The Incredible Smoothie!

During the cold months I usually want something comforting and grounding for breakfast. Recently I had a few requests for a smoothie that included the flavors of my home town in Brazil. The requests reminded me of growing up, and a few of my favorite Brazilian fruits; Papaya, Mango, and Pineapple. By the way, Brazilian pineapple is better than Hawaii’s! Actually this is a big debate in my house. But we will save that for another post.

Searching in the market I found a few of my childhood favorites. As I shopped for these beautiful fruits an idea began to form in my mind about the nutritional content of the fruits I had chosen. Most of them have a high content of vitamin C, much more than the usual “old faithful orange”. As the flavors came together, the orange still managed to find a place in my smoothie.

Brazilian inspired, locally crafted I present to you my “Incredible Vitamin C Hulk smoothie”! Why Hulk, well, he is one of the more popular super heroes in Brazil and nothing can hurt The Incredible Hulk. Not to say my smoothie will make you impervious to the Flu, but it sure will help. During the winter season it is important to load up with Vitamin C preparing for a possible cold or flu. My philosophy is always stock up in the nutrients in the most natural way possible, so this is it!

Add some color and tropical flavors to the cold months, with an organic southern hemisphere blend of fruits.

Incredibly delicious and nutritious yet, simple to make!

1 cup of diced pineapple

1/2 cup of diced papaya

1/4 cup of diced mango

1 diced Kiwi

1 3 inch piece of cucumber (skin off if not organic)

1/2 cup of orange juice

1 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk

1/2 tsp of ground turmeric

1 scoop of a vegetable based protein of choice (optional)

Just mix it all in your favorite blender and enjoy!

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1 xícara de abacaxi em cubos

1/2 xícara de mamão em cubos

1/4 xícara de manga em cubos

1 de Kiwi em cubos

1 pedaço de pepino de 7 cm ( pele fora se não orgânico )

1/2 xícara de suco de laranja

1 1/2 xícara de leite de amêndoa sem açúcar

1/2 colher de chá de cúrcuma em pó

1 colher de uma proteína à base de vegetais de escolha (opcional)

Basta misturar tudo em seu liquidificador favorito e aproveite!

Health and Nutrition

The Green Juice….Reinvented

Last year Armenia’s Green Juice was by far my most popular recipe! The Green juice is an excellent way to make sure you are getting a good dose of greens for the day, and it helps flush toxins out of the body.

Clients and blog followers gave enough feedback fueling my creativity to create the second version of my juice. Some clients were using the green juice as a tool to help performance during workouts, a detoxifying agent, skin repair, vitality, or just trying to make sure the body was receiving enough greens for the day. And some used it to recover from an extended night of consuming their favorite adult beverages. As I played around with different possibilities, this feedback was used to evolve the green juice. Both recipes are healthy and beneficial. Try both versions and see which one is your favorite! If you were already a fan of the original, now you have the second version to enjoy. Your feedback is much appreciated and always taken into consideration for future recipes.

The main difference in the new version is the additions of more greens and a slight reduction of sugars. This was accomplished by removing the apple and adding cucumber and celery. The diversity of spices has also been adjusted, with an increase in turmeric. Giving it an extra dose of anti-inflammatory benefits!

Let’s see what is in it….

1 banana
2 cups of kale
1 stalk of celery
1 3 inch piece of cucumber
1 brazil nut
1 cup of coconut water
1 cup of filtered water
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 inch long piece of fresh ginger
1/2 tsp of ground turmeric
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
Pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp of spirulina (optional)
Blend it all in a and enjoy!

Portuguese Version:

1 banana
2 xícaras de couve
1 talo de aipo
Pedaço de pepino de mais ou menos 6 cm
1 castanha do Para
1 xícara de água de coco
1 xícara de água filtrada
Suco de 1/2 limão
1 pedaço de gengibre fresco (3 cm)
1/2 colher de chá de cúrcuma em pó
1/4 colher de chá de canela
Pitada de pimenta caiena
1/2 colher de chá de spirulina (opcional)

Misture tudo no liquidificador e aproveite!

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Cooking, Health and Nutrition

The warrior smoothie….

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!

Ingredientes:

1/2 abacate

1/2 xícara de framboesas

1 xícara de leite de amêndoa sem açúcar

1 copo de suco de romã

1 colher de sopa de sementes de chia

1 colher de sopa de sementes de cânhamo

1 colher de chá de pó de maca

1 colher de chá de spirulina

2 tâmaras

1 medida de sua proteina a base de plantas favorita

Deixe de molho as tâmaras no suco de romã por 10 minutos, em seguida, coloque todos os ingredientes no liquidificador e desfrute de seu smoothie!

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864 551 57 31

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Health and Nutrition

Mango Bliss Smoothie

I just had a lovely weekend away visiting family! The loveliest part of it was that I got to try all these new beers that were native of the Milwaukee area. They were really good, but definitely left me feeling a little bloated. Now back in the South Carolina heat, I was in desperate need for a breakfast that helped me cool down and detox from the weekend indulgence.

My mango shake was just what I needed! This smoothie has mostly a mango flavor, but it can definitely become a version of a “mango pina colada”, if you substitute the almond milk for coconut milk. If you add protein powder to it, it could also be a meal substitute for those days that you are pressed for time. I don’t add any sweetener to it, it is great as is! It is a great smoothie to try now that mangoes are in season.

