Ah, cinnamon… I remember years ago on my trip to Morocco, I went to a restaurant where, for dessert, we were served neatly cut orange circles sprinkled with cinnamon powder. It was a truly elegant and delicious dessert! Plus, it’s a testimonial that simple things are often better…
Anyway, cinnamon can be a great addition to your smoothie. It is not expensive, has no unpleasant side effects, and provides lots of proven health benefits.
Although you can certainly buy cinnamon capsules, a much better way to enjoy the health benefits of cinnamon nutrition, is to add cinnamon to your smoothies and other dishes. While in the US, we use cinnamon mostly as a spice to be used in pies and other sweet-tasting baking recipes, in many parts of the world it is used in savory dishes as well.
What Are the Kinds of Cinnamon?
Cinnamon is the bark of one of a group of trees belonging to the same family. Many related species are marketed as cinnamon.
The two varieties mostly used are: Ceylon cinnamon (also called “true cinnamon”)and cassia cinnamon (or “Chinese cinnamon” is what you’ll typically find in your grocery store’s spice aisle) . Cassia cinnamon is the kind most often used for baking and cooking. It’s also the variety most researchers have used when they’ve studied cinnamon and diabetes.
The two kinds of cinnamon come from different plants. Cinnamomum Cassia, used in curry powder and in Chinese and Korean dishes, is dark brown. The other variety of cinnamon, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, is a lighter brown or tan.
Cinnamon “sticks” or “quills” are rolls of dried bark, and can be grated into a powder or soaked in liquid. Most people buy cinnamon pre-ground.
Cinnamon Nutrition
Would you believe that a mere teaspoon of cinnamon provides 28 mg of calcium, almost one mg of iron, over a gram of fiber, and quite a lot of vitamins C, K, and manganese? Yep. It also contains about half a gram of “usable” (non-fiber) carbohydrate.
What are the Health Benefits of Cinnamon?
In traditional medicine, cinnamon has been used for digestive ailments such as indigestion, gas and bloating, stomach upset, and diarrhea. It has a mild anti-inflammatory effect, slows down the spoiling of food, and has anti-fungal properties as well.
Health benefits of cinnamon include:
• Supporting digestive function
• Relieving congestion
• Relieving pain and stiffness of muscles and joints
• Reducing inflammation and symptoms of arthritis
• Helping to prevent urinary tract infections, tooth decay and gum disease
• Relieving menstrual discomfort
• Stimulating circulation with blood-thinning compounds
Cinnamon May Help Improve Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
The majority of the research seems to be pointing in the direction of cinnamon being beneficial for people with diabetes. Along with the improvement in blood sugar, studies have documented improvements in triglycerides, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol.
Several studies have shown improved insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control by taking as little as ½ teaspoon of cinnamon per day.
A study published in the December 2003 issue of the journal Diabetes Care, tested daily consumption of 1, 3, or 6 grams (1 gram = 1,000 mg) of cinnamon or a placebo every day for 40 days. The researchers found that among diabetics who used cinnamon:
- Fasting glucose was lowered 18 to 29 per cent.
- LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol fell by 7 to 27 per cent.
- Total cholesterol fell 12 to 26 per cent without any loss of the protective HDL cholesterol.
- Fasting triglycerides fell 23 to 30 per cent.
The benefits of using cinnamon continued even after supplementation was stopped. That means, if you used cinnamon regularly, you do not necessarily need cinnamon every day to receive the full benefits for blood sugar regulation and lowered levels of LDL, cholesterol, and triglycerides. In the interest of full disclosure, however, it is important to note that one recent study did not find the benefits of cinnamon to accrue in just 14 days. It is apparently necessary to use cinnamon in food for at least 40 days before you can “take a day off” and still get the protective benefits. (Source: Natural News)
Clearly, adding ample amounts of cinnamon to your diet is incredibly beneficial. Just remember, unless you are adding it to a proper diet — high in vegetables and especially leafy greens — it is unlikely you will experience any noticeable benefits.
Cinnamon in Smoothies
Cinnamon adds a wonderful flavor to green smoothies. It goes especially well with smoothies using apples, pears, citrus (oranges, tangerines), and bananas. Cinnamon can be used on its own or with other spices like nutmeg, clove, ginger and all spice.
Cinnamon combines best used with mild, less-bitter greens like romaine, leaf lettuce, baby spinach, and celery tops. I would caution against using it with bitter greens like kale and dandelion, or with flavorful berries.
The optimum dose is between 1-3 grams a day. 1 gram is around 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, about the amount you would use in a single-serving smoothie.
