Recipe of the Week – Strawberry Smoothie

How to make a strawberry smoothie

Smoothies are not only delicious and healthy, but they are also a great choice for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

They are also a fun way to get children interested in fruit and away from fizzy drinks.

Smoothies are a superb way to nourish your body with essential nutrients. The best way to know the exact ingredients in your smoothie and how fresh the ingredients are is not to buy them but to make them yourself. All you need is a blender, fruit, Greek yogurt and milk of your choice.

Ingredients – Serves 2

160g of frozen strawberries
62g of Greek yogurt
90ml of milk of your choice
90ml of freshly squeezed orange juice

Instructions

Place the liquid, strawberries and Greek yogurt in a blender; blend until smooth. If the smoothie seems too thick, add a little more liquid until you find the consistency that you prefer. Feel free to sweeten as necessary.

Health benefits of strawberries

Strawberries protect your heart, increase HDL (good) cholesterol, lower your blood pressure and help to protect against cancer.

They are packed with vitamins, fibre and antioxidants known as polyphenols, strawberries are also sodium-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free and low-calorie. They are among the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity and are a good source of potassium & manganese. Did you know that 1 serving of 8 strawberries, provides more vitamin C than an orange?

Try to buy medium-sized berries that are firm, plump and deep red.

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.

Health benefits of coconut milk

Coconut milk contains MCTs, which researchers have linked with weight loss. A 2015 study here found that overweight men consuming MCTs at breakfast led to reduced food intake throughout the rest of the day.

It is also considered to be heart-healthy. A recent study here found that coconut oil increased the levels of “good cholesterol” (HDL).

Coconut milk boosts the immune system as it includes lauric acid. Research here found that lauric acid triggers cell death in cancer cells.

Health benefits of skimmed milk

Skimmed milk provides a very rich source of protein, offering 8 grams of protein per cup. Your body requires protein for its amino acids.

It also provides a great source of calcium. Drinking a cup of skimmed milk daily increases your calcium by 299 milligrams, providing 30% of your daily calcium requirements, according to a study carried out by the Linus Pauling Institute.

Skimmed milk naturally contains the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Buy fortified skimmed milk allows because you get vitamins A and D without the saturated fat found in higher-fat dairy products.

Health benefits of almond milk

Almond milk is dairy-free, low in calories, naturally rich in several essentials vitamins and minerals and doesn’t raise blood sugar.

But the main advantage is that may reduce the risk of heart disease. A study here proved that the regular consumption of almonds is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. This is mainly because Almonds are high in vitamin E and contain healthy fats.

Health benefits of Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt contains vitamin B12, iodine, calcium, sodium and protein. Plus it is also a great workout recovery food an excellent source of probiotics.

Conclusion

This is our first “Recipe of the Week” feature and smoothies are clearly a great healthy way of getting vital nutrients into your body. By just adding 1 scoop of Heart Essentials, Joint Essentials or Cholesterol Essentials into your smoothie is a very healthy and nutritious way to take your supplements.

We will have another smoothie recipe for you next week. Let us know below what your favourite smoothie is?

Super Health Essentials

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