Why is this smoothie detoxifying and cooling? The Aloe Vera juice is a great detoxifying and cooling agent. The cardamon, my key ingredient, also detoxifies, aids in digestion,is an antioxidant, lowers blood pressure, and has anti blood clotting properties. The cinnamon is my always present ingredient, as is a wonderful natural blood sugar stabilizer. Turmeric and pineapple have wonderful anti inflammatory qualities. This smoothie is going to remove lots of toxins from your body!

So let’s get to the recipe!

1 mango cut in cubes (1 manga em cubos)

1/2 cup of pineapple chunks (1/2 xicara de abacaxi em cubos)

12 oz of unsweetened almond milk (coconut milk for the pina colada version) (400 ml de leite de amendoa ou coco)

Handful of coconut flakes (1/4 xicara de coco ralado)

2 Tbs of Aloe Vera juice (2 colheres de sopa de suco de aloe vera)

A large pinch of cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamon. (Um pouco de canela, acafrao, e cardamomo)

1 scoop of protein powder (optional)

Put all the ingredients in a blender, blend it for a couple of minutes and enjoy!

Coloque todos os ingredientes no liquidificador e aproveite!

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Contact me at armenia@blissbalancehealth.com to learn more about Ayurveda Lifestyle and Primordial Sound Meditation.

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Health and Nutrition

Superfoods Smoothie “Acai berry”

Acai (A-sigh-ee) berry is a super food very dear to my heart. I grew up seeing Acai juice (mixed with peanuts and guarana) sold everywhere in my hometown of Fortaleza- Brazil. It was sold mostly as a super energy drink. Guarana is another treasure of Brazil, which I won’t discuss much about, that is used in many energy drinks found worldwide.

I remember getting very excited the first time that I saw Acai advertised here in the states, as a fruit that could do miracles for anyone. I won’t claim that Acai will do miracles, but I will point out some of its benefits, why is good for you, and the reason that it is now considered a superfood. It is a superfood because it is very rich in nutrients that are very beneficial to our well being. Rich in free radicals, it is a very powerful antioxidant. It contains nutrients that are known to help with inflammation, anti cancer, and lowering of cholesterol. It is also very low in sugar content.

A few of the nutrients in Acai are:

Iron

Magnesium

Calcium

Vitamin A, K, and B complex

Anthocyanin

Healthy fatty acids (omega 6 and omega 9)

Fiber

Acai is not the only component that gave this smoothie its name. Some of the other known superfoods added to this smoothie are blueberries, raspberries, kale, chia, and nuts. I also add Aloe Vera for its cleansing properties. I suggest also adding some protein to it, especially as a post workout drink. I like adding a plant based protein powder, Vega protein powder is my favorite. The protein powder is not essential, you can leave it out if you don’t have any on hand.

I usually have this smoothie with my lunch, but sometimes I have it for breakfast as well. My husband likes to drink it as his dessert after dinner. He usually finishes his exercise routine right before dinner, so the smoothie is also helping him to replenish the nutrients lost during the workout.

Ingredients:

1 banana

1 cup of almond milk

1 cup of Acai juice

1 handful of blueberries or mixed berries

1 cup of kale

5 almonds

2 Tbs of aloe vera juice

2 Tbs of chia seeds

Dash of cinnammon

1 scoop of vanilla protein powder

Mix it all in a blender and enjoy!

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Contact me to learn more about Primordial Sound Meditation, Ayurveda, and Yoga!

Health and Nutrition

Armenia’s Green Juice

I just love green juices! I can feel it going into my body and just taking all the toxins away with it! I especially love to drink it in the morning or after a workout. I make a special point of drinking it after a day of splurging because it helps me to get back on track. I switch my green juices around depending on my mood or what I am trying to accomplish by drinking it. This particular recipe is very easy, not a lot of ingredients to find, but still containing a lot of nutrients!

Let’s break them down:

Bananas and apples – your carbs, they are going to give you energy, potassium, flavonoids, vitamin C and B-6, and some good fiber.

Spinach – bitter greens have a wonderful detoxifying effect in your body, promotes regularity, and improves skin and hair health . Spinach also has a good amount of protein, is high in vitamin A and K, calcium, iron, and beta carotene.

Brazil nut – selenium…lots of it! Considered to have a big role in combating cancer, heart health and aging, selenium is a great nutrient to include in your diet. Selenium also supports iodine levels which are important for thyroid health.

Coconut water – this is Mother Nature’s sports drink! It will hydrate you, has more potassium than 4 bananas combined, and very low in calories.

Cinnamon – natural blood sugar stabilizer to balance out the sugar in the fruits.

Turmeric – antioxidant and is a great natural anti inflammatory!

Cayenne – fights inflammation, especially combined with turmeric. It also stimulates digestion, metabolism, and boosts your immune system.

Ginger – stimulates digestion, appetite and is a great detoxifier!

Now that you know all the good stuff that is in it and why I chose this combination, I can’t wait for you to try! I would love to hear what you thought about it! So here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 banana ½ green apple (maca verde)

Armenia’s Green Juice

2 cups of spinach (2 copos de espinafre)

1 brazil nut (castanha do Brasil)

2 cups of coconut water ½ lemon (limao)

1 pinch of cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and turmeric (canela, gengibre, pimento vermelha e curcuma)

Blend it all and enjoy! Bata tudo no liquidificador e aproveite!

Check out http://www.blissbalancehealth.com to learn more about Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga!

Bliss Balance Health

Wellness Coaching from Within

Tag Archives: post workout drink

The Incredible Smoothie!

The Green Juice….Reinvented

The warrior smoothie….

Mango Bliss Smoothie

Superfoods Smoothie “Acai berry”

Armenia’s Green Juice