Most smoothie recipes suggest adding cinnamon “to taste,” but a good place to start is with 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for every 2 cups of smoothie. Adding cinnamon before blending maximizes aroma and flavor. But you can always sprinkle more on top as a garnish.
If you are interested in saving money, I recommend that you buy your cinnamon in bulk amounts. Make sure to store your extra cinnamon in a closed container for optimum freshness.
Note: More cinnamon is not necessarily better. Cinnamon contains a compound called coumarin, a substance that can be toxic to the liver in large amounts. People with liver damage should be careful not to overdo it, however, because large amounts of cinnamon may increase liver problems.
Cinnamon-Apple-Celery Smoothie
Celery Apple Cinnamon Smoothie: A Tasty Way to Stabilize Blood Sugars
Ingredients
- 4 stalks of green celery with or without the leaves
- 1 medium size apple (a green tart apple or a red fuji apple), leave the skin on if organic
- 1 cup baby spinach leaves or other mild leafy greens (optional)
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups of water
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into a glass and drink immediately.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/cinnamon-smoothies/
Orange Cinnamon Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium orange, peeled and deseeded
- 1 medium very ripe mango, peeled and pitted; or 1 cup frozen mango
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 ounces of filtered water
Instructions
- Start by adding the liquid to your blender (I use a Vitamix), followed by the remaining ingredients. Blend on high until the smoothie is creamy.
- Note: If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you’ll want to grind the oats in a coffee grinder before adding them to your blender.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/cinnamon-smoothies/
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
After a whole week of drinking cabbage and beet smoothies in various combinations, I’m ready to move on.
I decided to try broccoli rabe in a smoothie.
This is not a green that I use very often, so why not try it with some juicy fruit and see what happens. I’m also experimenting with adding beans to smoothies to create more filling, meal replacement recipes – but if this is too much for you, feel free to skip the chickpeas in the recipe.
Here is a recipe I just tried this morning that turned out quite tasty and filling.
Broccoli Rabe Smoothie with Garbanzo Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli rabe
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 very ripe bananas
- 1 cup mango, frozen
- 1 cup strawberries, fresh (or frozen)
- 1/2 cup avocado
- 1 cup garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
- 2 cups water
Optional
- 1 grapefruit - it will add tartness to the smoothie, so skip it if you prefer a sweeter smoothie
- 2 packets of stevia, or other sweetener to taste
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients on high until very smooth.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/broccoli-rabe-smoothie-with-garbanzo-beans/
1 cup of chickpeas (garbanzo beans, bengal gram) add 269 calories to this smoothie, plus 15 grams of protein!
Chickpeas are also a great source of Dietary Fiber, Protein and Copper, and an excellent source of Folate and Manganese. 1 cup of chickpeas satisfies over 70% of daily folate requirement.
Broccoli Rabe Green Smoothie
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
The Making of Green Smoothie: Inside of my Vitamix
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
This recipe is for cream of asparagus soup. However, it’s very versatile: If you can’t find nice asparagus, use broccoli floretts or broccoli rabe to make cream of broccoli instead.
This simple soup is easy to make, contains only 5 easy-to-find ingredients, and yet has that look of sophisticated elegance that is sure to impress even the most discriminating guests. It can be served during holidays and other special occasions.
It is also a perfect comfort soup for the cold winter days.
You will literally not believe that this soup has no dairy.
It looks rich and creamy, and yet has no saturated fats, no cholesterol, and is low in calories.
Four asparagus spears, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt (60g) have only 13 calories!
Asparagus is also a good source of Vitamin B6, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper, Manganese and Selenium.
This recipe is completely dairy free, lactose free, and wheat free. It therefore contains no cholesterol and very little fat.
The secret to the delicious creaminess is…cashews.
Cashew cream stands in for dairy here and makes for an equally rich, delicious dish.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large cooking pot, sauté the asparagus, celery, and onion in olive oil until soft. If you want to skip oil, add a few tablespoons water and sauté the vegetables for 5-10 minutes. Add liquid and simmer for 30 minutes. Add beans, if using.
- In a blender, add 1 cup liquid and cashews and blend on high for 30 seconds, until very smooth. Pour into the pot with the soup and simmer for a few more minutes.
- Working in batches, pour the soup into a blender, cover the lid tightly (the hot liquid tends to erupt), and blend on high.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into soup bowls and decorate greens. Enjoy!
