You can already imagine all of the antioxidants that exist in this smoothie by the title alone! Blueberries are known for their amazingly high content of antioxidants, as is raw cacao (where the chocolate comes from in this smoothie)! Furthermore, beets contain polyphenols and betalains, which are also extremely important natural antioxidants.
For anyone wondering, antioxidants are simply nutritional compounds that help to counterbalance free radicals, or unstable molecules, that can damage various parts of our cells, such as cell membranes, proteins, and even DNA! Antioxidants work to protect and repair our cells through the use of electrons. That is, free radicals do not contain a full complement of electrons. Because of this, they damage other molecules in the body by taking their electrons from them. Antioxidants counteract this by providing some of their own electrons to the molecules/cells that lost theirs to free radicals. Let’s all send some love and appreciation to antioxidants for all they do for our body and overall health!
The fact that the three main ingredients of this smoothie are jam-packed with antioxidants should tell you just how good this smoothie is for you! Not only that, but the other ingredients in there, such as bananas and almond butter hold some pretty impressive nutrients and health benefits of their own.
Alright, so we know it’s healthy, but oh my gosh you guys – the taste! This is by far one of my all-time favorite smoothies. It is creamy, chocolatey, sweet (but not overbearingly sweet), and I personally LOVE the earthy flavor that the beets provide in this. Overall, we’ve got a DELICIOUS and NUTRITIOUS smoothie that makes for a perfect pick me up during your day! Let’s get to the recipe!
BEET AND BLUEBERRY CHOCOLATE ANTIOXIDANT SMOOTHIE
Ingredients:
- 1 large chunk of red beet
- 1 carrot, peeled and cut into chunks
- small handful of spinach
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1-2 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
- 1-2 Tbsp. nut butter of your choice (I usually use almond butter)
- 1-2 cups almond milk, depending how thick or thin you like your smoothies
Optional – I don’t use any, but if you like a sweeter taste, you could add some sweetener of your choice, such as a pinch of stevia, a bit of raw honey, or a bit of maple syrup
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Pour into a glass, and enjoy!
Loving and Laughing 