This smoothie not only tastes like a blended cinnamon cookie but it’s also a hormone balancing smoothie! With maca, cinnamon and almond for great taste and nutrition combined.
It is so delicious, regardless of any health benefits, so I make this quite often. But I am definitely nutritionally conscious when it comes to hormones too.
This would be a great recipe to add to your seed-cycling regime, if that’s something you’re trying.
Please bear in mind that I am not a health professional and this is just a recipe based on what tastes good + some information I have collected from elsewhere. It might not be for you though, so consult with a professional if you’re unsure.
Hormone-Balancing Smoothie Ingredients
This smoothie contains ingredients that are known to help balance hormones, such as:
- Maca – Maca root is a herbal adaptogen that can provide nutritional support to help our bodies balance hormones and protect us from stress. It also happens to taste SO GOOD. It has a slight malted milk flavour.
- Flaxseed – Flaxseed are rich in lignans (which function as phytoestrogens), omega 3 and fibre.
- Almond butter – Almonds can help regulate your hormone-producing glands and balance blood sugar levels. The almond butter tastes amazing in this smoothie, plus adds a rich texture.
- Ground cinnamon – Cinnamon is known to decrease insulin resistance in women with PCOS, lowers inflammation and will give this smoothie an incredible flavour!
Other ingredients you’ll need:
- (Optional) Raw vegan protein powder – I sometimes use pure hemp protein powder here, but it’s totally optional and I often have it without. It’s just if you want to get some extra protein into your breakfast.
- Vanilla extract – To add more of that cookie flavour
- Unsweetened dairy-free milk – Of your choice. I love almond milk but oat and coconut will work well too.
- Ice cubes – To give it a frosty shake texture!
- Medjool dates – For natural sweetness. You can use other kinds of dates but Medjool gives a slight caramel taste too, which I adore.
And that’s it! Find the full recipe below.
More healthy vegan smoothies
Hormone Balancing Smoothie with Almond, Maca & Cinnamon
A delicious, comforting smoothie that has a sweet cookie flavour but contains lot's of hormone-balancing nutritional goodness, including almond, maca and cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 - 2 tsp maca powder
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- (Optional) 1 tbsp raw protein powder, (I used hemp)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 360 ml / 1 ½ cups unsweetened dairy-free milk
- Approx 10 ice cubes
- 2 medjool dates, pitted
Instructions
- Simply add everything to a blender and mix until smooth.
- Taste and adjust flavours, if necessary.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield 2 Serving Size gAmount Per Serving Calories 280Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 11mgSodium 82mgCarbohydrates 34gFiber 6gSugar 23gProtein 16g
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Aimee says
Good question, Vanessa. I would keep it maximum two days in a bottle refrigerated. It may separate so give it a good shake before drinking. Enjoy!
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a great way to kindle your health and enjoy something sweet!
Doneen says
What is the nutritional value come out to on this please?
Thanks
Carla says
Hello do you have this recipe in grams ? I’m from the uk and I do not get cups at all ☹️
Aimee says
Hi Carla! It’s 360ml :) I’m based in the UK too but often use cups for easiness. I can’t see anything that would need gram measurements though, unless I’m mistaken?
Carla says
Hi Sorry I didn’t see you’d replied months ago! Yes I looked back at the recipe after I commented and realised it was just the milk that I needed in ml thank you for adding it. This is my go-to smoothie recipe it’s an absolute household favourite!!
Julie says
One of the best smoothies I have tried and hoping it helps with my hot flashes and overall hormone balance. Have never felt so out of sorts so I am trying various things including this smoothie. Does it need to be black Maca root powder to help with hot flashes?
[email protected] says
Girl this sounds delicious, but this comes up to 709 calories! Just for breafast!! That’s insane !
Elizabeth says
Did you calculate that this recipe yields 2 servings which would explain the high calorie count.
Aimee says
Yes it serves 2, for 280 calories per serving. It’s a nutritionally dense smoothie that isn’t intended to be low-calorie but also is a perfectly acceptable amount for a healthy breakfast. You can reduce the amount of almond butter slightly to lower it if you wish, but it will be slightly less creamy. Hope you enjoy!
