Courtesy of one surprising ingredient.
By Elizabeth Street — Written on Oct 24, 2013
In all the frenzy surrounding green juices, red smoothie recipes seem to have been shunted to the side. Why, we ask, when beets are just as, if not more, "super" than kale, spinach, and the rest of the emerald brigade? Perhaps there is the illusion that, the more closely whatever we're drinking resembles blended grass, the more healthy and natural it is. But did you know that beets are a great natural aphrodisiac? They are high in boron, which promotes the production of human sex hormones — If you don't believe us, ask the ancient Romans.
Nope, it's not just our penchant for rooting for the underdog that has us touting red smoothies. Beets, the star ingredient of the red juice, are an insane source of nutrients and energy. Beetroot juice is one of the richest dietary sources of antioxidants and naturally occurring nitrates, which improve blood flow throughout the body. Better blood circulation allows the body to better respond to exercise and promotes healthy blood pressure.
In addition, beets are essentially a tonic for your liver and are chock-full of potassium, iron, magnesium, fiber, vitamins A, B and C, beta-carotene ... and the list goes on. Finally, for all you moms-to-be out there, it's recommended that pregnant women make beets an integral part of their diet because of this veggie's high Vitamin B and iron content.
So, before you head to the gym, chug down one of these great red smoothies to get your blood pumping (and don't forget to follow it up with Gwyneth Paltrow's post-workout green smoothie recipe — yes, we know, there's no escaping the green craze).
Read the recipe over at Elizabeth Street: A Smoothie Recipe That Will Increase Your Sex Drive?
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