3.1
https://greenreset.com/cream-of-asparagus-soup-recipe/
Calories in Asparagus Soup:
2 bunches asparagus spears (approx. 40 spears) : 130 calories
2 cups spinach (60g): 14 calories
1 large onion (150g) = 60 calories
2 stalks of celery, cooked (74g) = 14 calories
2 ounces cashews (56g): 300 calories
Total Calories: (without cashews) 218/6=37 calories; with cashews: 518 calories total /6 servings = 86 calories per serving
If you’d like to reduce calories even further, while adding more protein to the soup, add 1 cup garbanzo beans or other white beans to the soup.
1 cup garbanzo beans has 269 calories, and 36 calories from fat. It also contains a whopping 15 grams protein. Chickpeas are also an excellent source of Dietary Fiber, Protein and Copper, as well as Folate and Manganese. Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4326/2#ixzz27mYy2xXB
I used to make this soup with a potato, which is a great way to add some creaminess to the soup. I was never a heavy heavy cream user, so I usually would skip that ingredient or just add a bit of milk.
Since I became vegan, I’m experimenting with various substitutes of animal products and reading tons of cookbooks for inspiration on how to transform conventional dishes that I love into delicious dishes that are also full of compassion.
The Secret to Creamy Soup Without Dairy or Wheat
Most conventional creamy soup recipes call for heavy cream, half-and-half, butter and/or flour.
I first read about using cashews in creamy soups in “The Conscious Cook” by Tal Ronnen. He inspired me to try cashews in creamy soups, instead of dairy, and it really works. Since I read about it a few weeks ago, I’ve been using cashews in various soup recipes, such as this Cream of Celery Root Soup, and they really are a terrific little nuts to have in your kitchen.
Asparagus spears: You can also use broccoli or broccoli rabe in this recipe
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
The Making of Cream of Asparagus Soup: Blending Cashews into a cream
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
If you never made cream of celery root soup, you are in for a big surprise.
This simple soup is easy to make, contains only 5 simple ingredients, and yet has that look of sophisticated elegance that is sure to impress even the most discriminating guests. (For even easier version, check out this raw celeriac apple soup version that I tried recently). It can be served during holidays and other special occasions.
It is also a perfect comfort soup for the cold winter days.
You will literally not believe that this soup has no dairy, because it looks like a big bowl of heavy cream. It looks rich and creamy, and yet has no saturated fats, no cholesterol, and is low in calories.
One cup celeriac, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt (155g) has only 42 calories.
This recipe is completely dairy free, lactose free, and wheat free.
The secret to the delicious creaminess is…cashews.
Throwing in some diced apples to garnish the soup at the end adds a surprising tartness, plus a dash of dill gives it dramatic finish.
Creamy Celeriac Soup with Granny Smith Apple
Ingredients
- 2 medium celery roots, peeled and cut into pieces
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)
- ½ cups raw cashews (2 ounces)
- 8 cups water or vegetable stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Garnish
- 1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, not peeled, very finely diced
- A dash of dill
-
Instructions
- In a large pot, sauté the celery root, celery, and onion in olive oil until soft. If you want to skip oil, add a few tablespoons water and sauté the vegetables for 5-10 minutes. Add liquid and simmer for 30 minutes.
- In a blender, add 1 cup liquid and cashews and blend on high for 30 seconds, until very smooth. Pour into the pot with the soup and simmer for a few more minutes.
- Working in batches, pour the soup into a blender, cover the lid tightly (the hot liquid tends to erupt), and blend on high.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into soup bowls and decorate with the diced apple in the center. Enjoy!
3.1
https://greenreset.com/cream-of-celery-soup/
Silky smooth and with a crunchy apple topping, this seductive soup packs a range of flavors — earthy, creamy, and tart-sweet.
Cream of Celery Root Calories:
Celery root (approx. 4 cups): 148 calories
2 ounces cashews (56g): 300 calories
1 large onion (150g) = 60 calories
2 stalks of celery, cooked (74g) = 14 calories
1 medium apple (182g) = 95 calories
Total Calories: 617/6 = 103 calories per serving
Celery Root (Celeriac): I bet you don’t use this veggie in your cooking very often.
This soup is a perfect excuse to use one of the most unappreciated veggies: celeriac root.
I used to make this soup with a potato, which is a great way to add some creaminess to the soup. I was never a heavy heavy cream user, so I usually would skip that ingredient or just add a bit of milk.
Since I became vegan, I’m experimenting with various substitutes of animal products and reading tons of cookbooks for inspiration on how to transform conventional dishes that I love into delicious dishes that are also full of compassion.
The Secret to Creamy Soup Without Dairy or Wheat
Most conventional creamy soup recipes call for heavy cream, half-and-half, butter and/or flour.
