Raw Chocolate Smoothie Recipe with Avocado, Almond Milk and Raw Honey

Oh, my. This looks so incredibly delicious that we may have to put it at the top of the “gotta taste this” list.

Making a daily smoothie is a good way to blend together a bunch of healthful ingredients in one place, providing compound nutrition and keeping energy levels even.

When you think of a smoothie, it may be mostly fruits with maybe a carrot thrown in.

This one sounds decadent but it’s extraordinarily good for you. Here’s what’s in it:

Raw Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana, sliced
• 1/2 avocado, pitted and chopped
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 cup raw almond milk

Directions:

Put all ingredients in a blender and whip on High until smooth.

Now Here’s What’s in it.

Bananas are rich in potassium as most are aware; this important nutrient regulates blood pressure, among other things. In a smoothie, it adds fiber, texture, and flavor while helping maintain good energy.

Avocado is an undeniable superfood. Rich in nutritious saturated fats, avocados reduce cholesterol levels, lower inflammation in the body, maintain energy, and have a smooth, velvety texture. Love the color, too.

Raw cocoa is heavy in flavonoids–compounds in the pigment that have antioxidant properties. These antioxidants reduce inflammation, which is a precursor to disease. In its raw form, there’s nothing bad about chocolate; it’s after we add refined sugar and other stuff that its nutritional value decreases. It seems almost counter-intuitive when we think of cocoa but it actually reduces cells’ insulin resistance, a condition of diabetes.

Raw honey is important because if it’s pasteurized, most of the nutritional value gets burned out of it. Honey doesn’t spoil so there’s no reason to pasteurize it, anyway. Source your honey locally, if you can, to get the anti-allergen properties for local flora (also supports local farmers). Honey is an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and all-natural sweetener that is easily tolerated, even beneficial for diabetics.[1]

Almond milk is recommended but not required–you can choose whatever type of milk you like. Almond milk is high in tryptophan, which is necessary to produce seratonin and melatonin–the hormones that regulate sleep. It can be easily made at home and is more nutritious than, say, rice milk or pasteurized cow milk–with vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and magnesium.

As always, use local and organic when you can. We’d love to hear what you think.