Who doesn’t love a perfectly ripe, in-season summer peach?! Their flavor and sweetness are an absolute delight for your tastebuds! I tend to get excited and buy too many, and sometimes they ripen before I can eat them all, eek! When this happens, instead of wasting them (a crime if you ask me…) I throw them in a smoothie!
I recently spent a few weeks visiting my family in upstate New York. I love summer on the east coast, and it was wonderful to reconnect with family and old friends. But what I will remember most about this trip was the quality time I was able to spend with my aunt. She was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemo treatments. I am in awe of her bravery, strength, and spirit. But chemo is no joke. To help ease her nausea and regain her energy, I made us green smoothies every day. One day after bringing home a basket of perfectly ripe peaches from the local farmer’s market, I added one to the smoothie recipe and it was an absolute hit! Neither of us could drink them fast enough, hence this smoothie recipe.
My aunt is often exhausted and has lost a good part of her appetite. I noticed that it was much easier for her to take down a blended smoothie versus eating a salad containing the same amount of greens. Also, since all the ingredients are already blended in the smoothie, your body doesn’t have to work as hard to break down the food to access all the nutrients.
I added blueberries because they’re a food powerhouse. They’re full of antioxidants which are compounds that can combat free radicals. What are free radicals you ask? They are molecules that cause damage to cells in the body. Antioxidants are able to neutralize free radicals and prevent them from further damaging more cells. A lot of fruits and veggies contain antioxidants so get your green smoothie on!
If you want to learn more about my experience with green smoothies and why they’re so awesome, then check out my Why Green Smoothies? page.
Notes About Ingredients
Blueberries – Full of phytochemicals, including antioxidants, which help neutralize free radicals (see above). These antioxidants are also strong inflammation fighters and linked to having a positive effect on brain health.
Spinach – Leafy greens also have anti-inflammatory properties. I use regular spinach as opposed to baby spinach. I find regular spinach to have more flavor and is cheaper but you can use whichever you prefer. Spinach is one of those powerhouse veggies. It’s high in calcium, iron, vitamin A, C, K, and folic acid.
Watermelon – Packed full of lycopene and vitamin C. Lycopene is an antioxidant linked to decreased cancer risk, helps keep the eyes healthy as we age and protects against heart disease. It also contains the antioxidant choline which is involved in muscle repair and maintaining cell structure. Watermelon is composed of over 90% water which makes it great for hydration!
Chia Seeds – Chia seeds have a lot of great health benefits. I add them because they actually help keep the juice and fiber from separating after you’re done blending! It’s a lot easier to drink this way!
My Normal Spiel
The point of green smoothies is to get more leafy greens and fiber into your diet without adding a lot of extra sugar or calories, and still have it taste good so you’ll want to drink it! This isn’t a meal replacement or protein smoothie. The amount of fruit you use may vary depending on the season and what the fruit tastes like.
Here are some other green smoothies you may want to try!
Spinach, Apple, and Ginger Green Smoothie
Summer Strawberry Watermelon Green Smoothie
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