Keto Matcha Smoothie

<article> <section> <p align="justify">Mornings are hard—your cozy bed is calling to you and the last thing you want to do is take the time to cook a big breakfast. But you know you need nutrition to start the day right. Thank goodness for smoothies! Using only a blender, you can easily create low-carb, high-protein smoothies loaded with healthy fat. This bright green version uses frozen broccoli in place of a normal smoothie’s sugary frozen banana to improve the texture and nutrition. Then it doubles down on flavor with potent green tea powder. </p> <h2>Magical Monk Fruit</h2> <p align="justify">It’s not a mystical gem—it’s monk fruit, a small green melon from central Asia also known as luo han guo. Monk fruit extract is about 250 times as sweet as sugar, but isn’t processed the same as sugar in the body. That means no carb shock! Best of all, it has no unpleasant aftertaste like stevia sometimes does. It also blends easily with most drinks, making it a great option for coffee and smoothies. Beyond being a sweet sensation, traditional Chinese medicine has used monk fruit for centuries to help stabilize blood sugar levels. One healthy compound, mogrosides, may be an anti-inflammatory, helping to treat respiratory issues. </p> <h2>Meet Your Matcha</h2> <p align="justify">Earthy, vegetal, and a little bitter, bright green matcha powder has taken the world by storm. Traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, this very special green tea comes from grinding whole tea leaves into a super-fine powder. It’s mixed into water to create a fragrant, opaque brew. Because you’re consuming the whole tea leaf, you get more of the potent antioxidants green tea has to offer. One study found there are almost 140 times more catechins in matcha than in other types of green tea! These catechins protect your body’s cells against aging and environmental damage. They may reduce your risk of chronic disease, too. Studies have shown matcha to prevent liver disease and protect against several kinds of cancer. </p> </section> <hr class="divider-15 divider-thick mx-auto"> <section class="recipe"> <h2 itemprop="name" align="center">Keto Matcha Smoothie</h2> <div class="prep"> <span> <meta itemprop="prepTime" content="PT5M">Prep Time: 5 minutes</span> <span> <meta itemprop="recipeYield">Serves: 1 </span> </div> <h3>Ingredients:</h3> <ul class="ingredients no-bullet"> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">½ medium avocado</li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">½ cup fresh spinach</li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">¼ cup frozen broccoli florets</li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">½ cup almond milk </li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">¼ cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt</li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">½ cup water </li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">5 ice cubes</li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">1 tablespoon coconut oil </li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">1 tablespoon monk fruit sweetener </li> <li itemprop="recipeIngredient">1 teaspoon matcha powder</li> </ul> <hr class="divider-50 divider-medium"> <h3>Instructions:</h3> <ol itemprop="recipeInstructions"> <li><p align="justify">Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.</p></li> <li><p align="justify">If the smoothie is too thick for your taste, add a little more almond milk or water. If it’s too thin, add more frozen broccoli or ice cubes. Blend again until you reach your preferred consistency.</p></li> <li><p align="justify">Taste and adjust the sweetener and matcha powder to your preference.</p></li> </ol> </section> </article>