Recently I have been kind of obsessed with smoothie bowls. I was first introduced to them when I was in Scottsdale, Arizona. I’m not sure how I had never had one before; apparently, they have been popular for a while now, ha! But once I tried one, I was hooked!
I know they look super fancy, but I promise, they are so easy to make! It’s like making your favorite smoothie, just a little thicker topped with some yummy toppings. You really can’t mess them up!
The first smoothie bowl I tried was at a place called Nekter Juice Bar. Hello, cutest store ever! I’m trying to convince my husband to let me franchise one! They are primarily in the Western states and there’s not anything like it in Kentucky! He’s not really into that idea at the moment, ha!
I ordered the Acai Banana Berry Bowl. To be honest, I had no clue what Acai was! But it sounded healthy, right? Well little did I know that I would soon develop a new love for this mysterious super food!
After doing some research on Acai here are some interesting facts I found out:
- Acai is a berry that grows from the acai palm tree in in Central and South America.
- They are similar in size to a large blueberry
- Once picked they have to be shipped quickly because of how fast they spoil (hence why the freeze-dried powdered version is so widely popular, and you don’t often see the actual berry).
- Acai berry powder is freeze dried almost immediately to preserve the active components that are so beneficial to us.
- Acai berries are considered a powerhouse in the antioxidant world and are thought to contain double the amount antioxidants that are in blueberries.
- They have a high ORAC score (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) which measures antioxidant properties in food. Acai berries are near the top of this list!
- They include healthy fats such as omega fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9)
- B vitamins (B1, B-2, and B-3)
- They contain certain amino acids and other trace minerals such as iron, calcium, copper, and zinc.
- Because Acai berries are so rich in antioxidants, it is believed that they aid in healthy skin and anti-ageing.
- Helps with cognitive function
- Promotes healthy digestion & acts as a natural digestive cleanser
- Helps protect against heart disease
This is just scratching the surface on all health benefits that are tied to the Acai Berry. But the one benefit that I have been blown away with personally is the immune boosting significance I have experienced since using Acai powder in my smoothies, and smoothie bowls.
Obviously, I’m not a doctor, and what I’m about to share with you in my personal experience, it certainly may not work for everyone. With that being said, I started making these amazing smoothies about six months ago, and I haven’t had a cold since! Not even a sniffle.
Immune Boosting Significance
There are a lot of factors that could play into the absence of my usual winter colds; however, something has had a very powerful effect on my immune system because I used to always get at least one cold EVERY winter. And this year the flu was rampant where I live in Kentucky (they even had to shut down one of our clinics in our hospital because like 23 of the employees had it!)
The one major change that I believe has contributed to this spike in my immune system is Acai powder. This is what naturalnews.com had to say about the immune boosting properties of Acai berries.
“The antioxidants in acai berries have a profound effect on reducing the oxidative stress that foreign invading microorganisms and environmental toxins produce. They also help the immune system to function at a higher level and increase their strength of attack against these opportunistic microbes.
The acai berry also contains a unique polysaccharide fraction called arabinogalactan. This polysaccharide is a specific carbohydrate that has been shown to induce robust T cell stimulatory activity. The largest polysaccharides from acai were the most active immunologically. They activated both myeloid and T cells and increased IL-12 production. This improved T cell activity improves the body’s fight against infections”.
Whether it’s the acai powder or the combined super power of my smoothie bowls, I have never felt better! There are so many wonderful super foods out there that can have an incredible impact on the quality of our lives. And I had to share the great results I have experienced.
How to make a simple yet powerful immune boosting smoothie bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries (or any other frozen fruit)
- 1/4 banana (save the rest for the top)
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cashew milk (or any other plant-based milk)
- 1 tbsp acai powder
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- toppings: banana and any other fruit, sliced almonds, chia seeds, and your favorite crunchy granola (just watch out for the ones loaded with sugar)
Directions
- Blend first six ingredients until smooth
- Pour into bowl and top with your favorite toppings
There is no wrong way to go about making a great smoothie bowl! So I encourage you not to be intimidated by them. Just try it, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Acai powder has proven to be extremely valuable to my overall health which is why I wanted to share this simple recipe with you! I do buy only organic acai powder and have been extremely happy with this one by Navitas. I order mine from Thrive Market, and it’s 24.95 for an 8oz bag. It lasts a little longer than a month, and that’s with my husband using it as well!
By starting my day with an immune boosting smoothing, I’m setting body up for success, which will help me reach all of the other goals I have for my mental and spiritual well-being.
I would love to hear about your favorite superfood that you like to add to smoothies!
Take one small step today,
X0-Jenna
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