Warm green tea smoothie

Hot green tea in a smoothie? Sounds weird, right? But we promise smoothie is perfect when you’re craving something warm to drink. But by using only room temperature ingredients, adding a little ginger and hot green tea, this version will keep you warm and give you energy for the day.

Ingredients

• 1/2 ripe pear, chopped, cored
• 1/2 banana
• 1-2 handfuls of spinach leaves
• 1/2 avocado
• 1 thumbnail piece of ginger, peeled
• 2 tablespoons water
• Hot green tea
• Cayenne pepper (optional)

Method

1. Combine all ingredients except green tea and cayenne pepper in a blender and process until smooth.
2. Mix in hot green tea after blending and adjust the consistency of the smoothie according to your taste.
3. Sprinkle with a little cayenne pepper for extra spice.

Some blenders cannot handle hot liquids, which is why we add the green tea at the end.

Tip: You can use pretty much any other leafy green vegetable.

Baby spinach is high in vitamin A, vitamin C and folate. Two cups of spinach will provide the daily value of vitamin A, necessary for healthy vision, immune function, and skin and bone health. The same serve also meets the recommended day’s intake of vitamin C, needed for healthy gums, teeth, and bones as well as wound healing and fighting infection. Spinach is also one of best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that help protect our eyes as we age.

Avocados are rich in fibre and healthy mono-unsaturated fats while naturally low in sugar and sodium. They are rich in folate and vitamin C, an antioxidant that contributes to cell protection from free radical damage. Avocados also contain other antioxidant vitamins and minerals and natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds called phenolics.

Ginger acts as an anti-inflammatory and some studies have shown it may help decrease joint pain for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. One study showed that ginger extract reduced arthritis pain in the knee after 3 months of treatment and another showed reduced pain upon standing, pain after walking, and stiffness.

Green tea contains hundreds of antioxidant chemicals called polyphenols and has been cited for helping prevent problems ranging from cancer to heart disease. Studies also suggest green tea may help prevent or ease symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.