Filled with blueberries, walnuts, and spinach, this blueberry brain food smoothie is the tastiest way to keep your brain healthy and active for years to come!
my new favourite smoothie
I used to make new smoothies all the time. I have a bunch on my site and they’re all delicious!
- chocolate pb smoothie
- carrot cake smoothie
- pumpkin spice almond smoothie
- peaches n cream smoothie
- tropical green smoothie
- summertime smoothies
Then I discovered THE WORLD’S BEST GREEN SMOOTHIE! And I must confess… for about a year I had no desire to create any new recipes. All I wanted was this green smoothie!
That is until I had a brainwave for this blueberry brain food smoothie! Move over green, purple is the new kid in town!
banana-free but 100% tasty
I have a habit (addiction?!) of adding a frozen banana to my smoothies. Bananas make smoothies delectably creamy! It’s so hard to resist! But, I know some people don’t prefer the taste of them, and raw bananas aggravate some people’s stomachs, so I held back and skipped the banana on this one!
To my great surprise, I didn’t even miss the banana! In fact, without it, the blueberries and walnuts were able to shine! The smoothie texture was still silky smooth without the banana.
I think I see all sorts of bananaless smoothies in my future…..
why this blueberry brain food smoothie is a smart choice
So obviously, we need to talk about why this is brain food! Blueberries, spinach, and walnuts have all been shown to benefit brain health, each in their own unique way.
blueberries
According to Jonny Bowden, PhD, “blueberries are the ultimate memory food.” Blueberries help your neurons (brain cells) talk to each other better. This is probably due to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of the anthocyanins found in the blueberries.
spinach
Eating spinach every day could keep your brain sharp! One observational study showed an increase in brain preservation of 11 years, among people who ate spinach (or other leafy greens) once or twice a day. The researchers theorize that Vitamin K may play a role.
walnuts
It is well shown in research studies that walnuts are good for cardiovascular health. But take that a step further: when a food is good for your veins and arteries, it’s also good for your brain! When a person’s cardiovascular health declines, they’re at higher risk for strokes and cognitive decline.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or snap a photo and tag it with #smartnutritionrecipes on Instagram! I’d love to see your creations!
blueberry brain food smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh spinach lightly packed
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 pear
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in blender in the order listed.
- Start on low then slowly turn up to high speed.
- Blend until smooth.
Nutrition
[share title=”Share This Article” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” google_plus=”true” linkedin=”true” pinterest=”true” reddit=”true” email=”true”]
This smoothie looks so tasty! The blueberry does add such a lovely purple to the colour. I cannot wait to try this! 😀
Thanks for your comment! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Loved this smoothie, best I ever tasted and/or made
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this recipe, thank you for posting.
Looks great. Is there a low FODMAP substitute you can think of for the pear?
What is that white stuff on top with the black dots? I see that on other pictures of smoothies too.
It’s dragon fruit (aka pitaya)! It’s a really pretty fruit but it doesn’t actually have much of a distinct taste so it’s great for garnishes 🙂 I like to try new foods with our son so he chose this one last time we were at the store. What four year old wouldn’t get excited about a food that has ‘dragon’ in the name?!