Familiar with the 3:00 p.m. slump?  I was.  No matter how energetic I would feel during the day, carpool would do it to me, until I tried this…….a green smoothie created specifically to energize.  I became so tired of being tired just when I needed to be awake and ready to roll from 3:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.  And, once my boys and I would arrive home, I felt like I needed an after school snack right along with them.  

Often, when we feel tired we look for food to give us energy.  So, that is where I would find myself school day after school day.  Not a good place to be.  One day it occurred to me, if a green smoothie perks me up in the morning, why not have one to sip on while I wait in carpool line?  Then, maybe I will feel energized and satisfied instead of feeling tired and craving snack food.  And, you know what?  It worked beautifully.  How could it not?  When you drink a vegetable heavy smoothie, there are hundreds of phytonutrients, antioxidants, micronutrients and of course macronutrients being absorbed by your body quickly since all of the ingredients are broken down into a very easily assimilated form.    What I love is…. you feel this, you really do.  It is a natural brightening of your mood and spirit, a fresh store of energy being released.  It is never too much.  It’s perfectly balanced.  

Here’s some of the good stuff tucked into this powerful green drink…….Cayenne.  Cayenne has been proven to increase the basal metabolic rate and stimulate the burning of fat for energy and it also reduces the liklihood of developing atherosclerosis,  helps to heal peptic ulcers and is beneficial in fighting off the common cold or sinus infection.  Tumeric.  The curcumin in tumeric exerts very powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and has numerous protective benefits against many types of cancer, from helping the body destroy mutated cancer cells to inhibiting the formation of cancer causing nitrosamines….and so many more.  And, if that isn’t enough,  tumeric aids in the prevention of heart disease and degenerative neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  Wow.  Food really is medicine.  Chia.  Chia is a natural energizer, in that it is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, B vitamins, protein, calcium and fiber.  What is so unique about chia seeds is that their soluble fiber content is hydrophilic, which means they can absorb 10-12 times their own weight in water.  This helps to protect against dehydration, as well as, electrolyte loss.  Being hydrated is key to keeping your energy up, because even slight dehydration will have a significant negative effect on your energy.   Very important since we need a different kind of energy when the little ones hop in the car after school, and we need that energy to last until they are all tucked in at night.  

This energizing green smoothie is beneficial in so many ways other than what the nutrients provide.  More specifically, when we are tired we are usually cranky.  When we are alert and energetic, we are happy.  Little children pick up on that the second they see you, so let them see a happy, glowing, beautiful face full of adoration for them when they see you after their demanding school day by showing yourself a little love first!  Check out the recipe for my energizing smoothie in the recipes section, but don’t be discouraged by the list of ingredients….I have the prep down to two minutes, seriously!  And, that is without anything being washed or peeled.  Even if it takes five minutes, it is so worth how you will feel after!  xxo!