by Audra C.

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 22, 2009

Green tea leaves? Raw cranberries? Carrot juice? Wheat grass? These may not sound like your everyday breakfast choices. Alone these flavors may seem a bit unpalatable, however when combined with other ingredients a delicious and healthful drink packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants is the result. A smoothie is a great way to get your daily dose of fruits and veggies with all the nutrients your heart desires (literally!). The body absorbs nutrients in liquid form better than pills. It's also fast for those who are on the run and don't have time for a healthy breakfast, and you can keep the leftovers in the fridge for an afternoon pick me up. There are a few things to take into consideration when preparing your own smoothies to get optimum health benefits. 1) Many smoothie chains use sherbet, which doesn't have the same benefits as yogurt. Yogurt with sugar added lessens the productivity of the natural occurring probiotics it contains. Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in the digestive track and help breakdown food and remove toxins. Many people eat yogurt for digestive health, but don't realize the added sugar is canceling out the beneficial bacteria. Yeasts and negative bacteria love sugar so avoid feeding them as much as possible! 2) Many "fruit drinks" or "fruit cocktails" contain little to no fruit. Read the ingredients and make sure that your pomegranate juice is actually made from pomegranates, etc. 3) Most fruits are naturally sweet, therefore little to no sugar needs to be added. For those with a sweet tooth try natural sweeteners such as xylitol or stevia, which contain a 3rd less carbohydrates than sugar and actually help fight cavities. If you don't like these try raw sugar or honey. Here are a few examples of healthy smoothies, each containing at least one source of antioxidants, which are known to prevent cancer. Ingredients can be mixed and matched to fit your palate! Don't forget the ice!

Rasberry Bonanza

1-cup plain yogurt

banana

2 bags green tea (open tea bags and add tea to mixture)

cup raspberries

1-teaspoon xylitol, stevia, or raw sugar

Splash of pomegranate juice

Mix all ingredients in a blender for 1 minute and enjoy!

Bananas have been called the perfect food, over a million monkeys can't be wrong! A very special benefit of bananas is they increase production of the "feel good" chemicals in the brain, acting as a natural anti-depressant. They are also a great source of potassium, and vitamins B6 and C. Green

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