Julia says
This looks really tasty. I tend to always put some amount of banana in my smoothies so it’s refreshing to come across a recipe for a smoothie that doesn’t have that in it!
Nicole says
What would you recommend as a substitute for almond butter? We don’t use tree nut products because of my daughter’s food allergies. Would peanut butter give the same results?
Aimee says
Hi Nicole, either some seed butter, coconut yoghurt or oats will help thicken it up! It will taste quite different, of course, but I think will still be delicious.
Lotte says
I’ve just used this recipe to make my first ever maca smoothie and it is delicious! I used hemp protein and peanut butter &5 seeds natural butter. Thanks for the recipe!
Aimee says
Delighted you enjoyed it :)
Claudia says
I suffer from Endometriosis and lately my hormones have been very unbalanced! I have been having cysts acne and having irregular periods. I came across your recipe and today is the first day of this smoothie. It is so good! I hope that it will help me clear my skin and balance my hormones as well as indigestion issues that seems like Endo is interfering with. I have a question, how many times a week can I do this smoothie? Thank you!
Aimee says
Hi Claudia – sorry to hear you suffer from this too. I’m absolutely not an expert so please talk to a doctor or professional if you’re unsure but I don’t see any problem with making this smoothie as often as you like. Also, if you haven’t already tried evening primrose oil – I highly recommend it! Good luck
Jane says
I would also suggest cutting all animal products esp all dairy for full effect
Francisca Martins says
so so good!
Tanya Belireau says
Thank-you for sharing this delicious recipe Aimee! It was a very nourishing and grounding way to start the day. I didn’t have flaxseed so I used Qi’a brand chia, buckwheat hemp mix instead and I used hot water with extra almond butter to replace the almond milk and it was still yummy.
I wish you the very best on your healing journey. Thank-you for your generosity in taking the time for others to benefit from your learning.
Sonja Ortiz says
I’ve never described a smoothie as comforting, but this one IS! It’s like being in your grandmother’s kitchen in the fall with the additional help of being jam packed with healthy ingredients. Thank you for this great recipe.
Eela says
Hey Aimée, thank you for you openness and sharing your advice ! Quick question about the smoothie : can I use chia seed instead of ground flaxseed ?
Hope things are gonna get better for you :)
Aimee says
Thank you, Eela :-) Yes, chia seeds will work well too – I love using chia seeds in smoothies. Let me know how you get on with it!
Eela says
Tried it this morning, it was a very good mix if I may say so ;)
Aimee says
So happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know, Eela :-)
Sarah | Well and Full says
I’ve never had hormone imbalance issues, but I do know what it’s like to have lingering health issues that won’t go away. But it sounds like you’re taking the right steps towards better health, Aimee, and I wish you the very best in that endeavor <3
Aimee says
Thank you, Sarah <3 I've actually started seeing a nutritionist since I wrote this post. It's too difficult and stressful to figure it out by myself, I seem to be so sensitive to food lately. I hope you're in a good place with your health too :-)
Kate says
Thank you for sharing this recipe and your personal story. I, too, have dealt with hormonal imbalances and have been on hormonal medication for 12 years. It’s frustrating at 29 to still have the same issues and still be on the meds, but I agree with you that a plant-based diet and some of the other things on the list are soooooo much help. I have to try evening primrose oil as that is the one thing I haven’t tried yet. Thank you! (maca in oatmeal is thaaaa best)
Aimee says
Thanks for sharing your story too, Kate. It’s always reassuring to hear you’re not the only one. I remember my mum giving me spoonfuls of evening primrose oil every morning when I was a young teenager (to help with the endo problems) and it was revolting BUT it did help to a degree, I believe. I still had problems but it sort of balanced them out a bit more. Now I’m taking it again, I just take the veggie caps which are much less gross :-) And thank you for the idea about maca oatmeal! That sounds AMAZING. I might try it with overnight oats…
Tessa Rae says
I tried this with overnight oats, and it fermented it! Maca is a powerful prebiotic and so adding it helps certain bacteria to multiply faster; it makes the oats more digestible by breaking down phytic acid further (though, with overnight oats, this isn’t really a huge problem to begin with, as it is soaked). I think one reason why Maca tastes so good with nut butters is because it helps with the digestibility… it causes the good bacteria to thrive, which then helps break down the phytic acid in the nut butters, which then makes it more bioavailable to your body!
