Protein smoothies are a great way to cover your daily protein needs, especially after a workout! Plus they are easy to make and full of flavor and nutrients! Not to mention that there are endless smoothie combinations you can create. So free your imagination and learn our top tips for the best protein smoothies.
THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF A PROTEIN SMOOTHIE
- LIQUIDS
The liquid base of your protein smoothie could be:
- Water
- Juice (orange, grapefruit, lemon)
- Milk
- Organic milk
- Herbal decoction
- Coconut water
You can either choose one of the above or combine 2-3 of them together. In general, juices combine better with water and not with animal milk, as the latter combination can irritate your stomach. The amount of liquids you will use depends on the ratio of the other ingredients and your own personal preference of consistency. Our tip would be to add a small portion of the liquids in the blender before all the other ingredients for better homogenization.
- FRUITS
Fruits are the “stars” of smoothies, with the most popular being banana, apple, pear, forest fruits (blueberries, strawberries, blueberries), mango. To facilitate digestion though, do not add more than 3 different fruits in your protein smoothie. If you are going to use not particularly tasty ingredients, such as spirulina, maca or other superfoods, opt for “sweet” fruits, such as banana, pineapple or melon. And don’t forget seasonal, organic fruits are always your best choice!
- VEGETABLES
By adding vegetables to your protein smoothies, you “alkalize” your body and therefore you boost your health. How? It has been shown that the more acidic your blood is, the more prone to diseases you are. In order to increase the alkalinity of the blood, you need to consume more fruits and vegetables. Cabbage (kale), spinach, cucumber, tomato, broccoli and avocado (although technically avocado is a fruit) are among the most alkaline vegetables. If the taste of the above vegetables is not your cup of tea, try “masking” it with a ripe banana (also alkaline, as opposed to unripe) or watermelon (also super alkaline)!
- AMINO ANIMO ORGANIC PROTEIN POWDER
1-2 tablespoons /scoops of AMINO ANIMO organic protein powder per glass of smoothie is a good ratio of protein to cater for your daily needs! There is a wide variety of AMINO ANIMO organic proteins to choose from, knowing that they are all 100% vegan, without genetically modified ingredients, additives, preservatives or artificial sweeteners! Like all protein powders, AMINO ANIMO organic proteins need to be dissolved in a liquid base, so add them to the blender at the very end.
- NUTS
Nuts are a great way to increase the protein content of your smoothie and to give it an even nicer, crunchier taste! Almonds, for instance, are considered the “kings” of nuts, due to their high amount of calcium and anti-inflammatory vitamin E. Pistachios, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts are some other alternatives. You could also add peanut butter or any other nut butter to your smoothie for a creamier consistency, but keep in mind their calories.
- YOGURT
Please note that we are not referring to yogurt desserts, but to the authentic Greek yogurt that has undergone the least processing and has no sugar or additives. Apart from being a very good source of probiotics and calcium, it also gives an even creamier texture to your smoothie. If animal products are excluded from your diet, you can choose soy, coconut, almond or cashew yogurt.
- SUPERFOODS
Give an even bigger protein boost to your smoothie by adding superfoods. Even if they don’t taste exceptionally, the other ingredients will mask their taste and you will get all their beneficial substances. Some of our favorites are:
- Ginger (key ingredient of Chinese medicine)
- Turmeric (anti-inflammatory)
- Açai blueberries (antioxidant)
- Flaxseed (Ω3 fatty acids)
- Spirulina (extra protein, immune booster)
- Hemp seeds (extra protein, Ω3 and Ω6 fatty acids)
- Oats (lowers cholesterol)
- Chia seeds (antioxidant)
- Coconut oil (fatty acids)
- SWEETENERS
If you want to give a sweeter taste to your protein smoothie, you can add:
- Ripe banana
- Pineapple
- Watermelon
- Melon
- Dates
- Honey
- Agave syrup
- Maple syrup
- Carob honey
If your morning schedule is busy, you can prepare your smoothie the night before and store it in a glass jar in the fridge. In case your smoothie has oxidizing fruits, such as banana or apple, it will turn brown, but it won’t lose its nutritional value.