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I don’t know about you, but I don’t often think of adding pistachios to my smoothies. After all, they are a rare buy for me and just taste so good it’s worth enjoying them on their own.
But every now and again a recipe catches my eye and I decide to vary how I use things. Case in point being the pistachios, as in today’s tasty pistachio smoothie that has just a hint of chocolate added for the health benefits it provides. What are those I hear you ask …
Caroline Picard writing at Good Housekeeping says …
Forget about an apple a day. If you really want to keep the doctor away, try a piece of chocolate instead. Regularly snacking on cocoa-flavored treats can help protect your brain from cognitive decline, according to a new review from the University of L’Aquila in Italy.
Packed with both antioxidants and iron, dark chocolate has already made a name for itself as a smart choice for dessert lovers. Its potential brain-boosting powers only sweeten the deal. Eating some every day helps improve attention, processing speed, working memory and verbal fluency, based on the recent compilation of past studies.
And as for pistachios themselves?
Pistachios contain fewer calories and more potassium and vitamin K per serving than other nuts. A 1-ounce serving of dry-roasted pistachios contains 160 calories, 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and 15 grams of fat, including only 2 grams of saturated fat. It also provides you with 25 percent of the daily value for vitamin B-6, 15 percent of the daily value for thiamine and phosphorus and 10 percent of the daily value for magnesium …
Although most of the fat in pistachios is the healthy unsaturated type, they still contain a lot of calories so you should only eat them in moderation.
Please turn to the Next Page (click button below) for the Pistachio Smoothie with just a Hint of Chocolate recipe …
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Recipe: Pistachio Smoothie with just a Hint of Chocolate
Brianne at CupcakesAndKaleChips
Some people like their smoothies to have more of a fruit slushie consistency. I’m all about the milkshake texture, and this chocolate smoothie recipe totally has that. I dialed back the cocoa powder from how chocolaty I typically like my smoothies so that the pistachio flavor comes through. The pistachios also add a bit of richness, along with some additional protein and fiber to make this smoothie more satisfying. The creaminess first comes from the banana, because blending a frozen banana into a smoothie is almost like the ice cream in a milkshake in how it adds a thickness along with the creamy goodness.
Serves 1; approx 240 cals each
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:
- 1 Banana, frozen
- 1 Tsp Cocoa powder
- 2 Tbs Pistachios
- 1 cup Vanilla Almond Milk Beverage, unsweetened
or plain almond milk plus 1/2 tsp vanilla extract - about 1/2 cup Ice cubes (or more or less based on desired consistency)
Optional:
- additional chopped Pistachios, to garnish
or dairy free chocolate chips - a handful of Spinach or kale
Blend until smooth and enjoy.
You may also like:
Reduce Belly Fat Series: Strawberry Pistachio Smoothie (115 shares)
How to Make Your Own Vanilla Almond Milk (93 shares)
Dr. Oz’s Incredible Weight-Loss Breakfast Smoothie (4.5k shares)
Source: GoodHousekeeping; CupcakesAndKaleChips
Photo: CupcakesAndKaleChips
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