SMOOTHIES THAT NOURISH YOUR BRAIN
Your brain requires three things to function properly: sufficient exercise, plenty of sleep, and
proper nutrition. Unfortunately, if you’re one of the billions of people who follow the typical
Western lifestyle, you probably aren’t getting enough of any of these. The up side is that your brain
is extremely good at making due for short periods of time, but it can’t function optimally for too
long without getting what it needs. As a matter of fact, many degenerative brain disorders are now
being linked to poor dietary choices.
For most of human history, the functions of the brain have been a mystery, but in recent
decades, scientists have begun to understand more clearly how it works. Just like a car, your brain
functions only as long as you feed it the proper fuel. It requires specific nutrients to keep your
thoughts flowing well and your memory operating efficiently. If you offer it a lifetime of garbage, it
can literally wither up and quit working. Recent research is actually calling Alzheimer’s disease “type
3 diabetes.”
To completely oversimplify how sugar leads to Alzheimer’s, let’s take a basic look at how things
work. Your pancreas produces insulin, which is what tells your cells to absorb blood sugar, aka
glucose, that your brain uses for fuel. When the insulin sends signals to your cells too often, such as
when you have too much sugar in your blood, your cells start ignoring the insulin. Now you’re
insulin resistant, and your brain isn’t getting sufficient glucose to function properly. You begin to
lose memory and cognitive skills, and Alzheimer’s develops. This may be the “kindergarten” biology
version, but you get the idea.
Some signs that your brain isn’t getting the nutrients it needs include:
• Anxiety
• Brain fog
• Confusion
• Depression
• Poor memory
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ve likely written them off as simply part of
living a stressful lifestyle and getting older—but this is not the case. Fortunately, smoothies are a
great means of regaining quick nutrition so that your brain can begin to get rid of the garbage and
start running on all eight cylinders again. Look for produce that contains brain-healthful omega-3s,
B vitamins, and vitamins C, D, and E. Here are a few great recipes to help you get back on track to
mental clarity and superhero brain function.
Cherry Berry Mint Julep
The more people learn about cherries, the more advantageous they turn out to be. They’re heart healthful
and have anti-inflammatory benefits excellent for disease prevention and arthritis treatment. This
delightfully minty, berry-flavored juice will doubtless be a new favorite!
• 1 cup cherries, pitted
• 1 cup raspberries
• 4 sprigs mint
• 1 apple, cored and quartered
• 1/2 small cucumber, quartered
Blend all ingredients together. If the consistency is a bit thick, add 1/2 cup water or coconut water.
The mint adds a nice touch to this smoothie.
Yield: About 2 cups.
The Thinking Beauty Juice
This veggie-flavored mix helps your brain in a variety of different ways. The antioxidants protect you from
cognitive decline and help boost your memory, while other nutrients, such as omega-3s, promote good
blood flow and enhance critical thinking skills.
• 1/2 sweet potato
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 carrot with greens
• 1/2 small cucumber, quartered
• 1/2 cup water
Cut the sweet potato into 1-inch cubes.
Pulse the spinach, garlic, and sweet potato first, then add the rest. The cucumber lightens the flavor
a bit.
Yield: About 2 cups.
Your brain requires three things to function properly: sufficient exercise, plenty of sleep, and
proper nutrition. Unfortunately, if you’re one of the billions of people who follow the typical
Western lifestyle, you probably aren’t getting enough of any of these. The up side is that your brain
is extremely good at making due for short periods of time, but it can’t function optimally for too
long without getting what it needs. As a matter of fact, many degenerative brain disorders are now
being linked to poor dietary choices.
For most of human history, the functions of the brain have been a mystery, but in recent
decades, scientists have begun to understand more clearly how it works. Just like a car, your brain
functions only as long as you feed it the proper fuel. It requires specific nutrients to keep your
thoughts flowing well and your memory operating efficiently. If you offer it a lifetime of garbage, it
can literally wither up and quit working. Recent research is actually calling Alzheimer’s disease “type
3 diabetes.”
To completely oversimplify how sugar leads to Alzheimer’s, let’s take a basic look at how things
work. Your pancreas produces insulin, which is what tells your cells to absorb blood sugar, aka
glucose, that your brain uses for fuel. When the insulin sends signals to your cells too often, such as
when you have too much sugar in your blood, your cells start ignoring the insulin. Now you’re
insulin resistant, and your brain isn’t getting sufficient glucose to function properly. You begin to
lose memory and cognitive skills, and Alzheimer’s develops. This may be the “kindergarten” biology
version, but you get the idea.
Some signs that your brain isn’t getting the nutrients it needs include:
• Anxiety
• Brain fog
• Confusion
• Depression
• Poor memory
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ve likely written them off as simply part of
living a stressful lifestyle and getting older—but this is not the case. Fortunately, smoothies are a
great means of regaining quick nutrition so that your brain can begin to get rid of the garbage and
start running on all eight cylinders again. Look for produce that contains brain-healthful omega-3s,
B vitamins, and vitamins C, D, and E. Here are a few great recipes to help you get back on track to
mental clarity and superhero brain function.
Cherry Berry Mint Julep
The more people learn about cherries, the more advantageous they turn out to be. They’re heart healthful
and have anti-inflammatory benefits excellent for disease prevention and arthritis treatment. This
delightfully minty, berry-flavored juice will doubtless be a new favorite!
• 1 cup cherries, pitted
• 1 cup raspberries
• 4 sprigs mint
• 1 apple, cored and quartered
• 1/2 small cucumber, quartered
Blend all ingredients together. If the consistency is a bit thick, add 1/2 cup water or coconut water.
The mint adds a nice touch to this smoothie.
Yield: About 2 cups.
The Thinking Beauty Juice
This veggie-flavored mix helps your brain in a variety of different ways. The antioxidants protect you from
cognitive decline and help boost your memory, while other nutrients, such as omega-3s, promote good
blood flow and enhance critical thinking skills.
• 1/2 sweet potato
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 carrot with greens
• 1/2 small cucumber, quartered
• 1/2 cup water
Cut the sweet potato into 1-inch cubes.
Pulse the spinach, garlic, and sweet potato first, then add the rest. The cucumber lightens the flavor
a bit.
Yield: About 2 cups.