Blueberry Smoothie Fitness

Nutritious smoothies add vitamins and a boost to fitness. Yoga is fun, and helps muscles stretch and prepare for everyday fitness. Here is a cool fitness recipe and the benefits of blueberries.

Benefits of Blueberries

Rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants are key to reducing the impact of oxidative stress. “Antioxidants create a barrier around the cell to help protect it from being damaged, as it happens, blueberries are very high in antioxidants — specifically anthocyanins, which are also found in chokeberries and elderberries.

According to a study, a cup of cultivated blueberries (berries grown to eat) has 9,019 antioxidants. Lowbush (or wild) blueberries have 13,427 total antioxidants per cup.

Full of vitamins and minerals

In addition to being low in calories, blueberries are nutrient-dense. They’re good sources of vitamin C and K as well as manganese.

A cup of blueberries provides the following recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals:

• Vitamin C: 24%.
• Vitamin K: 36%.
• Manganese: 25%.
• Dietary fiber: 14%.

Vitamin C is known for boosting your immune system and fortifying other body functions, while vitamin K helps your blood clot properly. Manganese, meanwhile, can also help with blood clotting, while promoting bone and muscle strength.

Help manage cholesterol

Blueberries are high in soluble fiber. “Soluble fiber binds around the bile in our guts and helps remove that bile, Bile is waste that’s made of several things — including cholesterol, bile acids, salts, metals, and bilirubin (a substance produced after breaking down red blood cells) — which is why removing it is so important.

“When soluble fiber binds around the bile, it helps to remove that bile, composed of cholesterol with the body’s waste, therefore can lead to a reduction in cholesterol, which therefore leads to it preventing or reverse reducing your risk of cancer. 

Blueberry Smoothie Recipe

INGREDIENTS  

• ½ milk (any kind)
• ¼ plain nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1 cup banana (sliced)
• ½ cup frozen blueberries
• ½ cup frozen strawberries

INSTRUCTIONS

• Put milk, yogurt, sliced banana, frozen blueberries, and frozen strawberries into a blender. Secure lid.Place ingredients into the blender in the order listed.
• Blend until smooth.Start the blender on LOW speed for 10 seconds. Increase speed to HIGH for a full minute.
• Pour smoothie into a cup. Serve immediately.

Blueberry super food delicious!