Drinking a smoothie for breakfast makes for a delicious and healthy start to the day. Not only is a liquid breakfast easy on your digestive system it’s also an excellent way to get a nutrient hit. You can add in superfood powders for a health bonus but in the case of this one, it is pretty loaded with goodness just as it is.
This kefir recipe has the gut nurturing benefits of kefir, plant-based iron from the spinach, immunity-boosting vitamins and minerals from the mango, healthy and essential fats from the avocado and a hit of potassium from the banana. Plus, it’ll keep you feeling satisfied ’til lunch!
Why Kefir?
Kefir has increased in popularity over the past few years mostly due to the growing awareness of its many health benefits.
Kefir is absolutely loaded with nutrients and live probiotics. Some of the key nutrients include B vitamins, potassium (beneficial for heart health) and calcium (important for strong and healthy bones).
Kefir is all the rage with people who experience digestive complaints due to its impressive probiotic content. Probiotics help to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut which in turn prevents any imbalance (dysbiosis) from occurring.
As well as being a fantastic preventative, kefir can also aid to relieve symptoms in many gut-related health conditions. Some of these conditions include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diarrhoea and urinary tract infections.
In addition to its vast digestive benefits, there have been studies to suggest that kefir has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. There have also been studies conducted to indicate that kefir is helpful in lowering cholesterol and helping to support immune function.
Spinach vs kale?
These days spinach is often overlooked in favour of the increasing popularity of other leafy greens such as kale.
When it comes to nutrition and thinking about what foods to eat more (or less) of, we are big advocates for the philosophy that variety is key. Spinach is an abundant source of a wide array of nutrients, most notably Vitamins A and C (essential for immunity as well as promoting healthy connective tissue, skin and hair).
Some notable minerals in spinach include calcium, magnesium, manganese and iron. In fact, spinach is one of the best plant-based sources of iron!
If you’re worried about whether a smoothie will actually keep you full until lunch, you can always turn this recipe into a smoothie bowl and add some toppings. For smoothie bowls, we recommend reducing the amount of liquid to ensure you get that thick, creamy consistency. And as for the toppings we recommend a nut/seed mix, coconut yoghurt and/or nut butter – yum!
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easy |
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1 |
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- 1 cup baby spinach leaves
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 frozen mango
- 1 cup Nexba Strawberry & Peach Kefir
- 1 tbsp cashew butter (optional)
- 1 tbsp protein powder of choice
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5min |
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- Combine all ingredients in a high-power blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy with a straw.
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