Healthy beverages that will get you up and on your feet
I’m not a morning person by nature.
Back in my crazy college days, my snooze alarm was set for a whole 17 minutes, and even then I slept through a lot of my morning classes. While I couldn’t avoid getting up to go to high school, I’d sneak off to the library during my morning spare to have a nap in one of the study carols. I used to fake sick in grade school so I could stay in bed just a little longer.
I do make it to work more or less on time, although I usually linger in bed so long I don’t have time for a shower or breakfast. I feel like I’m sleep walking for the first couple hours of my day.
I once slept in until about one o’clock in the afternoon only to discover that my entire street, less than 15 metres from my window, had been ripped up to replace the sewage and water lines and lay a new top of asphalt.
It was then that I realized I had a problem. However, instead of changing my lifestyle so that I could enjoy more daylight, I hit snooze and went back to sleep.
I woke up again recently to the jarring sound of the blender. A friend was in the kitchen making smoothies for breakfast.
This particular concoction contained half a bag of mixed frozen berries, soy milk, a banana and a teaspoon of honey. It was cold, delicious and surprisingly filling.
But what was even more surprising was the way I felt afterwards. I was awake. I was chipper. It was eight in the morning and I didn’t want to go back to bed.
I don’t start every day this way, or even every other day, but when I do the change is noticeable.
You can never get bored with the same thing every morning either, as there are hundreds of kinds of juices, smoothies and energy drinks that you can make at home with the right ingredients.
The price tag may seem a little over the top at first, but when you compare the cost of your usual breakfast routine with the cost of the ingredients for smoothies, the difference isn’t all that great.
I searched online to find some variety, and this is what I came up with. Each recipe is for one serving, but I tend to drink enough for four.
Frozen Avocado Shake
1/4 cup of apple juice
1/4 cup mashed avocado
1/4 banana, mashed
1/2 cup of fresh of fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk
1/2 teaspoon of pure almond extract
One cup of ice
Blend
Hindu Love Goddess
One cup of nonfat milk or soy milk
One cup of vanilla lowfat frozen yogurt
Three pitted, chopped up dates
Pinches of ground cloves, cadamom, cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Blend
Vitamin C Punch
1/2 cup of orange juice
1/2 cup of plain nonfat yogurt
1/2 lemon, peeled an seeded
1/2 grapefruit peeled and seeded
1/2 cup of ice
Small piece of gresh giner root, peeled and crushed
One tablespoon of molasses
Blend
Morning Glory
One cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1/2 banana
One tablespoon of brewer’s yeast
One teaspoon of psyllium seed powder
Blend
Chocolate Delight
One cup of fresh or frozen raspberries
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/2 cup of chilled silken tofu
3 tablespoons of cocoa powder
One teaspoon flaxseed powder
Blend
Cholesterol Lowering Tonic
1/4 slice of ginger root
One clove of garlic
Handful of parsley (for the garlic)
Four carrots
One apple, cut into wedges
Splash of Tabasco sauce
Blend
Grape Ambrosia
One whole pineapple, skinned
One kilogram of organic red grapes
Two tangerines or one orange, peeled
One peeled lemon
Blend
This has a bit of a zing to it so you might want to add some crushed ice or milk.
Berry Good
One cup grain milk (i.e. rice milk) or nut or seed milk
One frozen banana cut in chunks
Three to eight fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Blend
Berry Yogurt Smoothie
Two cups of mixed berries
One cup of yogurt
Two spoonfuls of honey
Carob Shake
Three or four pitted dates
One cup of nut or grain milk
One frozen banana
Three or four tablespoons of carob powder
A splash of vanilla extract
Blend
Hot Redhead
One cup of tomato juice
One lemon, peeled and seeded
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of ice
Two inch piece of fresh, crushed ginger
Blend
Herbal Smoothie
One and 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup vanilla nonfat yogurt
One cup quartered fresh strawberries
Two fresh bananas
Five mint sprigs
Any herbal add-in
Blend
You’ll have to go to the health store for some of these ingredients. While you’re there, you might want to pick up a few other ingredients to liven things up even more.
Some of the most popular herbal smoothie ingredients are gingko biloba, ginseng, bee pollen, spirulina, and blueberries.
Gingko biloba has been used for more than 5,000 years as a herbal medicine. It’s associated with increased circulation to the brain and the body, and calms nerves. It has been found to increase cognitive function, increasing mental alertness, concentration and memory. As well, it is recognized as a powerful antioxidant, removing toxins from the brain, the retina of the eye and the cardiovascular system. You shouldn’t take it if you’re on certain types of medication, or have an adverse reaction, such as a headache or nausea, so ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
Ginseng is a stimulant that has been used to cure everything from digestive problems to sexual dysfunction. It stimulates the immune system and helps the body fight fatigue and stress by supporting the adrenal glands and the use of oxygen by exercising muscles. As a result, it is often used by athletes. The only documented side-effect is the occasional case of insomnia, but once again it’s wise to talk to a health professional before putting it into your smoothies.
Bee pollen is high in carbohydrates, fat, protein and vitamins and minerals. It is used as an anti-inflammatory and to relax the muscles. In lab tests it has lowered cholesterol in animals, and protected the liver from toxins. Furthermore, it has been shown to reduce the severity of allergic reactions in some people. The only side effect is that you might be allergic to it yourself.
Spirulina, or blue-green algae is rich in proteins. It is an antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, anti allergy, and immune enhancing supplement, that cleans the blood, and protects vital organs.
In studies, it has been shown to promote weight loss and lower cholesterol levels. If you don’t eat several servings of vegetables a day, this is a good supplement to take. There are no reported side effects.
Blueberries are delicious, and extremely helpful to settle your stomach. They clean the body from intake to outlet, helping to treat everything from sore throats to upset stomachs to urinary tracts. They also help your body to flush out bacteria and toxins.
The best part about smoothies is that it’s almost impossible to screw things up and blenders, if the top is securely fastened, are almost foolproof.
Just don’t jam a wooden spoon into the mixture if it’s not blending fast enough like I did one time because the splinters won’t taste very good. If only I could have had a smoothie before I woke up.
