When you are trying to change your habits and swap them for a few better and healthier ones, it is good to know what you can do that will help you in your decision. Dieting, working out, more physical activity on everyday level, fewer carbs and cigarettes—all this is great to begin with, but sometimes you really feel the hunger for some sugar, ice cream and candy bars. What if we told you that you could have a drink that is so tasty and so good which is healthy and great for your heart at the same time?
#1: Oats & fruits almond smoothie
Besides being full of fibers, oats are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and can lower the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood, thus keeping your arteries cleaner and heart healthier. Moreover, almonds are rich in monounsaturated fats like the ones found in olive oil, which lower the risk of heart disease. What you need:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup of strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 3 ounces low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 of a banana
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
#2: Blueberry-avocado protein smoothie
Blueberries have a lot of antioxidants and will protect your cells, while avocados are miracle food rich in monounsaturated fats, which protect the heart
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 scoop whey protein
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- ¼ avocado
- 4 ice cubes
#3: Banana-oat smoothie
Almond milk is great for the heart, while bananas do wonders for your metabolism at the same time. Choose unsweetened almond milk if you want the best results, though.
- 2 bananas
- 4 tbs. rolled oats
- 1 cup of almond milk (best to be unsweetened)
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. honey
- 4 ice cubes
#4: Green monster
Now, since this smoothie requires a lot of vegetables, be careful about where you buy them and try to always choose organic. These are a hundred times healthier and will not feed your body with chemicals and pesticides. With great and cheap organic food available online, you don’t have to wear off the soles of your shoes wandering the market and bargaining with the salesmen.
- 12 oz. orange juice
- 1 apple, cut into for pieces with its core still in
- ½ banana
- 1 cup cale
- 1 cup mango
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup ice cubes
#5: Orange Julicious
People often choose low-fat milk because they want a healthier choice, but in our opinion, choosing regular milk is just as good since all the other ingredients are super-healthy and also because your smoothie will taste like heaven. Of course, you can always add more honey to your smoothie if you are craving sweets.
- 1 cup milk
- 2 oranges (peeled)
- About a cup of small yellow squash
- 6 oz. of frozen orange juice concentrate
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
It is not difficult to make a smoothie, and with abundance of recipes everywhere, you would have to be a bit crazy to skip the opportunity to drink one. Be responsible; too much of a good thing can never be good in the end, so be meticulous when buying ingredients and creative when mixing them together. After all, if you don’t experiment a bit, how will you find what your favorite smoothie is?