This Bulletproof green shake has superpowers!
You are going to love this shake and will drink it even if you are not in need of wound healing superpowers! I named it the Wonder Women Wound Healing Shake because WW stopped bullets with a flick of those gold cuff bracelets on her wrists making her “bulletproof,” and I love the benefits of using Bulletproof collagen and MCT oil products in this nutritious shake. Not to mention WW is just awesome (like the shake)!
What is a wound healing shake?
For optimal wound healing of an incision, burn, cut, diabetic ulcer or laceration of any kind on your skin needs essential nutrients to promote proper wound healing of the damaged skin. You skin heals from the inside-out so it’s important to feed the layers of the skin, the largest organ in your body, with nutrition that promotes wound healing.
I got the idea for this shake after years of giving a product called Juven to many of my patients at the hospital who had chronic wounds. Juven has some excellent wound healing supplements and minerals in it, but it also has a lot of sugar. Sugar is archenemy number one for wound healing because sugar causes inflammation and hampers the full effects of the wound healing supplement. So, I created this recipe that is much lower in sugar, provides even more wound healing properties and tastes delicious!
Making your own health shake vs pre-packaged drinks
You can buy Juven Therapeutic Nutrition Powder for Wound Healing (here). It is recommended by many healthcare professionals as a supplement to promote wound healing. Juven is actually a drink, not a shake. It’s an artificially flavored powder which you mix in water which is convenience but, unfortunately, has artificial sweeteners aspartame and sucralose as well as added sugar. If you are a diabetic trying to heal a wound, sugar is the number one thing you need to avoid! If you are following a low sugar or sugar-free diet, here is a healthy alternative for you to make your own shake drink that is jam packed with even more nutrients! I like making my own shake because it’s a super easy meal replacement shake that I can take on the go and it’s super quick to make. I wish I could make my wound healing shake for my patients because many of them complain that the Juven drink is just too sweet.
What is in a wound healing shake?
I start by adding almond milk. Almond milk adds a little creaminess and health fats, has zero cholesterol, saturated fat or lactose but is loaded with Vitamin E which is one of the micronutrients in Juven. Almond milk is also non-dairy and for many, dairy can be inflammatory. I use unsweetened Simply Almond brand almond milk.
Next, I add spinach. Spinach is a superfood and loaded with Vitamin A. This nutrient regulates the growth and division of your blood cells, and it helps your body produce white blood cells when you need to fight an illness or infection. Spinach also has Vitamin C. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that promotes skin health and immune function.
Spinach also contains Vitamin K1, folic acid and iron. Vitamin K1 is essential for blood clotting. Notably, one spinach leaf contains over half of your daily needs. Folic acid, also known as folate or vitamin B9, is a compound vital for pregnant women and essential for normal cellular function and tissue growth. Spinach is an excellent source of the essential mineral iron. Iron helps create hemoglobin, which brings oxygen to your body’s tissues.
Then I add some frozen pineapple. Pineapple contains bromelain. Bromelain can help reducing pain, swelling and bruising, especially in the nose and sinuses, gums, and other body parts after surgery or injury. Pineapple also aids in digestion and adds a touch of tropical sweetness to this green shake.
This step is optional but adding a half of a frozen banana adds a touch more of sweetness and thickens up the snake. Nutritionally, a banana adds vitamins B-6 and potassium. If you are following a ketogenic or no/low sugar diet skip the banana to keep the glycemic load low.
What supplements are in the wound healing green shake?
The real stars of this wound healing shake are the Bulletproof collagen protein and Bulletproof greens powders along with L-Glutamine power! These powders are jam packed with supplements to promote healthy skin (and hair) growth!
