Blueberry Surprise Smoothie

Blueberry Surprise Smoothie (Day 3 – Blue)

This recipe is part of a series of colorful smoothie posts to celebrate Pride month.

Turns out, blueberries are purple when blended. (Surprise!)

Have you seen those lovely blue smoothies on Instagram? Those pale blue ones that hypnotize you like a clear summer sky?

Well, this wasn’t one of those smoothies.

How to make your smoothie Pale-blue:

Don’t waste your time on blueberries; the pale-blue color comes from using Blue Majik (a blue spirulina that has the yellow pigment removed) or the butterfly pea flower. And sadly, neither of these are readily available in stores. 

So, while this was not the truest blue smoothie I set out to make for Day 3 (and it tested every ounce of the control freak in me), I was determined to keep things simple.

And here’s where I landed. But, it tasted lovely. Which is all that matters when you’re drinking a smoothie. Right? 

This smoothie has blueberries (both fresh and frozen), a banana, oats, chia seeds, almond milk and water.  It’s nutritious, filling and goes down a treat; and would be perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. 

And, if you truly don’t care about the color, throw in a handful of baby spinach and a couple teaspoons spirulina. It will still taste great AND more importantly, sustain your energy levels for hours.

Recipe super-powers:

It’s the blueberries, naturally! These berries contain an abundance of anti-inflammatory flavonoids (called anthocyanidins); responsible not only for their bluish-purple color, but also for their fantastic antioxidant activity. This means they’re super efficient in cleaning up oxidative damage in the body! In particular, this antioxidant power is associated with protecting the brain from Alzheimer’s disease and reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Studies have also shown a link between consuming blueberries and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and Metabolic syndrome; specifically with regards to improved insulin sensitivity and endothelial function. Finally, the fiber in blueberries (both soluble and insoluble), seem to help promote bowel regularity. And let’s be honest – anything that helps you poop every single day is a fine thing indeed!