Smoothies featuring berries

Berry Basil Green Smoothie

Berry Basil Green SmoothieIt’s the time of year where I live when fresh produce is plentiful. I’m so grateful for the local farmers who grow my food with much care and love. Most of the ingredients I used in this smoothie are local and organic, just the way I like it.

Basil is one of the herbs I find myself adding to more and more smoothies because of the sweet, but savory flavor it lends. I’m also quite fond of its health benefits, which include anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, antioxidants, and cardiovascular support.

Basil is rich in vitamin K – just two teaspoons provide about 60% of your daily needs. Vitamin K is vital in building strong bones, supports a healthy heart, and contributes to proper brain function.

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Dandelion Berry Smoothie

Dandelion Berry SmoothieOne of my favorite new pastimes is harvesting wild edibles. It’s so much fun being out in nature gathering nutrient dense, delicious wild food, for free!

Dandelion is at the top of my favorite things to harvest list. It’s loaded with nutrition and the whole plant can be used as food and medicine. It’s no longer a pesky weed in my book.

We all know how important green leafy veggies are for our health. Consuming ample amounts each day can be a challenge. What I love about wild edibles is that a little goes a long way. Let me explain.

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Avocado Banana Berry Smoothie

Avocado Banana Berry SmoothieTreat yourself to this thick, creamy, nutritious, and delicious smoothie. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you :)

This smoothie contains two of my favorite thickeners, banana and avocado, making for one creamy smoothie. Add in a few berries and spices for a tasty treat you may need to spoon out of your blender it’s so thick and creamy.

Here are the many health benefits this healthy smoothie imparts.

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Chocolate Superfood Smoothie Recipe

Cacao Chocolate Tree Pods

If you don’t like chocolate you should stop reading this now. Chocolate is a food of the gods, literally. The 18th century Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus thought cacao was so important he gave the tree the name Theobroma cacao, or “Cacao, the food of the gods”.

If you’re not familiar with the word cacao (pronounced “ka-kow”), it’s what all chocolate is made from and is actually a bean (also known as cocoa bean). Cacao beans grow in a fruit pod that hang from the trunk of the cacao tree as seen in the picture above.

Most people equate chocolate with candy and sugar, and lump it with foods to be avoided or only eaten on special occasions. While most processed or adulterated chocolate should be considered as such, cacao in its raw form is one of the top superfoods in the world.

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Berry Lettuce Smoothie Recipe

Berry Lettuce Smoothie Recipe

Photo by adventuresinliving

You might be thinking to yourself, lettuce in a smoothie? That was my initial reaction. In reality, any green leafy vegetable can be blended into a smoothie.

As is the case with most greens, lettuce is a good option for anyone looking to lose weight because of its super low calorie count. 1 cup of lettuce contains about 8 calories. Lettuce has a high water content, but does offer varying health benefits depending on the type.

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Rockin’ Raspberry Smoothie Recipe

Rockin Raspberry Smoothie RecipeI have to be honest, raspberries are my favorite food. The field behind my house growing up was full of raspberry bushes that I harvested until my little fingers were stained red. Naturally, raspberries are one of my favorite smoothie ingredients.

Lucky for me, and others who love these delectable berries, they offer a lot in the way of health promoting properties.

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