Vegan Smoothies

The smoothie recipes below don’t contain a hint of animal products and therefore can be categorized as vegan. Note, none of these recipes contain cooked food either; so they also qualify as raw vegan for anyone adhering to that diet.

Blueberry Hemp Smoothie

Blueberry Hemp SmoothieHemp seeds are a potent superfood worth incorporating into your smoothies and diet. I don’t consume as much hemp as I did during my vegan days, but do still enjoy hemp seeds in my smoothies and sprinkled on salads and other dishes from time to time.

Hemp is a complete protein that contains a balanced ratio of the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. Hemp also contains many B vitamins, vitamins A, D and E, iron, sodium, calcium and is a good source of dietary fiber. This fabulous nutrient profile leads to the following health benefits.

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Hot and Spicy Green Smoothie

Hot and Spicy Green SmoothieEvery once in a while I find myself in the mood for a hot and spicy smoothie. In order to heat up my smoothies I simply add a little chili powder or cayenne pepper.

If you haven’t tried a hot smoothie, I encourage you to give it a whirl. Besides being a nice change of pace, spices such as chili powder offer their own unique health benefits.

Chili powder is rich in vitamins A and C. Vitamin A supports your eyesight and the health of your bones, teeth, and skin. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, boosts your immune system, and helps in recovery from injury. Chili powder is also rich in the minerals potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and iron and contains a little zinc, manganese, and selenium.

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Tropical Acai Smoothie

Tropical Acai SmoothieTake a trip to tropical paradise with this delicious and highly nutritious fruit smoothie.

Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, this recipe is a great way to start your day, or as a healthy snack or dessert.

All of the ingredients in this smoothie are healthy, but acai is in a class of its own as a legitimate superfood. While researching the health benefits of acai I came across one article that thoroughly encapsulated the magic of this super berry.

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Coffee Smoothie

Coffee SmoothieThis delicious and nutritious smoothie recipe was concocted for all the coffee and smoothie lovers out there.

Health experts can’t seem to agree on whether coffee is healthy or not. I believe in bio-individuality, meaning for some people coffee is great, while for others it’s not so good.

There’s a reason many indigenous cultures across the globe have sought out caffeine bearing plants. Caffeine, like alcohol, has been shown to extend lifespan, but only when consumed in moderation.

Here are a few of the health benefits coffee has to offer.

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Killer Kale Smoothie

Killer Kale Smoothie

Lacinato (Dinosaur) kale growing inside a hoop house during a cold Michigan winter.

Here’s another healthy green smoothie featuring my favorite green leafy veggie. Some people find kale too bitter (try kale chips), but not me, I like a little bitterness.

If you live in a temperate climate and can get your hands on kale grown outdoors in colder weather you’ll find it’s more pleasing to the picky palate – after a good frost kale’s leaves become much sweeter.

As is the case with other Brassicas, kale increases the amount of sugar inside its leaves to lower the temperature at which freezing begins. Pretty cool survival mechanism, eh?

Sweetness and bitterness aside, kale provides these key health benefits, which make it an excellent veggie to green your smoothie with.

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Supergreen Aloe Smoothie

Supergreen Aloe SmoothieGreens and the wonderful superfood aloe vera combine for one super healthy smoothie.

Most people are familiar with using aloe vera topically. It’s great for burns, sunburn, rashes, acne, poison ivy, and a host of other skin conditions.

But the real magic and health benefits of aloe are experienced by those who consume it.

The gel of raw aloe contains a bevy of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, fiber, amino acids, enzymes, and the all important polysaccharides.

Polysaccharides are carbohydrates, or long chain sugar molecules, responsible for the following health benefits:

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