So here in Australia we are well in to summer at the moment, days are long and hot, perfect for the beach and perfect for a refreshing smoothie! But, smoothies are only healthy if you balance them well and really supercharge them full of nutrition! And we all know by now, that nutrition has one of the biggest impacts on your fertility, no matter what stage you are in.
Step one to making a delicious smoothie is ensuring there are some great antioxidant rich berries and fruit involved as a base, our favourites are blueberries and half a banana, you also want to add a little water or milk of your choice.
So let’s take a look at 4 superfood smoothie additions to help you craft a fertility friendly summer drink!
Maca root ~ maca root contains a variety of micronutrients that can be useful for improving hormonal balance, energy levels and can even help to boost that libido! Maca root originated in Peru and thrives in the Andes mountains where it has been cultivated and used for fertility enhancement for at least 3,000 years. It’s said that Incan Imperial warriors actually consumed large quantities of Maca before battle to increase their strength and vitality. Adding this to your morning smoothie may help you to ditch that morning coffee.
Collagen powder ~ collagen is a naturally occurring protein found in bones and is one of nature’s superfoods. It’s required for healthy growth and it’s also a great hit of protein! In pregnancy our protein requirements increase as does the growth, in fact the uterus has 800 times more collagen at the end of pregnancy compared to pre-pregnancy. And many use collagen pre pregnancy and throughout to help prevent stretch marks. Our favourite brand is Maternally Happy.
Veggies ~ veggies are loaded with vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and fibre, all round goodness! And the cool thing about adding veggies to your smoothies is that with some, you won’t even notice it but it can pack a serious punch! Our favourites would have to be those folate-rich dark, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale. So grab a handful and pop it in your smoothie!
Healthy fats ~ we really want to ensure your smoothie isn’t just loaded full of sugars (aka just high-glycemic fruit). We want to make sure we are balancing those sugars our with protein and healthy fat sources! Healthy fats help to support hormonal balance, healthy ovulation, increase cervical mucus, increase circulation to reproductive organs and provide so much nutrition in general. Include nuts, seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, coconut oil, even avocado can add a creamy delicious texture.
We include our Superfood Sperm Smoothie recipe and our Ultimate Prenatal Smoothie recipe in our Nourishment Cookbook. Containing over 50 pages of nutrition info for those trying to conceive and preparing to conceive. This is just one handout in our signature online course Conscious Conception: A Baby Prep Journey. Find out more information here.
