Wake Up & Workout Smoothie

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I’m aiming to quit regular coffee consumption. Again. There are a few reasons for this:

  • It really doesn’t pep me up. More than anything, a hot drink in the morning is comforting. I like the taste of coffee very much but I like the warm cup even more.
  • I feel wasteful. I rarely get through a cup. In fact, I tend to drink the second half of my cup with ice in the afternoon or reheated in the microwave.
  • I don’t get headaches or withdrawal symptoms when I don’t have it.
  • The acidity does cause me digestive discomfort especially if I drink it on an empty stomach.
  • I recently saw an ENT doctor for a hoarseness and cutting out coffee has improved my voice.
  • I was pretty late to the coffee game. I’ve drank it intermittently for 6-7 years.
  • I did switch to buying organic, fair trade coffee and cut out adding dairy, natural, and artificial sweeteners to my cup of joe about 3 years ago but I just don’t want to be dependent on anything.
  • There are too many fluids in my morning routine! I prefer to have warm lemon water or dandelion root tea first thing and a smoothie in the mornings. Coffee being drink #3 was making me feel a liquid overload.
  • The association with adrenal fatigue. I myself can’t debate between the benefits and risks of coffee. I’m often torn. But for now, I have to go with what feels good for my body and my stomach is sensitive to coffee.

I will absolutely drink it from time to time but I don’t want to feel like I have to have it. I prefer to have it as a winter treat, with dessert, over meeting with a friend to catch up, etc. It is so much easier to have tea and I love the portability of the bags. I keep tea bags in my purse because you can get free hot water at any shop and they are useful during travel.

51863-organic-whole-green-figs

I LOVE these frozen green figs. That’s all. Last week, I decided not to have any coffee, just this smoothie, and workout. I was so awake afterwards and continued to feel energized through the day.

Wake Up & Workout Smoothie

GF, GRF, DF

Makes 1 tall smoothie

 

Blend the following:

 

1.5 cups baby spinach (can sub power/super greens)

1 small apple

1 frozen fig (Trader Joes’)

6-8 fresh or frozen strawberries

1/2 inch ginger

2 tbsp hemp seeds (or chia seeds)

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (can sub other milk or water)

1/2 cup ice (can omit if using frozen strawberries)

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What are your thoughts on coffee? Does it help you? Are there reasons you quit?

Here is another smoothie recipe using frozen figs!

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