Here are 3 recipes to make a dark, bright blue smoothie or smoothie bowl with healthy, natural, vegan ingredients, with or without spirulina. Perfect for kids.

Have you been checking out Instagram for meal inspiration and wondering how to make a blue smoothie as good-looking and as vibrant as what you typically see?

Smoothie fans can’t seem to get enough of these blue-hued health drinks and bowls; even naming them after creatures such as unicorns and all things magical.

We can’t help gushing about their eye-catching qualities that are more than just face-value—they’re actually even more beneficial than your regular smoothie.

Did you know that these blue smoothies use no artificial food colorings?

That’s amazingly true despite what many believe them to be.

I actually had a friend ask me how to achieve the bright blue-hued smoothie, and if there’s a secret ingredient that it makes it appear like so.

My own smoothies typically are leaning towards the greenish color—hence the name “green thickies”—but some of my recipes also incorporate ingredients that make the smoothies a whole new range of colors, texture, and tastes.

Since my aim is to make smoothies that are nutrient-dense and all-natural, I only use ingredients that are not artificially prepared yet contribute to the overall pleasurable drinking experience.

Some of you might be put off by the green color of your smoothies because they remind you of the veggies that you have used to make the drinks, and this can spoil your idea of a delicious drink.

Because presentation is as important as the palatability of the beverage, I tried experimenting with ingredients that give off the colors I prefer for my smoothies.

I have learned to tweak my basic smoothie recipes to accommodate varying color preferences without ruining the nutritional content and taste of my smoothies.

Today, I’m going to share with you a few life-changing hacks to make your smoothie bowls and drinks appear naturally bright blue-hued so your eyes are as satisfied as your tummy—and probably even make your creation Instagram-worthy!

How To Make A Bright Blue Smoothie With Spirulina

To make a bright blue smoothie, the first ingredient you can use is blue spirulina.

It is a blue-green algae commonly harvested from saltwater lakes and oceans, which is processed by drying and pulverizing into a powder form.

While you may find most spirulina powders in green color, there are also blue-pigmented spirulina such as this one which I regularly use for my own blue smoothies.

You may be surprised to know that this spirulina has nothing more added into it to make it appear blue.

This is because pulverizing it makes it more concentrated and naturally pigmented.

As with all the other ingredients that you use for your smoothies, it is important to choose only 100% natural spirulina that is free from contamination and without a hint of unpleasant taste; otherwise, you might be better off with green smoothies instead.

I find it really amazing that you’ll only need a tablespoon of the powder or less for a few servings of smoothie because it easily turns your drinks into a deep blue hue.

 That’s so economical especially since you might be using the powder on a daily basis.

{GET YOUR BLUE SPIRULINA HERE: See Reviews And Current Prices Here}

4 Health Benefits Of Blue Spirulina Powder

Spirulina might be well-known for its natural blue pigment, but it doesn’t stop at making your smoothies appear like something out of the magical world.

In fact, it is a nutrient-dense ingredient that can give your smoothies an added health boost.

Here’s how your body can benefit from its use:

1) Spirulina Is High In Protein

70% of spirulina’s dry weight is made up of protein, which makes it a good source of amino acids that your body needs for muscle-building and maintenance of a healthy immune system.

A tablespoon of spirulina has 4 grams of protein.

This is why it has also been suggested to solve world’s malnutrition and is actually being used successfully as diet supplements for astronauts during long-haul space flights.

{READ THIS: 19 Best Plant Based Protein Sources: Complete Whole Foods}

2) Spirulina Has Antioxidants And Anti-inflammatory Properties

They are especially useful for combating oxidative stress, which damages the cells and weakens our body.

Phycocyanin is the same pigmenting antioxidant in spirulina that actively fights free radicals and hampers inflammations.

The “cyan” in its name is attributed to its blue-pigmenting quality, which also makes it effective as an antioxidant agent.

By including spirulina in the diet, you can help protect your immune system from the threat of illnesses and fatigue.

