Layered Superfood Smoothie

• Yield:1 serving
• Difficulty:Easy
• Time:10 minutes

Please accept my sincere apologies for beating on the superfood drum a little too much lately! Then again, we are what we eat, right? Superfoods are simply foods that contain an above average nutrient profile and offer a slew of surprising health benefits.

You can find these ingredients in a health food store, but they are much cheaper online. The superfoods I’ve included in this smoothie are: Goji, Acai, Spirulina, Spinach, Chia seeds, and last but not least: Whey protein (yes—whey IS a super-food!). Since there are so many benefits to each ingredient, I will simply list the benefits and the references to studies at the bottom.

Goji berries help generate feelings of well-being, increase energy levels & sports performance, improve liver & digestive function, improve sleep, protect eye health, fight depression, treat diabetes & stabilize blood sugar, prevent heart disease, improve immune function, fight cancer, and increase sexual function in both genders.

Acai berries fight cancer, boost the immune system, have an anti-inflammatory effect, increase circulation, lower blood sugar and cholesterol, slow down signs of aging, promote skin health, and they taste like wine and chocolate…So much YES.

Spirulina can lower your cholesterol, according to the study listed below. It can also restore health, detox heavy metals, eliminate yeast infections, improve HIV/AIDS conditions, prevent cancer, lower blood pressure & chances of stroke, boost energy, speed up weight loss (yay!), and finally ease sinus inflammation from allergic rhinitis.

I’ll save all the Popeye jokes and just tell you that spinach is loaded with vital nutrients and low on calories. It can prevent cancer and asthma, lower blood pressure, promote bone health and digestive regularity, and contribute to the health of the skin and hair.

Chia seeds pack tons of nutrients into a very small space, including a whopping 11 grams of fiber per serving. They contain essential amino acids, antioxidants, the omega 3 fatty acids, nutrients important to bone health, and can markedly increase exercise performance.

Finally, we come to whey protein. Whey protein is one of the easiest proteins to digest—human breast milk is 60% whey protein, designed by nature to be easily digested by babies and make them grow! Luckily, we can get it from cows, whose milk actually contains far less whey than humans. Whey protein provides you with a full scope of essential amino acids with which to grow and repair lean muscle tissue. Last, but certainly not least, (sorry about beating that expression to death) whey protein has been documented to SLOW DOWN AGING and extend the lifespan.

Ingredients:

• 2 scoops of vanilla EFX Training Ground Isolate
• 1 ripe frozen banana
• 1 cup of water or almond milk (add 30-40 calories)
• ¼ cup spinach leaves
• 1 tray of ice cubes
• ¼ cup melon/cantaloupe chunks
• 1 tbsp. goji berry powder or 1-2 oz. juice
• 1 tsp. chia seeds
• 2 scoops (2 grams) of acai powder (or 1 juice pack; add 70 calories)
• 1/8 tsp. Spirulina
• ¼ cup blueberries
• 1 packet of stevia or erythritol sweetener

Directions:

Nutrition: