Wonderful Ways to Add Protein to Your Smoothie (Minus the Powder)
You probably already know that protein is essential to your fitness routine because it helps you to build muscle, allows your body to recover, and aids in your immune function. Whether you're an aspiring, current, or former professional cheerleader, you need protein. And when it comes to protein sources, often, we turn to powders because they're convenient, correct?
While powders seem like the best way to meet and boost your protein intake, they can be filled with processed ingredients that are harmful to your body. Not to mention, artificial sweeteners that raise your blood glucose levels and leave you feeling tired and bloated later on.
Today, I'm going to share with you five natural and delicious ways to incorporate protein into your smoothies. These nature's gifts are a chock-full of vitamins and minerals that support your bodily functions, help you achieve your fitness goals and more. Dig in.
Delicious and Healthy Ways to Add Protein to Your Smoothies (Without Protein Powder)
1. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is definitely a protein powerhouse, as a half cup will give you about 12g to 14g of protein. It has zero sugars and also contains potassium and calcium. Casein is the protein that's found in cottage cheese. Casein is known to support a healthy digestive system and immune system.
2. Spinach
A cup of cooked spinach will give you 5.35g of protein. What many people like about adding spinach into their protein shakes is that spinach tastes neutral. So, if you're going to add banana to your shake to sweeten it, you won't worry about spinach taking away the sweetness. Another thing to love about spinach is that it's packed with iron, a mineral that combats fatigue.
3. Flaxseed
As one of the oldest crops in the world, flaxseed is a healthy source of not just protein, but also fat, fiber, and vitamins and minerals. A half cup of flaxseed supplies you with 18g protein. Did you know that flaxseed has a high lignan content? Lignans are phenolic compounds that have anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
4. Almonds
People who add almonds to their daily diet feel more satiated throughout the day. Almonds are a fantastic source of protein as a half cup contains 21g protein. Combining almonds with bananas, avocados, or strawberries will give you the tastiest smoothie that's also antioxidant-rich.
5. Chia Seeds
Let's not end this article without mentioning chia seeds - one of the most versatile plant foods on the planet that contain very few calories. 2 tablespoons of chia offer 4 grams of protein. Aside from that, you might have heard that chia seeds pack tons of fat. Please keep in mind that this fat refers to omega-3 which is good for your heart, brain, and skin.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, my list of the five best ways to add protein to your next smoothie. Should you add a sweetener, I would recommend natural options that don't raise your blood glucose like stevia or erythritol. Thank you for reading this post. Here at Pro Cheer Life, we love sharing ideas and tips that will take your pro cheer health to the next level!
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