Besides having 18g of protein, Bulletproof Collagan protein powder has 18 different amnio acids including Arginine, and Glutamic acid which is a building block for L-Glutamine. The main two ingredients in the pre-packaged, processed wound healing product Juven. Bulletproof Greens are loaded with B vitamins including B12, one of the micronutrients in Juven. Vitamin B12 promotes immunity by fighting off viruses and bacteria. Bulletproof Greens powder is sweetened with Stevia leaf extract and has minimal impact on glycemic load but provides a little sweetness without any green veggie taste! Then I add L-Glutamine powder too for that wound healing super booster! Studies have reported that glutamine supplements may improve health, decrease infections and lead to shorter hospital stays after surgery. What’s more, they have been shown to improve survival and reduce medical costs in critically ill patients.
Ref: Glutamine: Benefits, Uses and Side Effects (healthline.com)
L-Glutamine is naturally made in the body but when your body needs extra helping with wound healing and fighting infection supplementing with L-Glutamine has proven results which it is why L-Glutamine is added to Juven and is ordered by doctors for critically ill patients.
Why should I add Avocado oil and MCT oil to a shake?
Finally, I hide some nutrients and amazing health benefits in this shake in form of oils. Yes, you heard me right, oils! Keto dieter’s and Bulletproof coffee drinkers have known for years about putting healthy fats in the form of oils in their morning coffee shakes. So, I went one step further and have added healthy avocado oil and Bulletproof MCT oil to boost the health benefits even more. Primarily, the benefits of Avocado oil and MCT oil are incredible and too lengthy to list here. For more information on these amazing oils read The Ten Amazing Benefits of Avocado Oil and What are MCT Oils? Secondly, the oils will add healthy fat that ups the fullness factor. I don’t know about you but if I drink a smoothie store shake, I am hungry within hours. These oils are cholesterol free and tasteless in this wound healing green shake and add creaminess without oiliness.
Can I drink the Wonder Woman Wound Healing Green Shake even if I don’t need wound healing?
Absolutely!!! I drink this shake about 2-3 times per week as part of my collagen protein routine for healthy hair and skin. Anything you put in your body that is good for your skin is also good for your hair.
Is this green shake more expensive compared to Juven?
I know what you are thinking, at first look the powders, supplements and oils combined seem pricey so I wanted to compare as best I could the price per serving of each shake/drink. Adding up the cost per serving of the shake ingredients (excluding the spinach, pineapple and banana) is approximately $4.48 per serving. The cost per serving of the Juven Therapeutic Nutrition Powder for Wound Healing, depending on where it is purchased ranges from about $4.00 to $5.72. However, the serving size per day for Juven is two packets! So, your cost for Juven is at least $8.00 per serving and you get less of the wound healing nutrients that are found in one serving of the Wonder Woman Wound Healing Green Shake! Comparatively, a store bought, pre-made bottled non-dairy protein shake at a grocery or health food store is anywhere from $4.00 to $6.00 without any wound healing properties. I have to say, the cost comparison surprised me. I actually expected my homemade shake to cost more. So now I can feel even better about making this shake because I know just how good it is for me (and you) and it’s a money saver too! Not to mention all of these ingredients can be used in so many other delicious recipes.
Wonder Woman Wound Healing Green Shake
Equipment
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 4 oz almond milk (plus more to thin if needed)
- Large handful of spinach (about 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup Frozen pineapple
- 1/2 frozen banana (optional)
- 2 scoops Bulletproof collagen protein, unflavored or vanilla (or your favorite collagen protein powder)
- 1 scoop Bulletproof Greens powder (or your favorite greens powder)
- 1 tsp (heaping) Now Sports L-Glutamine Powder (or your favorite L-Glutamine powder)
- 1.5 Tbsp Chosen Foods 100% pure avocado oil
- 1.5 Tbsp Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil
- Crushed Ice (as desired)
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add more almond milk to thin if shake is too thick, or more crushed ice to thicken if shake is too thin. Pour into a glass and drink. Cheers to a healthier you!*Calories listed are approximate using labels when available and calorie tracker research. Calories listed are based on use of all ingredients, including optional ingredients.
Click here to buy ingredients!
