Right now you'll find my fridge loaded with herbs. I have bunches of fresh mint, basil, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, and thyme. You name it, I have it. Call it a desperate attempt to grasp these last days of summer, but I've been tossing fresh herbs into just about anything.
Mint, one of those herbs that is so often relegated to the rim of a glass of iced tea, has been taking center stage in my salads, whole-grain pastas, and sandwiches. This week, I've also been enjoying fresh mint in this creamy kale smoothie.
Late Summer Smoothie with Mint
1 cup curly green kale, stems removed (Buy organic if possible. Learn why here.)
1/2 avocado, pitted, peeled
1/2 banana, frozen
1 Tbsp fresh mint leaves
1 Tbsp honey (or dash of Stevia)
1 cup water
1 cup ice
Directions
Combine the ingredients above into a good powerful blender until smooth and creamy. Thin with water if desired. Enjoy!
Better-for-you ingredients in this recipe:
Kale
Kale is full of nutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that help your body stay vibrant and youthful. Kale is also packed with chlorophyll. Chlorophyll removes heavy metals and chemical toxins from your body.
Avocado
Good quality fats (including avocados, “cloudy” extra-virgin olive oil, and coconuts), enjoyed in moderation, will actually store in the body as energy and not fat, which helps you lose weight in the long run.
Mint
Health beauties believe mint aids digestion, reduces inflammation in your body, and offers anti-bacterial properties.
Want more smoothie recipes? Get a taste of these ultra-nutritious options.
Noelle Twiggs is the creator of GreenLemonade. Born from both the lessons of successes (detox 101: yes!) and failures (gym-rat diet: no!), the lifestyle website provides practical—and palatable—tips, tricks, and recipes to help everyone feel more happy, energetic, and well nourished.
From: Rejuvenate With This Minty Kale and Avocado Smoothie | Shelterholic Now | 9/15/11 at 12:52 pm
[...] With This Minty Kale and Avocado Smoothie Whole Living Thu, September 9, 2011 9:23 AM PDT Whole Living Rate this story Share this story (function(){var [...]