These days, processed foods rule the grocery aisle. Rows and rows of items stocked on supermarket shelves are full of additives and preservatives. Sometimes, you just need to escape the world of pre-packaged foods and revert back to the diet of our ancestors—the paleo diet.
Not only have paleo diets been shown to help stabilize blood sugar levels—leaving you less susceptible to food cravings—but they're also full of healthy fats, minerals, protein, and vitamins.
Forget refined foods and focus on Mother Nature's bounty with these shakes from my new book "Paleo Smoothies: 150 Smoothie Recipes for Ultimate Health."
1. Sunflower Chocolate Smoothie
Sunflower seed butter is a fabulous substitute for any butter spread. It's nut- and gluten-free, making it a great solution for people with allergies and dietary restrictions. It's a great nutritional source of fiber, zinc, iron, magnesium, and vitamin E, all of which may help lower blood pressure and protect your body against damaging free radicals which cause chronic diseases.
Ninety percent of the fats found in sunflower seed butter are unsaturated, healthy fats which help lower cholesterol and fight inflammation. Sunflower butter is a great way to turn a blah protein shake into a treat with creamy, milkshake-like consistency. This easy-to-make chocolate dream smoothie is a must-try!
2. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Pumpkin pie is a seasonal favorite in many homes. The only problem with traditional pumpkin pie is that it tends to have a high amount of added sugars and fats. This smoothie recipe skips the bad-for-you additives and sticks with natural sweeteners like maple syrup and fruit to keep things clean and give your body what it craves without sacrificing taste.
Put away that store-bought pie and stave off the seasonal pounds by mixing up this alternative treat to feed your body the healthy way!
3. Acai Boost Smoothie
What's all of this talk about acai? Although acai berries have been around for a long time, they've recently gained popularity due to their powerful health benefits. Acai berries, which are found primarily in the Amazon, are extremely high in anthocyanins, antioxidants that lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
Anthocyanins also help your body fight against free radicals while offering anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits. Antioxidants are an extremely important part of the ongoing detoxification process that helps your body flush out unwanted toxins.
Acai berries have also been shown to help with weight loss and skin health. They might provide potential energy boosts, better sex, improved mental function, and anti-aging properties, and could also help your body avoid the side effects of oxidative damage. That's more than enough reason to give them a try.
Try adding some juice from this amazing berry to your paleo smoothie. Enjoy its taste and health benefits!
4. Never Beet Smoothie
Even though beets are low-calorie foods, they are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This delicious root is a key source of glycine betaine, which helps lower homo-cysteine levels in the blood to keep it from clotting and developing problems such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and vascular diseases.
Beets also offer anti-aging effects and help lower cholesterol levels. Beets are fantastic to add to smoothies because of their amazing health benefits, and also because of the unique taste they give each drink. Enjoy!
5. Green Fruit Smoothie
The color green symbolizes vigor, health, and life. Naturally green things are organisms that are healthy, strong, and working optimally. A green smoothie is a drink full of goodness that can revive you and provide you with all you need to reach a state of ideal health and strength.
Start your journey to good health with this delectable smoothie. The spinach, coconut oil, green apple, banana, flax seed, and honey will serve as a fantastic pick-me-up and will completely revive you if you're in a slump. So drink your greens and stay on top of your game!
Excerpted from Paleo Smoothies Copyright © 2014 by Mariel Lewis (AmazingPaleo.com) and published by F+W Media, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Photos courtesy of Kelly Jaggers.