In the wake of our most gluttonous holidays, why not start off each day with a healthy bowl of goodness that will make you feel good and give you energy throughout the day. Smoothie bowls are filling, full of flavor, packed with nutritional goodness, and oh-so pretty. I chose to blend a kale-apple smoothie then top with satsumas we recently picked in South Alabama and an array of berries. I like pairing the healthy green kale flavor with the sweetness of fruit.
Kale-Apple Smoothie
3/4 cup chopped kale, ribs and thick stems removed
1/2 banana
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup ice
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Directions:
Place the kale, celery, banana, apple juice, ice, and lemon juice in a blender.
Blend until smooth and frothy. Top with fruit.
Satsumas – Natural immune system booster. The profusely rich presence of carotenoids in these fruits can avert the risk of liver cancer. Packed with limonene, this fruit is also known to delay the onset of breast cancer in women. The fiber rich Satsuma helps in flushing out the toxins from human body, thus purifying the blood. A supreme source of natural fibers, it has been advocated to be a good weight loss companion.
Blackberries – Much like spinach, raisins, apples, plums and grapes, blackberries are rich in bioflavonoids and Vitamin C, but other nutritional benefits include a very low sodium count and having only 62 calories to a cup. The dark blue colour ensures blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all fruits.
Dates – Help with weight loss and promote heart health by reducing heart disease risk. Dates also promote respiratory and digestive health.
Raspberries – Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber, raspberries are a delicious fruit with many health benefits. They have a high concentration of ellagic acid, a phenolic compound that prevents cancer, thereby stopping the growth of cancer cells and eliminating the progress of some cancers.
Strawberries – In addition to antioxidants, they have many other nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that contribute to overall health. These include folate, potassium, manganese, dietary fiber, and magnesium. It is also extremely high in vitamin C!
Apples – Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants, flavanoids, and dietary fiber. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. This article provides a nutritional profile of the fruit and its possible health benefits.