My Secret Ingredient To A Filling Smoothie
When I first started drinking smoothies oh so many years ago, it was always an "add-on" meaning, it followed a full meal.
Why? Because smoothies never filled me. I'd drink one and then an hour I would be hungry again.
So when it was recommended that I drink one smoothie a day in place of a full meal I was very hesitant to do so. The last thing I wanted was to feel like I was starving. That feeling only leads to poor food choices.
But then I started experimenting with my smoothie creations. In the past, my smoothies were ALWAYS the same:
Banana
Frozen Strawberries
Non-dairy milk (coconut or almond for me)
Something crunchy (almonds, cacao nibs)
Cinnamon and/or Cacao powder
I NEVER mixed it up.
But in my experiments, I found a key ingredient that changed everything for me. Wanna know what it is?
Avocados!
Once I started adding half of an avocado to my smoothies they finally felt like a full meal. I could drink a smoothie for breakfast and have it sustain me until lunch.
Why?
Because it's one of the healthiest sources of fats! And fats are the slowest macronutrient to be digested (did you know that?).
{Tip: for you endurance athletes, that's why it's recommended that you become fat-adapted.}
You might be balking at the idea of an avocado in your smoothie. Trust me, I was skeptical at first too, but what did I have to lose by giving it a try?
The flavor is fine - it doesn't taste weird at all.
Yes, it does turn your smoothie green, but so does veggies and other supplements that you probably should be adding to your smoothies (like spirulina and chlorella).
Oh, and it makes your smoothie creamy, silky and decadent.
Here's a ton of other ways to use (and reasons to love) avocados:
It's great for your skin!
It's full of antioxidants that help to get rid of toxins that promote premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. A lot of the toxins on your facial skin are the residue of makeup.
Applying one mashed avocado as a facial mask and leaving it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing. This will help to remove these toxins and soften your skin.
2. Use it as a spread on Ezekiel bread toast with a sprinkle of pink Himalayan sea salt, and red pepper flakes. Another great snack idea!
3. Like your facial skin, it's also great for making your hair shiny.
The healthy oils in the avocado help to moisturize and soften dry and brittle hair and the vitamin E helps to restore a natural shine to your hair.
To obtain these benefits simply mash and mix one avocado with one egg and your favorite essential oil.
Then massage the avocado and egg mixture into your hair and scalp and leave in for about 20 minutes. Then rinse, and shampoo + condition with your favorite shampoo and conditioner. This is a great way to condition your hair.
4. Avocados are a great add to you salad - any kind of salad.
5. It's a great substitute for nasty mayonnaise (sorry, not sorry - it's just gross).
6. Avocados provide all 18 essential amino acids necessary for the body to form a complete protein.
Unlike the protein in steak, which can be difficult to digest, avocado protein is readily absorbed by the body, because avocados also contain fiber.
If you are trying to cut down on animal sources of protein in your diet, or if you are a vegetarian or vegan seeking more protein, avocados are a great nutritional ally to include not merely as an occasional treat, but as a regular part of your diet.
It's the highest protein content of any fruit (yes, it’s a fruit). So basically, it's complete!
7. Scramble it in your egg white omelet.
8. They are an alphabet of vitamins!
While avocados have a high caloric count (but you don't count calories, right?), the various nutrients and “healthy” fats make it a must-eat.
One avocado provides your body with vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, along with an enormous amount of potassium and “healthy” fat.
This is perhaps the biggest health benefit of avocados. By adding it to certain foods, you can improve your absorption of nutrients. I can tell you that having SIBO and Leaky Gut had a lot to do with my body's inability to absorb nutrients.
Now, when I combine other fat burning foods with avocado, I am improving my nutrient absorption up to 400%!
Let's be honest, we all love guac (I mean, honestly, who doesn't!), but get creative and try other ways to incorporate it into your diet.
Naomi Nakamura is a Functional Nutrition Health Coach. She helps passionate, ambitious high-achievers who are being dragged down by fatigue, burnout, sugar cravings, poor sleep, unexplained weight issues, and hormonal challenges optimize health, find balance, and upgrade their energy so they can do big things in this world.
Through her weekly show, The Live FAB Live Podcast, programs, coaching, and services, she teaches women how to optimize their diet, support their gut health, reduce their toxic load, and improve their productivity, bringing work + wellness together.
Naomi resides in the San Francisco Bay Area and can often be found exploring the area with her puppy girl, Coco Pop!
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