Summer Smoothie - My Go To For Summer 2022 + Health Benefits of Ingredients

I am obsessed with this summer smoothie during these hot days. It also has some sneaky greens and other healthy additions (some may refer to them as power foods!).

Blend the following ingredients:

1 cup mango

1 cup mixed berry (this mix includes cherry!)

1 handful spinach

fresh mint to taste

1 tsp or so acai powder

1 tbsp hemp hearts

1 tbsp bee pollen

1 cup coconut water

If you are interested in more than just the taste of this yummy smoothie, I have listed the benefits of some of the ingredients below!

Acai berry

Acai berry is a deep purple berry which to me looks like a cross between a blueberry and a grape! A popular way to consume acai is through acai bowls which often contains frozen acai blocks blended in smoothies. Honestly, frozen acai adds to the texture of a smoothie and is really great for smoothie bowls, but the packs aren't cheap. I also prefer the ease of adding in a powder instead (and the freezer space). The powder is made from freeze-dried acai berries and offering a high concentration of all the wonderful benefits. Acai berries are known antioxidant with antihypertensive properties. There are scientific studies done to back up the health benefits of acai which you can easily find on the web. I have linked a couple of studies below if you are interested in reading them!

Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is also known as bee bread or ambrosia. It is formed from the pollen bees collect mixed with secretions from salivary glands, enzymes, honey and wax. If you have never seen it before, they look like small yellow pellets (shown in the middle spoon in the photo on the right). Therapies related to bees, including bee pollen actually has it's own term called "apitherapeutic". How cool, right?! The benefits of apitherapeutic treatments include them being immunostimulating, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral and they even facilitate wound healing. Bee pollen also provides a number of vitamins and minerals to our diets. I could go on and on but I should stop here and say that I.seriously recommend considering adding bee pollen into your diet, it's quite lovely on top of smoothie bowls or in granola as well. I have linked the resources below if you are interested in the scientific studies!

Mint

Mint, aka Mentha species, is probably a herb you are familiar with. It is mixed with so many things! You can use it in essential oils or add it to salads, sauces, smoothies (duh), teas and chocolate (not everyones fav) and it's easy to grow! It will practically take over your garden like a weed...a good weed of course. That being said, do some gardening research so that maybe doesn't happen. Mint is a healing food in that it has antibiotic, antiviral, and anticancer properties...and honestly, so much more (of course, resources linked below!). I talk about it briefly in my post on menstruation linked here for its analgesic and digestive action. The digestive property of mint is one of my favorite properties this amazing herb offers and is a big reason I added to this recipe. The taste is also a factor, in that it makes this smoothie just that much more refreshing. What is your favorite way to use mint?! I would love to know in the comments.

Those are the three ingredients I am going to talk about in detail for this post. Not to say the others aren't amazing for you. Coconut water is high in electrolytes and a great alternative to sports drinks. Hemp-hearts offer healthy fats, proteins and nutrients. Of course the fruits offer vitamins and minerals, fibre and energy and can make a wonderful healthy smoothie without the additions of the other ingredients. I hope you enjoy this post and the smoothie if you get a chance to try it!