I don’t know about you but once fall arrives, it’s pumpkin-palooza around here! In my kitchen, pumpkin goes into everything. Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin sauces, pumpkin soups and definitely pumpkin smoothies! You can add it to almost any recipe! So why do we want to add it to our diet? Let me tell you…
Pumpkin contains tons of the antioxidant beta-carotene, hence the orangish color. Beta-carotene gets converted into vitamin A, which is very beneficial to vision, eye health and keeping your skin wrinkle-free. Beta-carotene also helps protect against cancer and many other diseases.
Just one cup of pumpkin is only around 50 calories and 3 grams of filling fiber. Fiber-rich diets help you to fill up on less and helps with regularity.
In just one cup of pumpkin, there is more potassium than in a whole banana. Potassium keeps your electrolytes balanced after workouts, aids in recovery and keeps you hydrated.
High in vitamin C, pumpkin also boosts immunity, which is important this time of year.
So, this smoothie has been my go-to breakfast everyday this last week. It has given me so much energy to jam through my mornings, get my work done and kept me feeling vibrant and energized. Start your morning off right with this delicious Fall treat!
This smoothie gives you that kick of natural energy that you crave in the morning. Who needs that toxic, belly-busting, adrenal-draining pumpkin spice latte from that overly-expensive coffee giant that we won’t name? I’d prefer this healthy and filling Pumpkin Spice Smoothie any day. Try it out and let me know how you like it!
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
- 1 sliced, frozen banana
- 1/3 cup of fresh pumpkin or 100% pure canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp pecans or walnuts
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp each of nutmeg and ginger
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, honey or stevia to taste
Instructions: Combine everything in a blender and blend. Add more milk if needed.
Jennifer Lannon
Jennifer has learned that if you give the body what it needs, it will heal itself on its own. A simple concept, yet hard for many to realize. She believes that eating a real food diet, as opposed to the standard american diet (SAD) can help you find relief from symptoms, heal from many disorders and get to a healthy weight. She's created an easy to follow online nutrition course called "Using Food as Medicine" found here: http://bit.ly/1I6Gk27
Jennifer uses functional diagnostic testing to discover the root causes of what is really malfunctioning in the body and creating symptoms. After four long years of trying to conceive, she has healed her own infertility with these methods and has a healthy baby girl.
She offers Functional Diagnostic Nutrition consultations and wellness coaching virtually. You can reach out to her at jennifer@realfoodheals.com.
Do you suffer from leaky gut? For a more in-depth method on how to heal leaky gut, check out her 28 day online program on gut healing at www.HowToHealYourGut.com.
