Adrenal Booster Blueberry Green Smoothie

This Adrenal Booster Blueberry Green Smoothie is nutrient-dense and full of minerals and adaptogens to help get your hormones in balance.

This week's we have a recipe that will get you energized for your day.

To feel energized, we need all of the chemical pathways to move smoothly, meaning we need the vitamins and minerals that are cofactors for making chemical changes. Many different minerals, B vitamins, vitamin C, and amino acids are necessary for energy and adrenal health.

When the adrenals are out of balance, it is usually due to stress, which could be related to nutrient deficiencies or the effects of chronically elevated cortisol, among other things. This smoothie is nutrient-dense providing many of the nutrients needed for energy, hormone-balancing, and counteracting stress-induced inflammation.

The Smoothie Ingredients are Nutrient-Dense and Hormone Balancing

Kale and collards are members of the Brassica family of plants. These plants are high in minerals and amino acids, vitamins B6 and B9, sulfur-rich nutrients, and glucosinolates, which help with detoxification, inflammation, stress response, and DNA repair.

Broccoli sprouts are also from the Brassica family, and they are extremely nutrient dense. Just think, that 1 tiny sprout has all of the nutrients found in a whole head of broccoli. Adding broccoli sprouts to your meals is a great way to boost nutrition and get the other health benefits of this wonderful plant family.

Arugula is another green from this plant family that is also very bitter. Its bitterness helps with bile flow. Healthy, fluid bile is needed to help break down fatty acids and optimize digestion, so we can absorb more nutrients, and arugula can help.

Sunflower sprouts are rich in amino acids, B vitamins, and minerals like magnesium, zinc, and iron. They are also high in lecithin, vitamin E, and even some selenium. These are wonderful for reducing inflammation that can be caused by a hectic lifestyle.

There are several powders that we can add to smoothies and soups to boost nutrition and help with hormone balancing.

Kelp powder is a sea vegetable that is mineral-rich. Adding the powders of sea vegetables not only boosts the minerals in your meals in a healthy, more absorbable way, but they are also high in iodine, which is essential for thyroid hormones. Kelp is also mucilaginous and helps with the intestinal lining, which can help with absorbing nutrients, as well.

Adaptogens like ashwagandha and cordyceps act just like they sound; adaptogens help us adapt to our environment. Ashwagandha is very soothing and relaxing.

Learn More About Empowered Self Care Lab

Cordyceps is recognized for its ability to boost energy and vitality in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a well-known adaptogen that aids in counteracting stress.

Nettles is one of the most mineral-rich herbs. Stress has a huge effect on the biochemical pathways and burns through many nutrients, Adding these powders from mineral-rich foods and adaptogens provide the cofactors needed to make sure the pathways are open and the body can better adjust to stressors.

Stress creates a lot of free radicals and oxidation, and the antioxidants in the blueberries, lemon juice, and even the leafy greens and sprouts, help to remove the free radicals. Blueberries not only add a delicious flavor, but they are also very high in antioxidants and resveratrol, which aid in inflammation. The adrenals use a lot of vitamin C, and these foods help replenish the vitamin C lost through stress.

The inflammation created by stress is also counteracted by the omega 3s in hemp seeds, with the addition of coconut, which helps convert omega 3s.

Hemp seeds are also very high in protein, which is needed to help detoxify the byproducts of stress. We also need different amino acids to help with binding to receptors, so thyroid hormones can get into cells to help with energy balance, and adrenal hormones can bind where needed, as well.

Enjoy this nutrient-dense energizing recipe to get your day started off right.