Beta-Carotene Packed Green Smoothie

Note: This recipe is not suitable for people who are allergic or sensitive to nuts.

When we think of beta-carotene, we usually conjure up images of carrots and other orange vegetables and fruits. But beta-carotene is also abundant in a number of other plant-based foods, and some of them aren't even orange! In fact, some of the very best sources of beta-carotene are actually green. In these foods, chlorophyll, a green plant pigment, masks the orange color of beta-carotene.

The following smoothie recipe pairs two excellent leafy green sources of beta-carotene: kale and spinach. To ensure this smoothie is not only good for your body but also for your palate, the recipe uses baby spinach and baby kale which are milder in flavor than their mature counterparts. Cashew nuts, which contain essential fatty acids, are added to the blend to help your body absorb the beta-carotene (as you may know, beta-carotene is a fat-soluble nutrient and foods that contain fat enhance its absorption within the body).