Great Tasting Energy Smoothie Recipes
One of our favorite benefits that can be gained by drinking smoothies is the incredible boost in energy that they can provide. The modern diet is full of high carb, processed foods that leave many people feeling fatigued and lethargic.
Increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables while adding other great healthy smoothie ingredients like bee pollen, yogurt, and seeds, will lead to a noticeable and dramatic increase in your natural energy levels.
In this article, we will be taking a look at a few of the best ingredients you can use in your smoothies if you are looking for an energy boost and then provide you with some of our favorite energy smoothie recipes to try out for yourself.
Table of Contents
Natural Energy Smoothie Ingredients
The main source of fuel for your body in smoothies will generally come in the form of leafy green veggies, berries, nuts, and other types of fruit. The fructose and glucose found in veggies come in free-form, which means they do not require digestive enzymes to break them down. They rapidly enter your bloodstream, becoming available to be used as energy immediately. (1)
This provides a great boost to your energy levels, as opposed to when your body is working to digest heavier types of foods, requiring significant amounts of energy to do so.
1. Spinach
Spinach, along with other leafy greens such as kale, is among the healthiest vegetable types out there. Spinach is loaded with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, such as zinc and iron.
Spinach is well known to be able to boost vitality, restore energy, and improve blood quality. (2) The iron content found in spinach impacts your red blood cells which help with the transportation of oxygen throughout your body, DNA synthesis, and energy production.
2. Bananas
Bananas are another great ingredient to include in your smoothies if you are looking for a quick energy boost. They are low in calories, yet high in antioxidants and healthy complex carbohydrates. Bananas are also incredibly easy to digest, meaning that the energy they provide hits your bloodstream rapidly, providing you with a boost to your energy levels.
Researchers have discovered that by eating bananas both before and during prolonged periods of intense physical activity is an excellent way to keep your body fueled while maintaining optimal performance. (3)
3. Blueberries
Blueberries are an extremely popular smoothie ingredient and for a good reason. They are full of antioxidants to protect your body from harmful free radical damage while also being high in vitamin C, which helps provide your body with a boost of natural energy. (4)
Blueberries are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, which helps to improve your digestion and keep you regular. Not only that, but they feature a wide range of other great health benefits, such as improving your mental health, fighting off toxins, and protecting against heart disease.
Some of our favorite superfoods are loaded with important nutrients for boosting mood and energy levels. Our favorites for energy smoothies include:
- Maca Powder: Made from Maca root and has a positive impact on hormone balance and energy levels. (5)
- Raw Cacao Powder:: Pure Cacao powder (NOT to be confused with Cocoa) can make a smoothie taste like a chocolate dessert. Rich in antioxidants, minerals, and tryptophan. Trytophan enhances mood and reduces anxiety.
- Hemp Powder: Rich in amino acids and plant-based proteins. The body can process hemp powder cleanly compared to other protein powders.
- Flaxseed: Rich source of omega 3 fatty acids which are key for energy production and reduction of inflammation in the body.
- Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are an amazing low-carb energy source due to their healthy combination of protein, fats, and fiber. They provide a nice stable nutrition source and are popular with athletes.
Energy Boosting Smoothie Recipes
1. Blueberry Hemp Smoothie
This is a fantastic smoothie recipe that provides all-natural hemp plant protein along with healthy omega-3 fatty acids that will leave you feeling satiated and energized for your day. Not only that, but it also helps lower your cholesterol and protects your heart from disease, making this an extremely potent smoothie.
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/3 avocado
- 1/4 cup raw oats
- 2 tablespoons hemp powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
2. Berry Vanilla Banana Smoothie Recipe
This smoothie from Cleveland Clinic is a great lunch replacement smoothie or breakfast smoothie. Loaded with nutrients that will help give you a great boost of energy to get your day started. (If you are dairy intolerant, check out our yogurt free smoothie guide).
- 8 oz non-fat milk
- ⅓ cup 1% fat cottage cheese
- ¼ cup unsweetened blueberries, frozen
- ¼ cup unsweetened blackberries, frozen
- ¼ cup red grapes, frozen
- ½ banana, sliced and frozen
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
3. Green Energy Smoothie Recipe
This green energy smoothie features a potent combination of spinach and kale to provide you with an outstanding amount of nutrients, in addition to adding in the perfect amount of sweetness in the form of grapes, oranges, bananas, and pears. (You can cut the recipe portion in half for a single serve smoothie).
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup kale
- 1 orange
- 1 banana
- 1 cup green seedless grapes
- 1 pear (remove core)
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- ½-1 cup water to desired consistency
Final Thoughts
Healthy smoothies are a great way to get important nutrients and minerals that help increase energy and mood levels. Try one of the energy smoothie recipes above for breakfast or as a lunch meal replacement. Adding smoothies to your daily diet will help reduce your intake of carbs and processed sugars that can leave you feeling sluggish.
For extra nutrition try adding one of the superfoods we listed above to your current smoothies. For sustained energy consider adding healthy carbs to your smoothie such as raw oats, nuts, and chia or flax seed to your smoothies.
What is your favorite healthy energy smoothie recipe ?
