How do you make a banana and apple smoothie?

Smoothies are a great healthy choice for breakfast or as a snack.

Forget buying them as they are always fresher and healthier if you make them yourself using ingredients that you know are fresh. All you need is a blender and the ingredients below.

This week’s smoothie is delicious and it is packed with vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients – serves 1

1 medium apple, peeled and chopped
1/2 large banana, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Instructions

Place the apple, banana and orange juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately and a sprig of mint as a garnish

Health benefits of apple

Apples contain vitamin C, B-complex vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B-6), dietary fibre, phytonutrients, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.

They also help with improving neurological health, preventing dementia, reducing your risk of stroke, lowering levels of bad cholesterol, reducing your risk of diabetes, warding off breast cancer & obesity.

Health benefits of banana

Bananas are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as B6, potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin and riboflavin. Potassium helps in regulating heartbeat, blood pressure and help to keep the brain alert. The high iron content is good for those suffering from anaemia.

According to a study carried out by the University of Leeds in England, increasing the consumption of fibre-rich foods such as bananas can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Health benefits of freshly squeezed orange juice

Orange juice is high in several necessary nutrients, including vitamin C, folate, and potassium and is high in antioxidants.

Orange juice can also lower the risk of kidney stones, help to increase levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and decrease total and “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Conclusion

Smoothies are an easy way of getting vital nutrients into your body and a great way of getting some of your 5-a-day. For those of you that have joint pain, want to lower your cholesterol or want to improve your heart health; by just adding 1 scoop of Heart Essentials, Joint Essentials or Cholesterol Essentials into your smoothie is a very convenient way to take your supplements.

Check out our other smoothie recipes below:

Blueberry Smoothie
Kiwi Fruit Surprise Smoothie
Mixed Berry Smoothie