We already know that a heavy weekend of partying isn’t the best thing for your glucose and insulin levels. On one hand, drinking too much beer or wine can cause a sugar peak – which means no amount of water in the world is going to help your hangover the next day. On the other hand, drinking too much hard alcohol and liquor can cause your blood sugar levels to drop to sometimes dangerous levels – which means you have a higher chance of caving to those high carb, high sugar food cravings that happen the next morning when you finally get out of bed. Rather than sending your glucose and insulin levels on a roller coaster, drink this chia and Swiss chard smoothie to regulate your blood sugar before starting the day!
Photo: F Delventhal/Flickr Creative Commons
The Ingredients
- 1 handful Swiss Chard
- 1 pear, cubed
- 1 orange, peeled
- ½ lemon, squeezed
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 cup frozen green grapes
- ¼- ½ cup coconut water
- 1 cup ice
The Process
Freeze the grapes the night before you plan on making your smoothie. They act like flavored ice cubes and add a frothy texture. Then, combine all of the ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.
Photo: Jacobson /Flickr Creative Commons
The Super Foods
The super foods here are Swiss chard and chia seeds, both of which have tons of benefits for your hair, skin, heart, blood and overall health. Swiss chard is packed with phytonutrients, which provide tons of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits and chia seeds are loaded with fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in digestion, anti-aging and heart health. What’s most notable, however, is their ability to regulate blood sugar levels in our body and reduce insulin resistance by balancing our blood sugar levels.
Photo by: Stacy Spensley/Flickr Creative Commons
The Logic
Swiss chard comes loaded with syringic acid, a flavonoid that inhibits alpha-glucosidase – the enzyme that turns carbs into simple sugar. By eating Swiss chard, fewer carbs turn into sugar in our bodies, which means less chance of a sugar peak, and an overall more balanced system.
Because chia seeds are high in fiber, Omega-3s and protein, they’ve been known to lower triglycerides, increase “good” cholesterol and reduce common issues like inflammation, insulin resistance and fat. Together, these two create a powerful superfood Swiss chard smoothie that can set your body on the right track for the week!
