‘Tis the season for tangerines and copious amounts of chocolate (I’m talking about that tempting box of chocolates sitting in the lunchroom at the office that seems to keep reappearing just when you think the box is empty). My favorite way to get my chocolate fix is by adding unsweetened raw cocoa powder to smoothies and oatmeal. Cocoa is an amazing source of antioxidants, which fight cancer and heart disease, and also may act as an antidepressant by boosting serotonin. Try some cocoa in your next smoothie bowl and discover this sweet breakfast that could even pass for dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup raspberries, frozen
- splash of almond milk
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp flax seeds
- pinch of cinnamon
- 1 kiwi
- 1 small tangerine
How to:
- Blend the raspberries in a food processor (pour a splash of almond milk in to get it moving, and pause to scrape down the sides).
- Add cocoa, peanut butter, flax seeds & cinnamon and blend until you get a smooth consistency.
- Serve immediately and top with kiwi, tangerine and seeds.
PCOS Powers:
- tangerines/oranges = high in vitamin C & fibre which reduce lipid profiles and fight free radicals, high in pectin which has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, low glycemic load
- kiwifruits = high in vitamin C, fibre, and vitamin E which lower triglycerides, high in potassium which may prevent insulin resistance, low glycemic load
- flax seeds = contain lignans which may increase sex hormone-binding globulin and therefore lower blood testosterone levels, may reduce blood pressure
- raspberries = low glycemic load, high in anti-oxidants, may help lower inflammation and prevent cancer
- cocoa = antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, reduces blood pressure, can improve mood
- cinnamon = may help balance glucose levels, lower cholesterol, and decrease triglycerides in blood
