tea – high in antioxidants (flavonoids and catechins) which protect against cell damage and boost metabolism
- Kale – packed with specific antioxidants which protect cells against free radical damage
- Cucumber – refreshing and cleansing, also a good source of antioxidants
- Fresh grated ginger – aids digestion and boosts metabolism
- Coriander leaves - anti-inflammatory and stimulates digestion
- Pineapple – excellent source of vitamin C and bromelain (an anti-inflammatory)
- Lemon juice – a natural diuretic which is detoxifying and cleansing to the liver
- Blueberries – packed with phytonutrients with anti-inflammatory and cardio –protective properties
- Carrots – an incredibly rich source of the antioxidant beta carotene
- Peppermint – cooling and energizing, helps regulate digestion and reduce symptoms of IBS.
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