Blueberry Banana Smoothie / Milkshake is an amazing quick and easy breakfast, snack or dessert which provides a range of nutritional benefits. Bananas supply fiber, which protects bowel health and helps regulate digestion. Banana Promotes Cardiovascular Health. The amount of potassium in bananas also make them a good fruit to eat to decrease your risk of kidney stones. The tryptophan content of bananas which lead to the production of serotonin also helps regulate mood, sleep patters, muscle contraction, appetite, memory and learning. Strawberries promote good eyesight and decrease symptoms of arthritis. Strawberries are chockfull of antioxidants, that can help lower blood pressure, ensure a healthy immune system, and ward off the development of age-related ocular diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. The phenols in strawberries also fight against many inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis, asthma and atherosclerosis, by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) in the same way that the drugs aspirin and ibuprofen do. Strawberries, however, do not carry unwanted side effects like stomach and intestinal bleeding.
INGREDIENTS:
- Fresh Strawberries, hulled – 10 nos
- Ripe Jamaican banana (Peeled and chopped) – 1 no
- Oats – 1/2 Cup (old fashioned rolled oats recommended)
- Milk – 1 cup
- Water – 2 cups
- Honey or Sugar – 2 tbsp [or to taste]
- Cardamom Powder – 1 pinch
Easy way to cut up strawberries that is also fast:
- I used to place Strawberries in a colander and rinse them with cool water. Then spread the strawberries in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels and pat them dry.
- Now start by picking off the green tops from every strawberry. Just try to get most of it off.
- Cut the tops off the strawberries with a knife. Don't cut the nice red part, just cut the raw, green or white part off. (To make juice or milkshake or smoothies, it is not necessary to cut the strawberries)
- Slice each of them lengthwise to get 2 equal parts.
- To easily cut strawberries, turn each strawberry upside-down onto the freshly cut top. Now, cut right down the middle. Turn the strawberry around and cut down the middle again to make quartered strawberries. Repeat for each berry.
- In a blender or mixer add strawberries, banana, milk, water, oats, cardamom powder, and honey and blend until creamy and smooth.
- Pour into glasses and serve immediately.