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1/15/2012

Banana No-Nut Bread Smoothie

Banana No-Nut Bread Smoothie

INGREDIENTS 
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 3 tbsp hemp powder
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp raw blue agave
  • dash of cinnamon 
  • dash of non-alcoholic vanilla /or/ almond extract
Makes (about) 20 - 22 ozs

Put everything in your Vitamix blender and blend into a juicy smoothie perfection!

I pinky promise you this tastes just like banana nut bread...except in liquid form. It's superfood protein packed, with potassium, antioxidants and various other vitamins and minerals...and is great for an after workout smoothie or dessert smoothie. 
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Some Health Benefits

Coconut Milk: Coconut milk contains many vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, including potassium, calcium and chloride. The saturated fat in coconut is made up of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids the body quickly turns into energy instead of storing as fat. Therefore, even though it's high in saturated fat, coconut can aid in weight loss. Half the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut milk are composed of lauric acid, which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal. Coconut milk can help boost the immune system. Coconut milk is a dairy-free alternative for those who are lactose intolerant, allergic to animal milk, or for those like me with a plant based diet. It's also full of vitamin D2, the plant based alternative to vitamin D (which is best received from the sun) and vitamin D3 (that is normally in animal products). This plant based drink is also soy-free, gluten-free. Coconut milk is known to relieve the symptoms of sore throats and ulcers. 

Banana: Banana’s are loaded with potassium, a mineral that helps within the protein synthesis and constructing of muscle groups. A diet plan loaded in potassium is believed to trim down the menace of stroke and hypertension. They are also full of Vitamin B6, which aids inside the manufacturing of antibodies inside the immune method individually from red blood development, protein metabolic process and operating with the central nervous program. Bananas also have magnesium, which assists in recovering from exhaustion. Together with B12 and potassium, they support the entire body to enhance from your signs and symptoms associated towards the taking from nicotine. Vitamins C is in bananas also and it assists to safeguard the human body versus infections and remedy them too. This vitamin also delivers proof vital inside the synthesis with the connective tissue, assimilation of iron as well as the formation with the blood. Last, but not least banana’s contain Fructoogliosaccharides (FOS), which acts as foods for your “good bacteria” or perhaps a prebiotic inside the digestive method. 

Chia Seeds: The chia seed is a "superfood" that has twice the protein of any other seed or grain and five times the calcium of milk. They contain boron which is a trace mineral that helps with the absorption of calcium. The essential fatty acids, Omega 3 and Omega 6 are also present in the seeds., which is why there was no oil needed in this smoothie. Here is a list of the greatness that is wrapped up in each of these little tiny seeds: 
Constituents: linolenic acid, linoleic acid; antioxidants: chlorogenic and caffeic acids, myricetin, quercitin, and kaempferol flavonol. chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and flavonol glycosides; mucin, fibre; 8 essential amino acids (score 115.)

Vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B15, B17, C, D, E, K, choline, folic acid, inositol, PABA. 

Minerals: boron, calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorous, potassium, silicon, sodium, strontium, sulphur, zinc, amylose (a slow-burning starch helpful in treating hypoglycemia), and electrolytes. 
As I mentioned, Chia has a very good ratio of omega-3 oil to omega-6 oil; with 20-30% protein, 35% oil, 25% fiber. Gluten-free and very low-sodium. 

Hemp Powder:   Hemp contains protein that provides a host of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to survive. It is rich in the antioxidant zinc and the electrolyte magnesium. It also contains some potassium which is lost in sweat and iron which your body uses to carry oxygen in the blood. Hemp protein provides 20 amino acids -- the building blocks of protein -- including the 10 essential amino acids that your body can't produce itself. Also, studies show that the hemp seed contains 37% protein, 43% fiber, no net carbs. It also comes with the benefit of 9% beneficial fats (omega-3,-6, and -9 plus GLA), chlorophyll, vitamin E and iron. I was hesitant about using this product, when I first started implementing superfoods into my diet, because of its origin; However, hemp has managed to turn into one of my favorite all natural protein supplements because unlike whey it digests immediately, and does not turn into fat. Oh and by the way, although this seed does come from the cannabis plant, it does not have the same effect as the actual plant...so have no worries, this is not a hallucinagen and is completely legal. 

Cinnamon: is an excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Iron is required for cellular metabolism as a co-factor and in RBC's production. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper used by the body as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. It also contains very good amounts of vitamin A, niacin, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine. The spice is also very good source of flavonoid phenolic anti-oxidants such as carotenes, zeaxanthin, lutein and cryptoxanthins. 

Raw Blue Agave: According to Dr Ray Sahelian, bestselling author of, Mind Boosters and The Stevia Cookbook, there are several hundred species of the agave plant. Agave has been cultivated for centuries, first by the Native American population and then in Europe, when agave plants were brought back by the Spaniards and Portugese in the 17th century. Agave contains saponins and fructans. According to Dr. Sahelian, saponins, which are found on quinoa and many plant roots, including ginseng, have anti-inflammatory and immune system-boosting properties, including antimicrobial capability. In fact, the Aztecs used agave syrup to treat wounds because of its antibacterial properties. Inulin is a type of fructan or fiber that has many health benefits. Studies suggest that inulin can be effective in weight loss because of its low impact on blood sugar (that's right! this is a great sugar substitute for those with diabetes) and its ability to increase satiety and decrease appetite. Inulin is also associated with lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and increasing the absorption of nutrients, such as isoflavones, calcium and magnesium. In addition, Dr Sahelian says fructans are not destroyed in the stomach and may be a delivery system for drugs to treat colon diseases such as ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease. 

Vanilla Non-Alcoholic Extract: Vanilla extract is composed of simple and complex sugars, essential oils, vitamins and minerals, this is most widely available to us...and lets face it, most affordable. But if you can afford actual vanilla beans or vanilla bean powder, you'll get the purest nutrients from them. Vanilla contains small amounts of the B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6. These B-complex groups of vitamins help in enzyme synthesis, nervous system function and regulating body metabolism. This spice also contains small traces of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron and zinc.  Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper are used by the body as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. Iron is essential for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.

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Green Island Dream 
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