Lately I have been experimenting with a few different smoothies. I love them because you can pack so much nutrition into one serving. Smoothies are also easy, fast, and great for those on the go! Brazilian culture integrates smoothies into their daily routine.  Even today, my father has a smoothie every morning.

My inspiration this time has definitely been my husband Derek. He is training for his next boxing match ( I have mentioned before that he fights in amateur boxing). Leveraging my latest post, 7 ways to keep you healthy during the cold season, my goal was to create a combination of ingredients that provided energy, proteins, and a boost to the immune system.

Spirulina was the key ingredient in my warrior combination. So what is Spirulina? It is a micro blue-green algae that is found in alkaline water sources. Spirulina was used by Aztec warriors primarily due to its high protein content, 100g of spirulina  contains about 57g of protein. Spirulina also has many other benefits, including; a boost of immune function, protection of the liver, muscle endurance, antioxidant, and anti inflammatory. If you have not yet tried spirulina, I highly recommend you give it a go with this recipe. A word of caution when buying spiruluna, BUY ORGANIC.  Simply put, I don’t trust the process and ingredients put into non-organic spirulina.

Maca, also known as the Peruvian Ginseng,  is the other ingredient that gives this smoothie its name. It is known to provide a great boost of energy and helps to keep stamina up. No wonder the Peruvian tribes cherished this root (ground into powder).  Maca also has been known to help balance those with hypothyroidism. Maca is an endocrine adaptogen, meaning it does not contain hormones, but it provides the nutrients necessary to support normal hormone production.  Maca has been shown to help with all sort of hormonal problems including skin conditions, PMS, menopause, and sexual libido.

Chia seeds and hemp seeds top of the list of unique ingredients of this smoothie. I have discussed their benefits in my previous post, Armenia’s Guide to Seeds . Chia and hemp seeds are a wonderful plant based protein source  and also provide an energy boost. Healthy fats which are a vital component of a well functioning body also are found in these tiny seeds. Normally bananas are the primary ingredient in my smoothies to add texture, nutrients and flavor, however this time, avocado is the star.  Providing this smoothie with another dose of healthy fats and a silky texture. Let’s see how easy this smoothie is to make!

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1/2 cup of raspberries

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

1 cup of pomegranate juice

1 tbs of chia seeds

1 tbs of hemp seeds

1 tsp of maca powder

1 tsp of spirulina

2 dates

1 scoop of your favorite plant based protein powder

Soak the dates on the pomegranate juice for 10 minutes, then put all the ingredients in the blender and enjoy your smoothie!