What better than to treat anxiety and stress with a banana chocolate smoothie?
That’s right, bananas, cacao and ashwagandha create a magical blend of brain chemical-boosting effects that last day and night.
What’s so special about these three ingredients?
Bananas are a known mood-improver. They contain catecholamines, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. They also contain tryptophan, which is metabolized into serotonin (the “happy” molecule”) in our brains. Dopamine and serotonin help to reduce depression and improve your mood.
Cacao is also another great mood-enhancer and anxiety reliever. It stimulates the brain to release particular neurotransmitters that can trigger emotions of euphoria and feelings of relaxation. It also contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a mood enhancer in and of itself. The only other food that contains PEA is blue-green algae.
Ashwagandha is a herbal root extract that lifts mood and well-being and treats symptoms of depression. It is also wonderful for helping stop anxiety attacks. One study found that ashwagandha root extract improves an individual’s resistance towards stress, therefore improving quality of life. How cool is that?
Banana Chocolate Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
– 4 ripe, spotted bananas
– 4 pitted medjool dates
– 1 tbsp. cacao powder
– 1 tsp. ashwagandha powder
– 1.5 cups of coconut water or fresh filtered water
Method:
Stick all of the above ingredients in a blender, and blend for 30-60 seconds or until smooth.
