This smoothie is like having a mint chocolate chip milkshake for a snack. It’s packed full of nutrients from plant-based protein powder, avocado, cacao powder, peppermint and cacao nibs.
If smoothies were their own food group, I would be the happiest person. I’m absolutely obsessed with smoothies! I love packing them full of superfoods and coming up with yummy flavors. One of my favorites has to be Chocolate Mint. It truly tastes like chocolate mint chip ice cream! The best part? It’s so healthy, that you could have this for a snack every day (I definitely do).
The secret to this smoothie is the raw cacao powder. This ingredient alone delivers so many amazing health benefits. Cacao is a very powerful superfood that can sometimes be overlooked because people don’t associate chocolate with being healthy. It may surprise you to know that raw cacao contains nearly four times the antioxidant content of regular processed dark chocolate, 20 times more than blueberries, and 119 times more than bananas!
The benefits of cacao are truly incredible. Here is a list of the top benefits:
- Mood improver: anandamide – known as the bliss molecule, which creates a feeling of euphoria.
- Used as an aphrodisiac: Another mood-enhancing compound found in cacao is PEA or phenethylamine, which triggers the release of endorphins and pleasurable opium-like neurochemicals.
- Protect your heart and prevent cardiovascular disease: Flavanols an anti-inflammatory and heart-protective antioxidant found in raw cacao may protect against cardiovascular disease, reduce the risk of stroke, and help improve blood circulation.
- Prevent premature aging: polyphenol antioxidants found in cacao belong to the same group of antioxidants as green tea and red wine. These anthocyanins and catechins protect our cells from premature oxidation or destruction and can keep us looking and feeling younger longer.
- Energy boost and combat fatigue: cacao has one of the highest concentrations of magnesium found in this natural food source. Magnesium also helps to protect against osteoporosis, reduces type II diabetes, and lowers blood pressure.
- Glowing skin and improve skin texture: “In 2006 the Journal of Nutrition found that women who drank cacao with at least 326 mg of flavonols a day had better skin texture, improved microcirculation, increased oxygen saturation, and improved skin hydration than those didn’t. Stir some cacao powder in your cup of coffee or add to a smoothie.”
One of my favorite ways to use cacao powder is to use it for a tasty smoothie!
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Creamy Mint Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1-1 ½ cups Almond Milk
- 1 scoop Plant-Based Protein Powder vanilla
- 1 cup Frozen Zucchini
- ¼ Avocado
- 3 Fresh Mint Leaves can sub ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 1 Tbs Cacao Powder
- 1 Tbs Cacao Nibs
Instructions
- Add all ingredients (except cacao nibs) to a high-speed blender.
- Blend until thoroughly combined.
- Top with cacao nibs.
Wow this tasted like mint chocolate chip ice cream, but healthy 🙂 Thanks for the recipe!
Glad you liked it, Sarah! Thanks for the great feedback 🙂
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So happy to hear that! Thank you for the kind comment 🙂