With more and more studies affirming the health benefits of caffeine, coffee is poised to join green tea as the next superfood. Not only does caffeine help energize the body, but it can also ease muscle soreness, improve athletic endurance, and even give metabolism a boost. Given all these good-for-you benefits of coffee and tea, it's time to think past your basic brew by adding these elixirs to your smoothies. Here are five to help get you through the workweek!
The benefits of green tea go well beyond a midday pick-me-up: it encourages weight loss, prevents colds, and may even decrease the risk of stomach cancer.
If you're bored with the basic brewed stuff, reap the benefits by blending up this metabolism-boosting berry smoothie. Made with beans, strawberries, and broccoli, it's full of protein, vitamins, and fiber. A perfect way to start the day!
Don't be deceived; this lightened-up Frappuccino is more than just a coffee milkshake. It also contains protein powder, making it our go-to smoothie for a tough sweat session.
When you need a little energy boost but aren’t looking for a complete meal, this green tea and honey smoothie will do you right. Though it contains only 139 calories, it still manages to pack nutrition into every sip. Green tea aids in boosting metabolism, while the honey may help in regulating blood sugar. Avoid the afternoon slump that comes from sugary snacks and reach for this instead!
This recipe for a chai gingerbread smoothie is straight from Gwyneth Paltrow's website, Goop. Made with metabolism-boosting spices like cinnamon and ginger, this smoothie tastes equally as good whether you enjoy it cold or warm.
While Gwyneth makes her version with a caffeine-free rooibos chai tea, give yours an energizing boost by using chai spice black tea instead.
You won't even taste the beans and spinach in this chocolate and banana smoothie. Besides its energizing benefits, the addition of instant coffee also helps cut through the sweetness of the banana.