After reading that Jennifer Aniston starts her day with a smoothie with chocolate, cherries and collagen, my immediate thought was: I need that recipe! That woman seriously does.not.age, am I right? If it helps the world's most beauty woman (according to People magazine) glow from the inside out, then sign me up.
Cherry Collagen Smoothie Recipe
Along with a hefty dose of good-for-you fruits and veggies, this smoothie contains collagen, one of the latest trendy super foods. Collagen is a protein responsible for the cohesion, elasticity, and regeneration of skin and is great for your hair, skin and nails.
My favorite part: collagen provides 9 grams of protein per scoop and is virtually tasteless. So even if you can't whip up a smoothie, you can just stir it into your coffee, how awesome is that?!
It's easy to make a skin-boosting smoothie that has a healthy balance of fat, protein and carbs. Here's the simple formula:
Cherries
Cherries are packed with antioxidants and can help with insomnia, joint pain and belly fat. And even though they can be super sweet, they have a glycemic index of 22, lower than fruits like blueberries and grapes.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are tiny, texturizing powerhouses that are low in calories but loaded with health benefits. Chia seeds support bone health, curb appetite and improve exercise performance—and they’re loaded with omega-3s and antioxidants.
MCT or coconut oil
I used to put coconut oil in smoothies, but recently switched the easier to measure and blend MCT oil. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) support weight loss because they don't behave like other fats. MCT's are metabolized very quickly and used as fuel for the body, rather than being stored as fat.
Collagen
Maintaining and building collagen not only improves the look of your skin, but it helps heal joint damage, improves bone health, and helps in weight management. Look for collagen from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a sweet addition that can actually help balance your blood sugar levels, reducing the sugar spike and crash cycle that leaves you tired and craving carbs.
Cocoa powder
Cocoa powder is a great way to get the taste of chocolate without the added sugar. Plus you'll get a dose of minerals like iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc and the flavonoids catechin and epicatechin, which can help lower blood pressure.
📖 Recipe
Glowing Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- Large handful of greens like spinach
- 1 cup frozen cherries or combine with blueberries or raspberries
- ½ banana optional
- 1 cup non-dairy milk
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or MCT oil
- 1 scoop of collagen protein
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients together and enjoy!
Notes
Photos by Ana-Maria Stanciu
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