{READ THIS: Loch Ness Monster Sprirulina Smoothie}

3) Spirulina May Have Anti-cancer Abilities

Studies made both on animals and humans suggest that a regular intake of spirulina for a year can help diminish lesions and reduce the risks of succumbing to certain types of cancers.

This means that in the near future, spirulina might even be used as an anti-cancer drug.

{READ THIS: Blueberry Broccoli Smoothie: Cancer Preventing}

4) Spirulina Aids In the Prevention Of Allergic Rhinitis

If you find yourself regularly attacked by allergerns which causes you to sneeze a lot, you may opt to use spirulina in your foods and smoothies to help you fight rhinitis.

It was suggested that a minimum of 2 grams of spirulina a day can keep allergic rhinitis at bay.

How To Make A Bright Blue Smoothie Without Spirulina: Using Butterfly Pea Tea Flowers

If you find spirulina a bit pricey and hard to source, you can use butterfly pea flowers as a substitute for making a bright blue smoothie.

Whenever I run out of spirulina in my cupboard, my convenient solution is to buy these dried butterfly pea flowers to make a blue-hued tea out of them.

It’s interesting to see how these naturally blue dried flowers leach their color into the water when steeped, transforming it into a deep blue liquid that can be used for adding color into your smoothies.

To make a blue smoothie out of butterfly pea flowers, you first need to make the tea by steeping the flowers in boiled water for 2-3 minutes or until the liquid turns into the desired shade of blue.

The video below shows you how to make butterfly pea flower tea.

One cup of the produced tea is enough to turn your smoothie into a blue color by blending it together with the rest of ingredients.

{GET YOUR BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWER TEA HERE: See Reviews And Latest Prices}

How To Make A Bright Blue Smoothie Without Spirulina: Using Butterfly Pea Tea Powder

If you’re in a rush to make a quick blue smoothie without spirulina, you can still use butterfly pea flowers but in an already powdered form.

This simplifies the whole process of making a blue smoothie and cuts prep time by half since you don’t need to steep the actual flowers to make tea.

Instead, you just pour a tablespoon of the butterfly pea powder into your blender along with the rest of your recipe ingredients and blend away.

The result? A refreshingly good blue smoothie that has no hint of earthy flavor typical of teas.

{GET YOUR BUTTERFLY PEA POWDER HERE: See Reviews And Latest Prices}

3 Health Benefits Of Butterfly Pea Tea

Butterfly pea—whether as flowers or in powdered form—offers a few health benefits that you wouldn’t want to miss aside from its high pigmenting quality.

Despite using it only sparingly, the amount of nutrients you’ll get out of it is enough for your body to function and perform well.

Here’s how:

1) Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Contains Antioxidants

According to a study, it is this antioxidant content that makes butterfly pea flower tea effective in delivering pharmacological benefits such as limiting the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress in the body.

This means that it may also have therapeutic effects on a sick person, as observed in a related research.

2) Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Has Anti-glycation Properties

Glycation occurs when an influx of sugar molecules starts breaking down collagen in the blood.

This results to manifestations of skin damage, which can be referred to as premature signs of aging.

A study suggested that by using butterfly pea, you can help slow down the aging processes in your body so you can retain a youthful glow.

3) Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Is Good For Mental Health

Some experts have come to a conclusion that this variety of tea has a good effect on depression and general brain functioning through its sufficient amounts of anthocyanin, a compound that is usually found in highly pigmented plants.

Additionally, the tea itself is caffeine-free, which makes it ideal for people who have anxiety and may even help prevent depression.

How To Make A Blue Smoothie With Fruit

If both spirulina and butterfly pea flower can’t make it to your smoothie recipe due to budgetary constraints, you can still make a blue smoothie using a blue-colored fruit such as blueberry.

While the resulting color may not be as vibrant as with spirulina and butterfly pea, it’s still the easiest to source and the cheapest of all the three natural colorants.

In fact, it is the most common technique to lend color to your smoothies.

When you add blueberries to your smoothie, your drink will turn into more like a purplish liquid yet surprisingly more delicious compared to adding spirulina and butterfly pea tea which are rather tasteless.

