Anti-Stress Banana Smoothie

Do you constantly worry, have anxious, racing thoughts, have a poor time concentrating, or suffer from nervous habits (biting the nails, pacing), moodiness, irritability (short temper), depression, loss of sex drive or frequent colds? You may suffer from symptoms of a high-stress, high-anxiety lifestyle which can wreak havoc on your health. Stress, aside from diet, is one of the most important factors in determining the quality of your life and how long you will live. 

This smoothie will help relieve stress and anxiety due to the power of fruits and vegetables and their anxiety-relieving effects! Bananas are one of the few fruits which contain the amino acid tryptophan and vitamin B6, both of which help to produce the natural chemical serotonin which fights depression and helps us un-stress!

The high potassium levels in bananas and dates is also another reason you may want to drink this smoothie if you are stressing out - potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates the body's water balance. Our metabolic rate rises when we are stressed and reduces our potassium levels. Consuming these fruits will simply help rebalance our potassium levels. 

Coconut water is a miracle for de-stressing (high mineral content, and helps re-balance our electrolyte levels to help keep us calm), and mango is high in crucial B Vitamins, which help combat stress, nervous tension and depression. It is also rich in the mineral magnesium, an anti-stress macro element that has a normalizing effect on the nervous system, nourishes the nerve cells, prevents depression, anxiety, and reduces the effects of stress, fatigue, irritability and normalizes sleep.

Ingredients:
- 2 ripe spotty bananas
- 1 cup ripe mango, chopped
- 1 cup young thai coconut water
- 3 pitted medjool dates
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean powder
- 1 cup cucumber
- 3 celery stalks

Blend the above ingredients in a high-speed blender such as the Vitamix (highly recommended!) and enjoy!