I’ve actually been looking at my diet differently lately. Yes I always focus on nourishing and eating right and getting as many vitamins and minerals in each meal but I have focused on more anti-inflammatory lately. My dad has had rheumatoid arthritis for about 30+ years now. And I don’t want to blame every pain or creak in my joints on him, which is really easy to do actually, but there are times where especially my hip joints just ache. And its one hip that hurts one month and then it’s the other hip that hurts the next month. It’s weird. There’s just no explanation for it but my diet and what I’m eating I believe. Yes I do workout but it’s not muscle or something that is caused by that. So anyhow, I have been eating more anti-inflammatory foods and the ability of an avocado to help prevent unwanted inflammation is absolutely unquestionable in the world of health research.
Okay so here is my recipe for this smoothie. I also add in kefir, broccoli, shelled edamame, ground flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar! These ingredients are going to give you lots of vitamin C, fiber, protein, potassium, healthy fat for your brain, lignans, phytoestrogens, carotenoids, vitamin E, vitamin K and folate (thanks to that avocado!). I also put a sprinkle of stevia in there to lessen the bitterness of the broccoli and vinegar. (This is the only way I can eat raw broccoli by the way.)
Creamy Avocado Banana Smoothie:
- 4 ounces of plain organic kefir
- 1/2 an avocado
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen broccoli
- 1/2 cup frozen shelled edamame
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- A dash of stevia
- Water (just enough to get it all stirring)
So I just blend all those together. I used frozen broccoli and edamame so I didn’t have to use ice. I don’t like my smoothies too watered down but I do add some just to get things moving so it blends nicely. But add more water if you want it thinner. The avocado creates the creaminess which I love. And adding in the 1/2 cup of edamame is giving this 13 grams of protein.
Since I’ve been eating more of these foods, which I will give more recipes this week, my hips have been better! They don’t ache like they were. I’m telling you I could barely walk. It hurt just getting out of my car. I truly believe you are what you eat. I also eat less sugar and less red meat these days… that is until I go to my niece Kristy’s house who has an abundance of sugary foods. I just make sure to drink lots of water while snacking on some! I’m proud of her though. She’s becoming quite the cook and incorporating healthier foods in her diet. Yay! We have been cooking some fabulous meals lately which I need to upload the pics. I let her pick the recipes and we just cook up a storm. And then we burn off all the calories laughing at all the girls crying and the drama that the Bachelor presents every week. Does the love last? No. But it’s fabulous drama!
I’m glad I can be your guinea pig for all of these recipes.
Me too! See you tomorrow! It’s gonna be a salmon and kale night!
So what does it taste like Julie? Is it sweet? Does it taste better than it sounds because, I gotta be honest, it doesn’t sound too good. Or is it one of those drinks that you’d never guess what you were drinking? That’s what i’m hoping for!
Hey Peggy. It has a creamy, tart taste with some sweetness to boot. Yes it’s sweet. If you want it sweeter then you can just add orange juice or more fruit. I wanted to focus more on the nutrition aspect this smoothie will bring. This is considered more of a green smoothie meaning more vegetables in it so it won’t be as sweet as a fruit smoothie. Broccoli can be bitter when eaten raw but I don’t taste it in this smoothie. I also love apple cider vinegar and drink a lot of it and love the tartness it adds to it. But I did add a dash of stevia to sweeten it and take the bitterness out. You must look at all the nutrients in here as well and focus on that. But if I didn’t tell you what was in it, you would have never known.
Good to know. Thanks!