So what’s better than starting the day with a freshly whizzed up smoothie packed with superfoods, promising hydration, energy and at least 4 or 5 of the now recommended 10-a day? It’s simple: add a pinch of sea salt into the mix.
Why? Number one, Gwyneth Paltrow does it every day according to Goop; two – for flavour, sea salt makes everything taste better and three – Cornish Sea Salt has over 60 naturally occuring minerals so you’re boosting your daily fix with the likes of magnesium, potassium and calcium, essential to our wellbeing and even mental health.
Here’s a round-up of our top five #saltmysmoothie recipes:
1) goop.com
Gwyneth’s morning go-to has a base of almond milk, almond butter and coconut oil and is topped up with an impressive list of superfoods such as maca or vanilla mushroom protein powder, finished with a list of ‘moon dust’ options of your choice, depending on what your day holds or your mood dictates. On top of this she adds only a pinch of sea salt (make it a modest pinch to start with and adjust according to taste) and another optional pinch of vanilla powder. Drink and glow.
There’s no recipe required for these smoothie experts. This is more of a flavour guide to ingredients which will help you get the best out of your morning pick-me-up. The good news is that you can, with a few healthy tweaks, turn any favourite dessert into your morning smoothie. Just remember a few golden rules: raw cacao powder is healthier than a chocolate bar, dates are better than sugar and cream or cashews blended with water make a great cream substitute.
Salt and Sand Smoothies explains how introducing a morning smoothie into her diet 4 or 5 times a week had “immediate and dramatic” results. Interestingly, the preparation of fresh fruit in the mornings seems as important as the consumption, it is a quiet time of sensual appreciation and meditation.
Step one is prep and blending, step two is passing the juice through a muslin or other strainer and step three is drink, asap, although juices can be consumed up to 48 hours after blending to get your full fresh nutrient hit.
Whether it’s getting your kids to eat more fruit and veg, you need a post-workout boost or it’s breakfast on the hop, Martha Stewart lists her top 10 healthy smoothie recipes. Out favourites are the Stay Young Smoothie (what’s not to like?!) including berries, green tea, flaxseed and yoghurt; the Hearty Fruit and Oat Smoothie featuring, you guessed it, oats, green-ginger peach or mango and finally, the protein-packed Pomegranate Smoothie with silken tofu, pomegranate and berries. Get smoothing!
While the smoothie market may seem dominated by women, here’s a more manly look at the smoothie, defined on the site as the “fastest food ever.” They may have a point. We like the look of the Chocolate, Banana and Peanut Butter Smoothie, a list of, let’s face it, some of our favourite ingredients; the Chocolate Cherry Awesomeness Shake (sold) plus it has the added benefit of the apparently sleep-inducing qualities of cherries, and lastly, the Vanilla Pumpkin Pie Shake. Granted, some of these cross the line into shake / dessert territory, but after a work-out – surely you deserve it?!
*Image credit: Goop.com