Name: Matcha Tea Green Smoothie
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup chopped mango (fresh or frozen); 1 cup spinach leaves (about 1 handful); 1/2 cup soy milk; 1 frozen banana; 2 inch piece of cucumber (peeled); 1 teaspoon matcha tea powder; Handful of ice cubes

Matcha Tea Green Smoothie

Created On: May 21, 2014 | By Debbie | 8 Comments

Green smoothies – love them or hate them? For the longest time, I was in the hater camp… When I first tried making a green smoothie I didn’t realize how important it was to have a good blender. So, that first smoothie was pretty chunky/chewy. Yuck. Now that Will and I invested in a little better blender, I am giving the whole green smoothie thing another chance. With some hesitation, I tossed a handful of spinach in this smoothie and crossed my fingers. Turns out, this was a winner!

Let’s talk a little about why this smoothie is so good for you, shall we?

Cucumber: Although cucumbers don’t get much press for their nutrition benefits, they are a rich source of antioxidants like lignans and triterpenes. Cucumbers are also incredibly low in calories with only 16 per cup.

Spinach: Spinach definitely lives up to it’s title of “superfood”. It’s packed with so many nutrients like: Vitamins A, C, K, iron, and calcium. Vitamins A and C especially, play an active role in building rebuilding collagen for healthy hair and skin. Iron is responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells; more oxygen availability leads to increased energy levels.

Coconut: Coconut adds some satiating fat to this smoothie. Some of the fat in coconut is a unique form called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are absorbed directly into the blood stream. That may sound like a bad thing, but MCTs are converted into energy faster and actually less likely to be stored as fat.

Matcha tea: Numerous studies have indicated that consumption of green tea may lower your risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. Matcha tea in particular is noted to have a higher concentration of antioxidants.

Mango: Mangoes, like pineapples, also contain enzymes that break down proteins – putting your digestive tract at ease. This bright yellow fruit is also a great source of fiber and Vitamins A and C.