I found this recipe in “The Conscious Cook” cookbook by Tal Ronnen. It inspired me to use cashews, instead of heavy cream, to add that amazing creaminess to the soup, and it works amazingly well. Since I read about it a few weeks ago, I’ve been using cashews in various soup recipes, and they really are a fabulous ingredient.
Cream of Celery Soup (Celeriac Soup): I swear it will look like a bowl of heavy cream!
I think you could still use one medium potato as a substitute for cashews if you want to save money or reduce calories even further. I will try it next time to compare and let you know. I bet the texture will be slightly different, and it may not have the same level of sophistication when you explain the ingredients to your guests ;-).
Cream of Celery Soup (Celeriac Soup)
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
The Making of Cream of Celery Soup: Inside of my Vitamix
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
As I prepared my smoothie this morning, my plan was to stick to the cabbage-apple-oats smoothie recipe that I made yesterday.
However, as I was making it, I had a change of heart. As I was drinking my smoothie, I got this – radical – idea to add some…. chocolate to my cabbage smoothie.
It turned out quite delicious, so I tried a few different combinations and I have to say, it’s hard to not like this chocolate smoothie. You can have it for breakfast, as a snack, or for dessert.
You can also give it to your kids – and they will never know they are drinking their cabbage.
Yummy Chocolate Smoothie Recipe
Yummy Chocolate Cabbage Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups cabbage
- 1 very ripe banana, fresh or frozen
- 1/4 cup almonds, raw
- 1/2 cup oats
- 5 dates, pitted
- 1 1/2 tablespoon cacao
- 2 cups water or non-dairy milk
Optional Ingredients
- Substitute some of the liquid with ice cubes
- 1/2 tsp stevia
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- dash of cinnamon
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth. Serves 1-2
3.1
https://greenreset.com/yummy-chocolate-cabbage-smoothie/
As I said, I had no intention of making a chocolate smoothie.
So, I started out with some of the usual ingredients for a breakfast smoothie, including these:
Some of The Ingredients for Chocolate Smoothie
The smoothie turned out quite tasty, and it looked really pretty in the glass with cinnamon sprinkled on top, but it still seemed to be missing something “je-ne-sais-quoi.”
My Breakfast Smoothie: still missing one critical ingredient….
And then, as I was taking photos of it (that’s my new addiction- I take pictures of my smoothies, like new mamas take pictures of their newborn babies)– it hit me.
*Chocolate*.
This may seem like a radical idea for a breakfast smoothie with cabbage and oatmeal, but why not?
I mean just putting cabbage and oatmeal together is radical. How much worse can it be?
So here it is, in it’s full, delicious glory.
Chocolate Oat-Cabbage Smoothie.
Chocolate Smoothie: It really turned out to be quite delicious!
You may have noticed by now that I only recommend non-dairy milks in my green smoothies. Find out more about that here:
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
The Making of Chocolate Smoothie: Inside of my Vitamix
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
I did not get the chance to run to the farmers market today, so – since I ran out of fresh leafy greens – I keep experimenting with the ingredients I have available at home, especially cabbage to make deliciously thick and filling, green smoothies.
These thick smoothie recipes I’m creating will come in handy when I start the “Green Thickies 7 Day Meal Replacement Green Smoothie Challenge” I signed up for today. (If you’d like to sign up for this challenge, go to Green Thickies website, it’s going to be fun!).
This is totally weird, but I have this craving for cabbage smoothies lately.
So, here is another cabbage smoothie recipe for you. It’s for a thick, meal-replacement type of smoothie, with apple and lemon, plus some oats (you can use quinoa or other cooked grain, if you prefer, to make the smoothie thicker).
These thick smoothies work great as breakfast smoothies, for example, when you want something more filling to keep you full longer. They are also great for weight loss.
Green Cabbage-Apple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups green cabbage
- 1 banana
- 1 apple
- 1 lemon wedge
- 1 tablespoon almonds
- 1/2 cup oats
- 2 1/2 cups cold almond milk, coconut milk or filtered water
Optional Ingredients
- a few dates, 1 teaspoon sweetener, or 1 packet of stevia, as desired
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- 1. Place the ingredients into the pitcher of a high speed blender or Vitamix.
- 2. Blend on high until smooth.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/green-cabbage-apple-smoothie/
Green Cabbage Smoothie Ingredients
You may have noticed by now that I only recommend non-dairy milks in my green smoothies. Find out more about that here:
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
The Making of Cabbage Smoothie: Inside of my Vitamix
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
