Smoothie is a versatile healthy drink made up of varieties of vegetables, fruits, milk, and or yogurt mainly, that is neither too thick yet like the name, smooth-ie. Smoothies are so flexible to make that almost anything edible can be whipped into a healthy drink that can serve as a meal supplement /replacer. It can be served as a healthy breakfast item, or any meal of the day/night, as a pre-workout energizer, or a post-workout replenisher drink as well.
Smoothies are also a great quick-to-make,ready-to-go healthy cum filling drink. And I LOVE smoothies because it activates the idle cells in my mind, awakens the creative part, and tests the extremity of my innovative capability without compromising health or wealth or taste. Smoothie is one of my favorite food that I can't get bored of I believe, as it is not restricted to just one recipe and variety is the bottom line.
The ease of preparation within less time is certainly a leaning factor. However, unlike me, a smoothie is hardly filling for my hubby. For him, it is just a variety of liquid that ain't enough for his pot ooops a bulged flat belly 😉😋 ...(My pett/vayyarru/stomach is gurgling ...I think it wants to say ,"Excuse me, How about me ? " ...Verdict: Yeah right, we are in the same pot I mean boat as per our seniority lvl..Sigh !)...
History of smoothie
As per the records in the web-o-sphere/Internet, Smoothie has been around since the 20th century but it was more like fruit juice back then. After 1930, with the invention of blenders, people started experimenting and taking a simple fruit juice to the next level making it more healthy adjusting it to personal tastes and that's how smoothie came into existence. Just about anything can be added to whip up a smoothie keeping it healthy yet insane (taste/recipe-wise limitless ) ...And gradually smoothie has become a rage around the world, keeping up well with the busy lifestyle, from the high-end restaurants to our humble homes and rest as they say is history!
SOoo, me being a super fan of smoothies, today's recipe is a layered super healthy smoothie I made with my favorite food items - Oats, Yogurt, Banana, Dates, Raisins, Cashews, Avocados, Pears, Strawberries, Blueberries, Kiwi, a pinch of spices and whole lotta milk. Sounds like a jugalbandi/mishmash of superfoods ?? Well ,for me YES yES yeSssss!!....A healthy blend of fruits, greens, dairy proteins, dry fruits, little spices makes me smile big and happy. My kinda go-to healthy meal!
And I have named my healthy combo smoothie as an "Oat-sie fantasy smoothie" !! ( Perfect na ??) I mean I look at my smoothie and I am like WOW it has something of everything healthy in a shot ...It should be a fantasy !!...Then I gulp it down to make it a reality and I devour the fantasy into me ...and there goes,"Manju in wonderland !!" and then I turn into a desi version of a Wonderwoman 😉😁😍...Ok, that's enough of all fantasy!
I think I am drifting awayyyy into my fantasy island and before it becomes too much otherworldly, misty and gibberish..(I know if you are a regular reader of my blog, you might have already certified me as an ET/Extra-terrestrial being 👽👻👺😂 .Duh, guilty as charged !! 🙌)...I am gonna tell you some interesting facts I learned about all these healthy products,that I used for making my amazing yummy smoothie......They are as wonder FULL as me !! ..😊😉😇 #ILoveMe
DID YOU KNOW? I DIDN'T!
- Avocado is a fruit and not a vegetable as it is usually considered to be by people with weak general knowledge like me.
- Some famous celebrities in America are Avocado farmers like Tom Selleck ,Jamie Foxx .. (Yayyy to all farmers and farming !! )
- An Avocado a day keeps bad cholesterol away in people struggling with obesity or are overweight.
- Avocado can be substituted for butter for baking. (NOTED !!) (1 - 4 SOURCE )
- Pear belongs to the family of roses .( So I should first smell them and then attack ..Gotcha ! )
- Pears are one of the highest-fiber-filled fruits, offering six grams per medium-sized fruit, which meets the recommended daily requirement of 25 to 30 grams.
- Pears have all vitamins and minerals especially folate not found in many foods which are good for expecting or nursing mothers.
- The most expensive pear of this world is Buddha-shaped pears which cost $9.00 each. They look exactly like a Buddha statue, right from the facial details. (I WANT THEM !!I think I've $9 )
- In 1900, Pears was named "butter fruit " because of its soft buttery texture.
- Before tobacco became popular, pear leaves were used for the preparation of cigarettes.
- The pear was considered a sacred fruit by Greek and Roman goddesses. (5 - 11 SOURCE )
- Strawberries are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside. The average berry has approx. 200 of them.