3 Health Benefits Of Blueberries

Blueberries, just like the rest of the fruits and berry varieties, are nutrient-rich which automatically make them a smoothie staple.

Not only are they bursting with tangy flavor, but they are also high in health-boosting components.

Among them are as follows:

1) Anthocyanin In Blueberries Helps Fight Diseases

This plant compound, like what I’ve mentioned before, is an antioxidant responsible for fighting free radicals and oxidative stress.

It is the same health component that blueberries have high concentrations of.

Anthocyanin is even linked to a number of significant reductions in cancer and cardiovascular risks, which makes blueberries deserving for the title of superfood.

{READ THIS: Almond Blueberry Smoothie}

2) Flavonoids In Blueberries Help Prevent Cognitive Problems Among The Elderly

Through positive interaction with aging neurons, flavonoids have been found by experts to reduce the effects of stress-related cellular signals in the brain, thereby increasing its capacity to function well despite old age.

While we may be a few years shy of our prime, it is still recommended to invest in blueberries to help maintain our brains’ proper functioning.

{READ THIS: Fragrant Lavender And Blueberry Smoothie For Relaxation}

3) Polyphenols In Blueberries Help Prevent Hypertension

Basically, they are phytochemicals that protect our bodies from harmful intruders, which include unhealthy fats and cholesterol buildup.

By limiting the occurrence of cholesterol growth in the arteries and also dilating the blood vessels, polyphenols help you avoid the risk of high blood pressure.

{READ THIS: Beautiful Banana And Blueberry Chia Pudding Recipe}

Click here to see my complete list of 100 smoothie bowl toppings.

Did you know there are 20 healthy ingredients (fillers) that can turn smoothies into a complete meal? This helps you lose weight as you won’t get hunger and cravings between meals.

Get My 20 Most Filling Smoothie Ingredients For Weight Loss Cheatsheet, FREE By Clicking Here

What Is Spirulina? And More Of Its Benefits

Summary

Here is a summary of the main points to help you remember what you’ve learned today.

How To Make A Blue Smoothie 3 Ways

1. Using Spirulina
2. Using Butterfly Pea Tea Or Powder
3. Using Blueberries

4 Health Benefits Of Blue Spirulina Powder

1. Spirulina Is High In Protein
2. Spirulina Has Antioxidants And Anti-inflammatory Properties
3. Spirulina May Have Anti-cancer Abilities
4. Spirulina Aids In The Prevention Of Allergic Rhinitis

3 Health Benefits Of Butterfly Pea Tea

1. Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Contains Antioxidants
2. Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Has Anti-glycation Properties
3. Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Is Good For Mental Health

3 Health Benefits Of Blueberries

1. Anthocyanin In Blueberries Helps Fight Diseases
2. Flavonoids In Blueberries Help Prevent Cognitive Problems Among The Elderly
3. Polyphenols In Blueberries Help Prevent Hypertension

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Conclusion

There are several ways on how to make a blue smoothie without having to add artificial colorings that might spoil the nutrients in your recipe.

Aside from being all-natural, these highly-pigmented ingredients can help you achieve optimum health at a fraction of the cost you’ll pay for every doctor’s consultation and medicine.

By incorporating spirulina, butterfly pea or blueberries in your daily smoothies, you can make a delicious blue smoothie that also packs in health boosters to keep you in top shape.

Related Resources You Will Love

Here are all the most popular resources that will help you take things to the next level:

• Over 50 Blender Recipes: The Complete Guide To Blenders For Smoothies
• 10 Best Blenders For Smoothies To Suit Your Budget
• My Most Loved Smoothie Blenders For All Budgets
• Top Smoothie Containers That I Actually Use Every Day
• Must Have Smoothie Accessories To Cut Your Prep Time In Half
• FREE Weight Loss Smoothie Recipe Card

Sources

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18955364
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2907180/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136577/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8584455
• http://www.informaticsjournals.com/index.php/jnr/article/view/480
• https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-015-0546-2
• https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/the-antioxidant-activity-of-clitoria-ternatea-flower-petal-extrac
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10995120
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23319811
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19057194
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20660279

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