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Here is a lusciously thick and tasty tropical green smoothie that will boost your metabolism and may aid your body burn fat more quickly.
Did I hear you say you don’t like thick smoothies? No problem! You have two options. Read on …
In many cases, the thickness of a smoothie is determined by the quantity of frozen ingredients used. Therefore, to make a thinner smoothie, simply use some fresh produce instead of having everything frozen.
And the second way is the easiest by far: simply add a little water or, as I prefer, a little ginger tea for even more health benefits, until your smoothie reaches your preferred consistency.
The recipe is from Michelle at Vitamin-Sunshine who gives some amazing nutrient info on the ingredients in her smoothie. She’s done some good research and says …
I freeze bananas for smoothies and to add to my yogurt while they are still green (they are good– it just takes a bit getting used to since they are less sweet). The reason for this is green bananas are higher in resistant starch, and lower in simple sugars. Our bodies can’t break down resistant starches, but they help the body absorb vitamins and minerals (especially calcium, ladies!), and inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Those are great benefits alone, but the other great benefit is that your body can only extract half the amount of calories from resistant starch than from other types of starches (this doesn’t mean your green banana has half the calories of a ripe one – because the whole banana isn’t made entirely of resistant starch or sugar).
While Michelle uses whey protein powder, if you follow this blog you’ll know we advocate getting your protein from natural sources and not processed sources. For example, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese or milk kefir will give you a similar amount of protein for the same or less calories. Plus the multitude of healthy bacteria that these fermented products contain which is excellent for gut health.
Health Warning!
As grapefruit can interfere with some medications, please check with your medical professional to know if this will cause your medicines to be ineffective.
Recipe: Tropical Metabolism-Boosting Smoothie from 160 Calories
Michelle also reminds us that protein is filling, but did you know that …
… the benefits of protein to weight loss go beyond satiety. Our bodies have a more difficult time holding on to calories from protein, meaning we burn more calories digesting [protein] than calories from carbohydrates or fats. One high protein smoothie isn’t going to have a huge effect on weight loss, but studies show that increasing protein intake over long periods of time has a significant impact on weight loss. Studies suggest that a protein shake with about 160 calories, and 25 grams of protein, can increase metabolism by 25%!
Serves 2-4
All calorie calculations are an estimate. Calorie-content varies according to product and accuracy of measurement. Check the info on your packaging if you require exact numbers for what you eat.
Ingredients:
½ cup Green Tea, strongly brewed
¼ cup Coconut Milk, canned, full fat
1 cup Pineapple (frozen)
1 unripe Banana (frozen in quarters)
1 large Grapefruit (peeled, chopped, and frozen)
70 g Spinach, frozen (with fresh, it won’t be as thick)
1 T Hemp Hearts
10 g plain whey protein (or favorite protein powder)
OR 1 cup nonfat Greek Yogurt4-5 large Ice cubes
Blend until smooth and enjoy.
Serves 4; approx 160 cals each
Serves 3; approx 220 cals each
Serves 2; approx 325 cals each
Source: Vitamin-Sunshine
Photo: DrinkMeHealthy.com
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