7 Reasons to Start Your Day with a Smoothie

I’ll admit, I’m a healthy smoothie fanatic. I love to start my day with a filling Paleo Protein smoothie (with a scoop of Collagen Protein Powder and Organic Greens, of course) for sustained energy to get me through my busy morning. It’s quick and easy, and requires little to no planning whatsoever! Whether you’re just beginning to explore the wonderful world of smoothies or are looking for more reasons to step up your smoothie game, let’s dive into this delicious trend and all the incredible benefits of starting every day with a healthy smoothie.

1. It’s super convenient.

Making a healthy smoothie for breakfast is a no-brainer. Every morning, I’ve been drinking a protein smoothie made with a scoop of my favorite Paleo Protein flavor: Double Chocolate, blended with some non-dairy milk and a couple of ice cubes to make it nice and frothy. How much easier can it get than that? There’s no need to deliberate over what you’re going to make and then try to quickly prepare and eat a nutritious breakfast before you run out the door. 

Since I’m always on the go, protein smoothies can be especially handy when going from place to place or returning from a trip before I’ve had the chance to shop for groceries. By keeping my freezer stocked with frozen greens and berries, along with having a supply of essential pantry items such as Paleo Protein, Collagen Protein Powder, and Organic Greens, I never have to worry about being without a nutrient-dense breakfast. Healthy smoothies can really save the day!

2. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals.

Shockingly, only 12% of U.S. adults eat the recommended 1 ½-2 cups of fruit per day, while just 9% meet the federal requirement for 2-3 cups of daily vegetables, according to the CDC. And those are minimum requirements!1 What if you could get most or all of your fruits and veggies for the entire day in your first meal? You can easily do so with a protein smoothie, especially when you add an organic greens powder to boost your healthy smoothie’s veggie content. Organic Greens contains 14 powerful plant foods to get you well on your way to meeting (and exceeding!) your daily vegetable needs.

By starting your day with a protein smoothie, you ensure you are on track with your daily nutrition requirements. In fact, many people report finding it easier to make healthy choices throughout the day if they have a smoothie for breakfast. Plus, even if you have to make compromises later in the day, you’ll have a solid foundation to ensure you’re still getting essential vitamins and minerals for the day if you begin with a delicious, healthy smoothie.

3. Its nutrients are bioavailable and easy to absorb.

Nutrients in protein smoothies are significantly more bioavailable for your body to use because they are already partially broken down, making them easier to absorb. This is especially important for those dealing with leaky gut or gut infections such as SIBO, and who have difficulty digesting food and absorbing nutrients. A healthy smoothie seems even more nutritious when you consider how much easier it is for your body to get all the good stuff where it needs to go! 

This is a huge benefit to beginning your day with a healthy smoothie that isn’t often talked about. While a breakfast containing quality, whole foods is always a good idea, choosing a breakfast with the most bioavailable nutrients is obviously a win. 

4. It keeps your blood sugar stable.

A nutritionally balanced protein smoothie will provide you with filling protein and healthy fats to keep you feeling full throughout the morning and prevent blood sugar spikes. I always choose to add berries to my protein smoothie because they are so low in sugar. I also include full-fat coconut milk, and of course, Paleo Protein, to my healthy smoothies to help me stay full until my next meal.

For a creamy consistency try frozen avocado instead of a banana. Avocados are an excellent low-carb addition to your smoothie, full of monounsaturated fats for reducing inflammation, as well as fiber to help further stabilize blood glucose levels. Mixing a healthy source of fat into your smoothie is the perfect way to ensure that you avoid the mid-morning stomach rumbling.

5. It’s an autoimmune-friendly energy boost.

If you’re following The Myers Way® protocol, you could be missing your morning cup of coffee. Fortunately, green protein smoothies are a terrific replacement for your caffeine habit that may cause inflammation and provide you with sustained energy without the dreaded “caffeine crash” in the afternoon. Green, healthy smoothies contain protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates, plus B vitamins, which are essential for helping our body turn those nutrients into usable energy.  A healthy smoothie is a perfect way to begin a busy day since you will undoubtedly need all the energy you can get to tackle your busy schedule.

6. It helps repair a leaky gut.

Healthy smoothies that contain either collagen or a clean-sourced protein powder free of inflammatory ingredients are ideal for healing a leaky gut. That’s because your intestinal wall is made up of microscopic folds, or “villi,” built from collagen. The amino acids in collagen quite literally “seal the leaks” or perforations in your digestive tract by repairing damaged cells and building new tissue. The addition of Collagen can also help support your digestion to relieve a number of gastrointestinal disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), by assisting with water absorption in the intestines.

Adding Paleo Protein powder to your healthy smoothies ensures that your body is getting the essential amino acids it needs. Many of the more common protein powders contain inflammatory ingredients and could include added sugars and protein sourced from whey, hemp, pea, or soy. 

What’s more, the protein content in my Paleo Protein is from grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free beef, so you can feel certain there are no unnecessary toxins getting put in your healthy smoothie. It is also free from heavy metals and other toxins that could be found in many other protein powders. 

7. It’s endlessly customizable.

One of the best perks of a healthy smoothie is that it is endlessly customizable based on your personal tastes or what you happen to have in your freezer, pantry and fridge! All you need is a base (water or non-dairy milk), a source of protein (Paleo Protein or Collagen Protein), healthy fats (coconut oil or avocado), some greens, and maybe some fruit for a bit of sweetness. 

Looking for inspiration for new healthy smoothie combinations? With flavors ranging from Double Chocolate to Birthday Cake to Salted Caramel, Paleo Protein can kickstart your perfect healthy smoothie. There’s even an unflavored option for those who want to taste the fruits and veggies in their healthy smoothies.

With these suggestions, you can easily throw together a healthy smoothie with infinite possibilities for flavor combinations, being as basic or elaborate as you want! For more ideas, try a Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Smoothie or Key Lime Pie Smoothie, and be sure to check out The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook for an entire chapter dedicated to delicious, energizing, and immune-boosting healthy smoothies!

Now that you know the ins and outs of making a super healthy smoothie that’s also tasty, you can look forward to beginning every morning with a filling breakfast option that puts you on the path toward your optimal health.