If you’re in the fall spirit and wanting to indulge on all things pumpkin spice without interfering with your health goals, try my Pumpkin Pie Smoothie! This seasonal favorite is loaded with fiber, healthy fats, and protein to support balanced blood sugar, gut health, and keep you feeling full and satisfied.
I love adding ground flaxseeds to smoothies for an extra boost of nutrition. Flaxseeds are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber to support regular bowel movements and a healthy gut microbiome.
Benefits of Ground Flax Seeds
These tiny seeds are one of the richest sources of lignans—compounds that naturally support hormone balance by helping the body metabolize estrogen in a healthier way. This makes flax especially helpful during times of hormonal shifts, like PMS, perimenopause, or menopause. On top of that, the blend of soluble and insoluble fiber in flax keeps digestion moving smoothly and nourishes your gut bacteria for better overall health.
High in Omega-3 fatty acids
May help protect against cancers
Lignans not only support hormone balance, but they also contain cancer-fighting compounds.
Lignans also contain antioxidant properties, naturally occurring chemicals in foods that fight against free radicals in the body.
Improve cholesterol levels
Stabilize blood sugar
To read more about blood sugar, read my previous blog post, The Importance of Balanced Blood Sugar.
Ground flax seeds have more potassium than bananas!
Flax seeds are extremely versatile; enjoy flax seeds sprinkled into smoothies, as a salad topper, mixed into yogurt or oatmeal, for baking, and even mixed with a little bit of water for an egg substitute.
Smoothie Ingredients:
1/2 cup pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 frozen banana
1-2 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp hemp seeds
1 tbsp flax seeds
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 scoop/serving vanilla protein powder (I use Designs for Health Bone Broth Protein)
1 cup water or milk of choice
Nutrition
Protein: 29g
Fiber: 11g
Calories: 430