I actually am making this recipe because I didn’t eat the oats after all, but was still craving Maca!
Amy Gerber says
Any idea how or what to add veggies to this? I try to get some with every meal…
Aimee says
Oh not sure about that, Amy… Not tried it but wonder if carrot would be nice?
Hana | Nirvana Cakery says
This is fantastic post Aimee, one I can definitely relate too. I’ve been on the same journey for the past 3 years and balancing hormones can be so tricky. I somehow made it to my late thirties without any issues and I hate to see girls so young with so many health problems, it’s not good! But knowing that healing is possible and taking small steps towards it everyday is going to take you there no matter how long it takes!!! Love H
Aimee says
Thank you so much, Hana! For me, it’s hereditary. My mum and her sisters have had the same problems so it was almost inevitable I was going to have them to a degree also. And what I’ve written here isn’t even the half of it. Unbalanced hormones really do mess things up! I would love to hear more about how you manage hormones. You mentioned you might do a post on it too and I think you definitely should! Hugs x
Hana | Nirvana Cakery says
Hi Aimee, same for me, my mum had the same issues as me. But now the latest research shows that genes can be actually changed with lifestyle choices, so we don’t have to suffer with our parent’s issues anymore knowing that. To what I understood, the basics of hormonal balance is in gut healing, liver detoxing and blood sugar balancing. But diet is just part of it, you also have to address your emotions that play huge part in healing. For sure time for me to write my story too:) xx
Koko says
I’m sorry you have had to deal with all of that, girl!! That sounds like a rough time to say the least. Your new strategies sound great though. I feel that when it comes to dealing with hormones, a more natural approach is always best. Pills sometimes just mask problems to make things seem ‘regular’ when really we can be focusing on fixing the issue that is causing the irregularities. Of course, it’s not always that simple, and sometimes we have just gotta do what we gotta do! I hope these new changes help you. My hormones were super out of whack after using the pill for years and then going off it. It’s been over a year and some things are still not “normal”. Whatever that is anymore…!!
Aimee says
Thank you so much, Koko <3 Yeah, it's hard to tell what normal is afterwards, isnt' it? Well, I've had a lot of conventional treatment and I've only ended up in a worse place so even though I'm not one to shun from doctor's orders, in this case, I think I can do a better job through other means. Hugs x
Demeter | Beaming Baker says
Aimee, thank you for opening up to us about your personal struggle. My mom struggles with health issues as well, and it’s good to hear about someone who’s so proactively figuring it all out. :) I found so many of your tips on balancing hormones so helpful! Most of your tips are great for an overall balanced lifestyle–starting with reducing stress and getting better sleep.
Thank you for sharing such a delicious and healthy smoothie! I could never say no to a plant-based smoothie that tastes like a cookie! ;)
Aimee says
Thank you, Demeter! It’s true, a lot of these are just general tips for being healthier or just plain common sense! But we’re never encouraged to do any of them. And yeah, cookie-flavoured smoothies are always helpful ;-)
nadia says
Sounds delish! I love adding almond butter to smoothies to make them extra creamy! I always add flaxseed as well for the omega-3 :)
Aimee says
Flaxseed and chia seeds are always in my smoothies! They help thicken them too which is great for me since I can’t eat bananas. Thanks Nadia!
Samina - The Cupcake Confession says
I can relate with your hormonal imbalance issues! I’ve been dealing with a ton of weight gain and I’ve never managed to get it off!!!! Sending you lots of positive vibes for quick and healthy healing. I have to completely agree with you on this. I really believe natural foods are the most capable ones to heal the body. All kinds of Over -the -counter medications or even other specialised medications are nothing but chemicals! Natural foods are the only ones that can truly heal us! Like this smoothie! I love how it contains the purest, most natural ingredients! I can’t wait to add this to my daily routine.
