Mild, sweet zucchini makes the perfect base for a creamy, heart-healthy vegan smoothie. This squash, which can be green or yellow, has a high water content and low caloric value. Eating one medium zucchini, which is what we used to make our Chocolate Zucchini Smoothie with Walnuts, will get you nearly half your daily recommended intake of vitamin C, essential for heart health. Zucchini also contains potassium, manganese, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, and the B-complex vitamins.
Chocolate is no slouch in the nutrient department either, and brings many benefits to this smoothie for heart health. The cocoa beans used to make chocolate and cocoa powder are rich in antioxidants that protect your heart, as well as minerals such as copper, manganese, iron, and magnesium. They also contain trace amounts of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, and selenium.
Last but certainly not least, walnuts offer up significant quantities of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats. A smoothie with walnuts can do wonders for the health of your heart and your overall well-being. Walnuts also provide vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.