Chocolate Workout Recovery Protein Smoothie

When I first began intense cardio training, I had big issues with my appetite. I started to gain weight because I couldn’t figure out what to eat before and after the workouts to nourish my body and give it the exact nutrients it needed to make energy and restore its reserves after the intense training.

It’s actually a pretty easy formula to remember, and if you follow it you shouldn’t be afraid of gaining weight after working out: Carbs before working out, proteins after – simple as that.

This simple rule is not too hard to follow, and if you learn to choose and combine the right ingredients, you won’t have any problems with your appetite, weight, energy, or building lean muscle. What’s more, choosing the right ingredients will help your body maintain its detox ability even after the workout, after releasing toxins from sweating.

The ingredients in this smoothie make it a complete meal so you can choose to use it as a meal replacement if you’d like. I’ve chosen nuts and seeds rich in quality protein – hemp hearts and almonds. They’re also a good source of fiber, which is very important when trying to get toxins out of the body.

Hemp not only provides a complete source of protein for tired muscles, but it’s also rich in essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) and magnesium, which helps your body relax after the workout. It adds a rich, nutty flavor to your smoothie, which pairs up nicely with the raw cacao.

Raw cacao is also packed with minerals, especially magnesium, and is rich in antioxidants to help your body fight against free radicals, improve blood flow, support a healthy heart and boost your mood. It’s the perfect ingredient to include after a workout, and will help your muscles heal.

Having a smoothie after workout is the best way to get the proper amount of fuel without worrying too much about the “right way” of eating and without losing time with cooking. This chocolate smoothie has everything you need in one glass – plant based protein for muscle recovery, purified water to replace lost fluids, nutrients for mineral balance (calcium and sodium), and also antioxidants to help your body detox.

It helps you recover faster and regain energy more quickly so you’ll be ready to go again when the next session rolls around. And it tastes fantastic!

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