Berry Bodyguards
Antioxidants are like bodyguards that protect your cells from getting damaged by molecules called free radicals. Free radicals build up in your body from things like stress, unhealthy food, and pollution/toxins – some of which we can control, and some of which we just naturally come in contact with in our daily life. The buildup of free radicals causes disease and aging through damaging your body’s cells, and therefore can be part of the cascade of issues that lead to developing or worsening diabetes. So, full circle to where we started, consuming antioxidants that stop that damage is very important!
Most berries, but especially acai berries, are high in antioxidants. The antioxidant content of food is measured by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale, which measures a food’s ability to neutralize free radicals. And acai berries have one of the top ORAC values of all foods!
No Half-Banana Nonsense Around Here
Do you remember the Zone Diet of the 90s? This was one of the first diet trends to villainize bananas for their high sugar content, and unfortunately the misconception has stuck around. The Zone Diet recommended eating only half a banana each day to limit sugar intake, but there is none of that nonsense around here! We recommend eating as many bananas as you want.
This is especially true because bananas are one of the most budget-friendly fruits available. If you want to stock up on fruit, you can go big on this one. Bananas are perfect on-the-go snacks too because, like oranges, they come in their own nature-made wrapper!
In smoothies like this one, bananas are a perfect base. They provide a thick consistency and smooth texture for the rest of the ingredients to work their magic.
Cacao
Cacao is also high in antioxidants, so you can add this to the growing list of free-radical fighting superfoods in this smoothie bowl!
Studies have shown that consuming cacao with a meal lowers your post-meal blood sugar – especially when consumed as cacao nibs as you are here, because they are pure cacao with no added sugar. Furthermore, cacao is associated with lower blood pressure and vascular function. So it’s not a guilty pleasure. It’s just… pleasure!
Monster Acai Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Strawberries
- 1/2 cup Blueberries
- 1 cup Banana
- 1 Frozen Unsweetened Sambazon Acai Pack
- 1/2 cup Water
- 3/4 tsp Cacao Nibs
- 1 tbsp Ground Flax Seed
Instructions
- Wash and cut the strawberries. Wash the blueberries. Peel the banana, set aside a few slices for topping if desired.
- Blend the açaí packet, banana, and water into a thick liquid.
- Pour the acai and banana liquid into a bowl and place the remaining fruit (strawberries, blueberries, and banana) on top.
- Sprinkle the cacao nibs and ground flax seed on top and enjoy!
Notes
- Cacao Nibs: These are usually found in the bulk or baking section of the grocery store.
- No Cacao Nibs: Add more berries or pomegranate seeds in place of cacao nibs for this recipe.