earthbar X Max Lugavere
My philosophy is simple: food should taste good, and make you feel good before, during, and after eating it. It should also improve your performance and resilience to disease. Each Genius Food in this special edition smoothie has been selected for its unique ability based on rigorous research to support optimal brain performance and cardiometabolic health.
Why this recipe
I love that in one smoothie I can combine 4 different Genius Foods—blueberries, avocado, dark chocolate, and almonds. And the addition of whey protein means it’s packed with the highest biological value protein (loaded with essential amino acids including the branched-chain amino acids) to be found in nature—perfect for supporting muscle protein synthesis as well as the immune system. The addition of cinnamon not only makes the smoothie taste like an oatmeal cookie, but over time can help with glucose regulation in the body.*
The Genius Smoothie
A deeper dive on what makes this a Genius Smoothie.
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Avocado
Avocados contain twice the potassium of a banana, and are loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Plus, they contain lutein and zeaxanthin which can help support cognitive performance and eye health.*
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Blueberries
Studies show that regular berry consumers have younger brains by 2.5 years. These are a low glycemic fruit that happen to be loaded with anthocyanins which help protect the brain’s memory center—the hippocampus—from decay.*
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Cocoapro™ Cocoa Extract
Get a concentrated dose of cocoa flavanols (the specific polyphenols found in cocoa) in our Genius Smoothie thanks to Cocoapro™ cocoa extract – clinically proven to promote healthy cognitive function including improved memory.*
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Almonds
Nut consumption is consistently related to better health, but I prefer to integrate nuts into recipes which helps prevent me from over-consuming them, which I can do if left to eat them by the handful! Almonds in particular are loaded with magnesium and vitamin E, two crucial micronutrients for supporting energy levels, mental health, and brain health.*
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Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice that has been long known to support healthy blood sugar, when consumed regularly. It may also provide a neuroprotective effect, via its metabolite, sodium benzoate.*
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Whey Protein
I personally use whey protein as my go-to protein because of its digestibility and high proportion of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). This means that you are supporting muscle health with fewer calories. And, whey protein has been shown to increase intracellular glutathione—a powerful detoxifier and antioxidant.*
Why I partnered with Earthbar
Earthbar has created a lasting legacy of making the wellness lifestyle accessible to an already savvy population of West Coasters. As a customer myself, I would regularly order a custom Genius Smoothie from Earthbar locations and thought it would be fun to share the benefits I had been experiencing with their customers. Plus, minting it as an official Earthbar smoothie means I no longer need to go through the process of describing exactly how I want it!
Connect with Earthbar and Max Lugavere
Get the best of both worlds with cutting edge nutritional insights and special offers on Earthbar products.
Subscribe to Max Lugavere’s The Genius Life podcast
Buy Max’s cookbook, Genius Kitchen
Follow @maxlugavere and @earthbar on Instagram
