POWER smoothie

We've been drinking green smoothies for quite a while now. I've played around with different supplements and fruits and veggies to include. Lately I've laid off the protein and super-food mixes; my standard has been mixing various fruits with spinach, greek yogurt, and chia seeds.

Since we're both rock climbers, we frequently have joint pain. I struggle the most with my elbows and wrists. We try to take supplements like fish oil and glucosamine to help repair our joints and ligaments, but I really hate swallowing those big pills.

Today when Nate suggested we take our glucosamine, I was dragging my feet. I told him that I wished it didn't come in pill form, it would be so much better as a liquid or a powder that could be added to smoothies or other food. And then I thought, well, why can't I make some?!

I got out my mortar and pestle and finely ground a few pills.

I whipped up a few afternoon snack smoothies using a plum, cantaloupe, and fresh blackberries, along with my usual additions. I blended them and did a taste test, then added a cautious 1/4 teaspoon of ground glucosamine. Blended again, tasted again. I couldn't detect a hint of difference! I added another 1/4 teaspoon and blended again. Still perfect! I was afraid to add anymore at this point, because I didn't want to risk ruining that great blackberry-cantaloupe flavor. Nate agreed the powder was unnoticeable. Once I started drinking it I got afraid it may have all settled at the bottom and I'd get an icky, grainy, last slurp. But happily, I never noticed it at all - it seemed to be dissolved in the drink.

I was so impressed with the results that I decided to grind up another bunch of pills and keep the powder on hand to add to our smoothies. You want to make sure you grind them very fine or you might bite into a little chunk, and I doubt that would taste very good. I'm going to try increasing the amount of powder in the smoothies until it's detectable. A half teaspoon isn't a whole recommended dosage, but it has to be better than nothing. And it keeps me from having to swallow those giant pills!