Aimee says
Thank you Samina! I’m sorry to hear you’ve suffered from hormone issues too. I definitely gained some weight from the pill and the steroids? Oh god. I think some of the issues, the best we can do is manage them but at least that’s something! I hope you manage to regain some balance too :-)
Nicole Fraser says
This looks delicious. Good luck on your healing journey. Hopefully all of those changes make a positive difference.
Aimee says
Thank you, Nicole :-)
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says
I can definitely relate to hormone issues, and I can also relate to how totally delicious maca is in smoothies. Especially paired with cinnamon, vanilla, and almond butter–hormone benefits and deliciousness benefits :) I’ve recently been doing much better hormonally, and a lot of the same things helped me get here. Gut health, maca, more fat, more sauerkraut, and I don’t really eat soy anyways. I hope you start to see some shifts soon too <3
Aimee says
It’s weird because I experimented with HCLF for a while (as I heard it was good for certain conditions) and I actually felt a bit better on it but I was concerned about losing out on healthy fats. So I think it’s just about avoiding the wrong kinds of fats, more than anything. Anyway, I’m so happy to hear you’re doing better now – that’s really encouraging :-) Yay for maca smoothies and sauerkraut! I could live on those two things. Thanks Natalie <3
Nicole Dawson says
There is a test you can do through Genova Diagnostics which I give my clients (blood and urine kit you do at home and mail in) that has helped a ton! It’s looking at the whole metabolic system from vitamin deficiencies to gut health (yeast & bacteria), to stress, inflammation, omega imbalance and also energy cycle. Then supplements and dietary changes are made. It looks like you’ve implemented a lot of really good things in your diet though! Maybe this is another thing you can look into to for help.
Aimee says
Oh that sounds really interesting, thanks Nicole! I will definitely look into that :-)
Sus Davy says
Thank goodness for honest posts like this Aimee. Too many of us suffer in silence with pesky hormone issues. I quit taking the pill 2 years ago and have felt so much better ever since. I’ve recently started incorporating maca into my morning smoothie routine, this one looks awesome, who doesn’t love a cinnamon cookie!
Aimee says
Thank you so much for saying that, Sus because I wasn’t sure whether to post this or not. It’s different to what I usually talk about but I do feel it’s something that needs to be talked about more in general. I’ve been amazed already by how many people have said they can relate and are struggling with hormone issues. It’s clear that modern life and synthetic hormones are just messing things up. Anyway, that’s great that you’re taking maca – I love that it’s both good for you AND delicious. My favourite kind of health food :-)
Becky Striepe says
This looks awesome! My hormones have always been sort of a mess, too, especially because I was on the pill for so long. I went off birth control over 10 years ago, and I don’t think my body ever truly bounced back.
Aimee says
Hormone pills are so powerful, I don’t think many people realise how much they effect you! I do much better off them but kept trying different ones in an attempt to at least be proactive in sorting out my hormones. Unfortunately, they’ve just left me feeling worse so I refuse to go back on them now.
Jenn says
Very interesting. I actually just had some hormone testing done myself, but everything came back normal. This was kind of disheartening actually because now I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve been hypothyroid for at least 9 years (probably longer, but didn’t know about it before that) and for the past 2 years or so we’ve had to change the dosage on my meds almost EVERY time I get lab results back. With some other symptoms going on, I was sure I had some hormonal stuff happening. Back to square one I guess. In the meantime, it certainly can’t hurt to add some maca into my diet. I’ve never tried it before. I’m assuming I would need to get this at a health food store? Or online? And you know I love all things cinnamon, so this is totally my kind of smoothie right here!
Aimee says
That would make me feel disheartened too, Jenn. When you have an inkling something is wrong and all the symptoms to go with it but the lab results come back fine. There is always more to it, I’ve learned. Sucks when you can’t get that confirmation though as it can really help you move forward :/
Yes, maca is amazing stuff. You should be able to find it at any health food store but you can certainly find it online. It has this malted vanilla milk flavour that I LOVE so it works really well in vegan milkshakes, ice creams, cookies etc. Let me know if you try it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Great steps you’re taking, my friend! All these things that we can’t “see” can be so hard (ARE hard) to deal with, so we just have to keep trying and trying again as best we can xoxoxo
Aimee says
Agreed! Thanks Rebecca <3