- Strawberries also belong to the rose family. They produce sweet fragrances as they grow on bushes.(Gosh now I've to stop and smell pears, strawberries, and roses !!)...
- The ancient Romans considered Strawberries had medicinal powers to treat everything from depression to fainting to fever, kidney stones, bad breath, and sore throats.
- Research suggests that people who consume strawberries before exercising have greater endurance and burn more calories.
- Strawberries are also considered to be an aphrodisiac .(No wonder why strawberries are so popular in western countries 😉👄💋😋😈😂...oops no offense !)..
- Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring . (12 - 17 SOURCE )
- As mentioned exactly here , "The health benefits of blueberries include the ability to boost heart health, lower cholesterol, stop DNA damage, reverse aging, promote weight loss, and boost brain health. Considered a superfood, blueberries can help fight cancer, soothe inflammation, boost immunity, enhance digestion, and prevent hair loss." (I gotta buy a blueberry plant then !)
- Strawberry is not a berry actually but the banana is scientifically.
- Research states that bananas can actually help lower the risk of stroke and heart attack due to the high level of potassium they contain by lowering the risk of stiffness in the aorta and hardening in the arteries. (19-20 SOURCE )
- As exactly mentioned here ,"Singers Alicia Keys, Adele, and Katy Perry all have Bananas as one of their backstage demands when performing." (Maybe I should eat Banana and sing ...that's why !🙉)
- Kiwi fruit, not the bird :D:P... can treat asthma and help to manage wheezing in youngsters.
- Kiwi can also help to enhance mood and they are very good antidepressants.
- Kiwi not only helps to deal with blood pressure but also can really lessen blood clotting.
- Kiwis can also help us to secure against vision loss - the mascular degeneration. (22 - 25 SOURCE )
- Kiwi has folate ,good for pregnant or nursing women.
- Kiwi is a good source of high vitamin C.So,it helps in improving the skin texture and making it glow and beautiful.Also improves sleep !! (26 - 27 SOURCE ) (Kiwi you are my fruity beautician then - I am sold and you too !😍💚)
- Oats are known to reduce hunger, make you feel full.And the beta-glucan in oatmeal stabilizes blood sugar.
- A UK study found that eating oatmeal about three hours before exercise helped boost endurance.(28 - 29 SOURCE )
- Dates have the highest concentration of isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen that helps to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of menopause.
- Dates can help to stabilize blood sugar and manage low sugar episodes . (30 - 31 SOURCE )
- Greeks and Romans adorned their places of worship with raisins, and they were awarded as prizes in sporting events. 😲
- In ancient Roman times, one slave could be traded for two jars of raisins. (32 - 33 SOURCE )
- The colloquial name for the cashew nut comes from the Portuguese name for the nut, caju.Like in Hindi ,"Kaju." ( SOURCE )
- Eating Yogurt/curd improves bad breath and complexion . ( I will eat more now !!)
- Yogurt got its name from the Turkish word ,"Yogurur" meaning long life.(34 - 36 SOURCE )
- There are studies which suggest that milk consumption could lead to the aggravation of certain cancers.
- Farmers who called their cows by name reported 258 liters higher milk yield than those who did not. ( Now I understand why my grand parents used to address their cow with so many names and pampered them like their own kid ..Trade shhh..ecret !!)
- People who drink whole milk are less likely to be fat than those who drink low-fat milk. ( 35 - 37 SOURCE)
- India is the world's largest milk producer .(SOURCE ) Jai Hind ! Jai Go Mata !!
- As exactly mentioned HERE ," According to Japanese Scientific Research, a fully ripe banana with dark patches on yellow skin produces a substance called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) which has the ability to combat abnormal cells. The more darker patches it has, the higher its immunity enhancement will be; Hence, the riper the banana the better the anti–cancer quality. Yellow skin bananas with dark spots are 8 times more effective in enhancing the property of white blood cells than green skin versions."👏💛
OAT-sie Fantasie Smoothie recipe
Ingredients
Note :
- Well, all ingredients can be adjusted to your taste. More or less! If you are allergic to anything that can be skipped too, still I bet will come out insanely awesome.
- Greek yogurt is preferred as it is more thick,creamy and has high protein compared to regular yogurt and I always use whole fat yogurt mostly.
- You may need a spoon to eat those layered fruits - Kiwi, strawberry,blueberry at the top ...
