Healthy Drink Recipes to Boost Your Daytime Energy
If you often drag during the day, these healthy, energy boosting drink recipes may be just what you need to jump-start your afternoon and keep you going all evening through. Some people rely on manufactuered energy drinks, but in fact, there are many different homemade combinations that are healthy and inexpensive to create. Experiment with fruits, vegetables, supplements, and soy milk to find the best variations. Use these ideas for making delicious energy boosting drinks.
Fruit Smoothies
Fruit is usually a good choice when you need an energy boost. But fruit also contains fiber which helps you stay full and maintain blood sugar level throughout the day. Best of all, fruit is delicious and easy to incorporate into smoothies that can be enjoyed on the spot or taken to go. Making fruit smoothies is as easy as putting your favorite combination of fruits in a blender with yogurt, orange or cranberry juice, or soy milk. Get creative with unique combinations!
If you need direction, consider a nutrient rich banana fig smoothie. You'll need 1 ripe banana, 3 or 4 dried figs, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 cup water. Blend all of the ingredients until smooth. If you don't like figs, throw in some raisins or dates instead. You can also create an energy boost smoothie using 1 cup fresh or frozen berries blended with 1/4 cup vanilla soy milk and 1/2 cup yogurt.
Chinese Health Drinks
Many Chinese holistic practitioners recommend bee pollen for energy boost. Bee pollen powder supplements can be bought at health food stores. Make an easy drink combining warm water, 1 teaspoon of bee pollen powder, and 1 tablespoon of honey in a glass with a fork. If you want, add ginseng powder for its disease fighting properties. Bee pollen powder is so versatile that you can add a teaspoon to fruit smoothies also.
Egg Yolk Drinks
Raw egg yolk is known to boost energy by stimulating adrenal glands. Therefore, it's an excellent ingredient in healthy drinks. Be sure to use fresh eggs to avoid diseases associated with raw eggs. Make an egg yolk and carrot drink by whisking together 1 beaten egg yolk with fresh carrot juice. Or combine an egg yolk with 1 cup natural soy milk and 1 teaspoon honey. If the thought of raw egg yolk makes you squeamish, it's easy to mask the flavor and texture of it by blending it with a fruit smoothie.
Green Drinks
Vegetables, grass, and herbs also make great energy drinks because of their vitamins and amino acids. When it comes to vegetables, spinach, kale, cucumber, sprouts, and different types of lettuce are popular additives. Wheatgrass is also popular on its own, and can often be purchased from health food stores as a single shot. While many people appreciate the health benefits of green drinks, they don't like the flavor. Luckily, there are several recipes that let you get the nutrients while masking the bitterness.
To make an apple grass drink, blend together 1 to 2 chopped apples with 1/4 cup water, and a 2 inch piece of wheat grass. The apple will sweeten the entire drink. To make a yummy decadent green drink, combine 1 cup spinach, 1 cup white grape juice, 1/2 avocado, 1 granny smith apple, and 1 teaspoon honey.
