Energize your mornings with a brain-boosting Blue Zones-inspired coffee smoothie! This bracing smoothie combines a love of coffee with a brain-healthy protein-rich drink. Dates not only add natural sweetness but also contribute to a good dose of fiber. Chia seeds and nut butters, are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids known for their role in maintaining brain cell structure, supporting memory, focus, and cognitive well-being. What's more, recent studies suggest that coffee might even help slow the plaque beta amyloid buildups associated with Alzheimer's, making this smoothie a powerful tool for cognitive wellness.1 And with the option to incorporate additional protein-rich mix-ins, you have a range of choices to further support your brain health.
Coffee is a precious and often expensive resource, and it's a shame to let any leftovers go to waste. Instead, try this eco-friendly tip: pour any remaining coffee into ice cube trays and freeze it for future use, where it can stay fresh for up to 3 months. This way, you'll always have a handy supply for crafting Coffee Date Smoothies or enhancing your iced coffee.
¼ cup almond, cashew, peanut, or sunflower seed butter
¾ cup unsweetened almond or cashew milk
¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
Pinch kosher salt
¼ cup hemp and chia seeds
Directions
For the coffee ice cubes:
Pour 1 cup freshly brewed coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
Tip: A silicon flexible ice cube tray with a no-spill snap-on lid works well here.
For the smoothie:
In a blender, combine (in order) the coffee ice cubes, banana, dates, almond butter, milk, vanilla, salt, chia seeds, and hemp seeds. Blend on high until completely smooth. Thin with more milk or water until it is the consistency you like.
Pour in a cup and enjoy!
Recipe Note
Variations:
Kefir Coffee Date
Substitute ⅔ cup kefir + 3 tablespoons of water for the milk.
Cardamom Coffee Date
Add ¼ teaspoon each ground cardamom and ginger.
Cacao Coffee Date
Add 2 tablespoons natural cacao powder and ½ teaspoon pure almond extract.
Created by Annie Fenn, M.D.
Dr. Annie Fenn is a physician and chef who is dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease prevention. NeuroReserve is delighted to partner with Annie to be a part of our advisory team and also to develop brain healthy recipes for Brain Table. Annie is the founder of Brain Health Kitchen, an online resource providing innovative whole foods-based recipes and dietary recommendations that equip people to cultivate resilient, healthy, and nourished brains for themselves and their families. She’s also founder of the Brain Health Kitchen Cooking School, the only school of its kind entirely devoted to teaching how to cook through the lens of brain health. Annie is a frequent lecturer on the leading evidence regarding foods and dietary patterns that reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. She believes that cooking is the best way she knows how, as a physician, to radically improve health.
We at NeuroReserve are committed to equipping you with the diet and nutrition you need for lasting brain health. As you make progress with your diet, our product RELEVATE can help fill in the gaps where your diet falls short. RELEVATE is designed upon the framework of the evidence-backed Mediterranean and MIND diets, and includes 17 nutrients for long-term brain health. Click here to learn more about RELEVATE.
References
1. Gardener, Samantha L et al. “Higher Coffee Consumption Is AssociatedWith Slower Cognitive Decline and Less Cerebral Aβ-Amyloid Accumulation Over 126 Months: DataFrom the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle Study.” Frontiers in aging neuroscience vol. 13 744872. 19 Nov. 2021, doi:10.3389/fnagi.2021.744872
