A great smoothie always gets us a little giddy, but this “happy smoothie” offers a mood boost beyond flavor-induced feels. Thoughtfully crafted by holistic nutritionist, Kelly LeVeque, this functional blend is the perfect balancing act for moodiness that might creep in during this weather-y time of year.
Whether you’re swooning or skeptical, grab a blender and check below to explore the benefits of this chai-spiced “happy smoothie” stat, including balance for our blood sugar and hormones. Be sure to check here for a few more of Kelly’s functional smoothie recipes…
Ceylon Cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon (sweet) is popular in the diabetic community because of its ability to help increase insulin sensitivity. Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant, antibacterial and also a source of manganese. But before you load up your morning coffee, daily smoothie or Moroccan chicken dish, make sure you are using Ceylon. Compared to cassia cinnamon (the kind most typically found in your neighborhood grocery store), Ceylon cinnamon is not only more effective in blood sugar balance, but it’s also lower in coumarin, which is known to cause liver damage in excess.
Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna contains L-dopa, an amino acid known for increasing brain levels of dopamine. Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter associated with regulating mood and cognition. Mucuna is even being used to treat Parkinson’s because low dopamine levels are being linked to shaking, tremors and slow movement.
The Happy Smoothie
Function:
Blood Sugar Balance + Happy Hormones
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 serving of vanilla protein
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp cashew butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon
1/2 tsp mucuna pruriens
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
pinch of ground cloves
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and enjoy!
