Tropical Green Smoothie Recipe

Here's a green smoothie recipe that is jam-packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals! It is definitely a "green" smoothie, but the veggie taste is tamed by the creamy sweetness of coconut milk, lime, and pineapple. It is so full of feel-good nutrients that it will give you a big boost of energy to kick your day into gear - or get you through the Afternoon Slump.

 

The great thing about this green smoothie is that it is mostly made of vegetables - the whole food, not just the juice from it - so you get the full benefit of all the fiber and nutrients that you can get from eating a big handful of raw spinach, cucumber, celery.

The only way to pull this off is to use a high speed blender that will completely pulverize all those vegetables and turn them into juice ( not sludge). None of the benefits are lost when you make juice this way! Here are 3 blenders I recommend for this task ( I have the Ninja):

I amped up the veggie goodness even more by using Golden Goodness V8 juice, which contains juice from sweet potatoes, carrots, and oranges.

 

Here's a breakdown of all the ingredients in my Tropical Green Smoothie, and their benefits:

* spinach - contains  folate, magnesium, iron, copper, calcium, and vitamins K, A, B, C, and E - need I say more? You know this is good for you!

*cucumber - contains cucurbitacins, flavonoids, and lignans, which provide anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits

*celery - provides a healthy dose of fiber

*pineapple - contains vitamin C, copper, and maganese; also provides anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits. I use frozen pineapple in this smoothie - it gives it a cold, icy texture that is delicious!

* ginger - anti-inflammatory benefits and gastrointestinal benefits 

* limes - contains vitamin C, and provides antibiotic and antibacterial benefits

*coconut milk - contains healthy fats and lauric acid, which can help protect the body from infections and viruses. I like to use Trader Joe's Light Coconut Milk because it doesn't contain any preservatives or fillers.

* protein powder -  Proteins are the main building blocks of a healthy body. A good quality whey protein powder contains essential amino acids and Branched Chain Amino Acids, which stimulate muscle growth and help to reduce muscle soreness from intense exercise. If you are vegan, you can find an excellent source for protein powder here on DailyBurn's protein resource page.

* Golden Goodness V8 juice - click the link to read more about this awesome new juice. It contains an impressive dose of vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin A!

 

What do you like to put in your shakes and smoothies? I'd really like to know! Visit me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and tell me - use DailyBurn's #ShowUsYourSmoothie

 

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Here are a few more protein-rich recipes you may want to check out:

 

Breakfast Smoothie Bowls - another way to pack a lot of nutrients and protein into one delicious treat!

 

 

Chocolate Smoothie Recipe - You get a hefty dose of protein in this one, and it can be made in about a minute!