CLEAN EATING #7 – Aloe Vera Mango Smoothie Recipe
Whenever I pay a visit to the patients at UCLA, I would bring along my breakfast jar with me so that I can have my meal while talking to the patients and their families. So on the 17th of December, I had the Blackberry Blueberry Banana Smoothie for breakfast at the hospital. After visiting all the patients at 8ICU, 8North and 1West, I went home to chill for a bit and decided to make the following drink:
A REFRESHING ALOE VERA MANGO SMOOTHIE!!! I was rushing while making this drink because we wanted to surprise the nurse practitioner as it was her last day before she took her maternity leave. A pity that the mangoes that I picked were a little sour but the drink is still very rejuvenating to the soul!
For only this clean eating recipe, I adapted it from one of the writers at Move Nourish & Believe:
- 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice
- 1 cup of coconut water
- 1 cup of fresh mango
- 1 cup of fresh banana
- 2-3 stalks of fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
It is very important to know the functions of each ingredient used so I did a research and the following is a review of the chosen items:
- aloe vera has 75 potentially active constituents that helps to improve cholesterol levels, stabilize blood sugar and treat irregularity
- coconut water can aid with digestion as it has more hydrating properties than the average tap water and thus, the food nutrients will be absorbed better and bowel movements will be easier
- mango has high level of fiber, pectin and vitamin C that helps to lower serum cholesterol levels
- banana is a good source of vitamin B6, which helps to strengthen the nervous system, reduce swelling, help with the production of white blood cells and protect against type II diabetes
- mint contains methanol and this releases pain inducing intestinal spasms, which reduces belly discomfort by 40%
- coconut oil, which is filled with healthy saturated fats, prevents tooth decay, protects against UV rays and wards off viruses, bacterias and fungi
Even though it was winter in Los Angeles, the city never goes below 0 centigrade and we have hot summer days during that season too so a replenishing and cooling drink such as Aloe Vera Mango Smoothie will definitely help!
