Chickpea Protein Shake

At vegan.io we usually let Julia do the calls in the kitchen. But when it comes to protein shakes I am the self proclaimed master. So today I want to share with you a Chickpea protein shake, my favourite smoothie of all times! 

This protein shake is a serious protein bomb and it is quite calorie dense. So if you are after some vegan gains, this is for you. I usually make one early in the morning before I hit the gym and drink it straight after my workout session. 

Aside from the gains, this protein shake is very replenishing. You know when you've hit the gym too hard that your legs feel like noodles and you're not sure how you are going to make it to the car and drive away. Well, that's the perfect moment to take a second and sip on this smoothie. Your body will be very grateful. 

Every ingredient in this protein shake will help you recover. We have protein, carbs and a bit of fat to fuel your body with the proper nutrition. You really need to pay attention to what's going into your body after putting it through the stress of an intense workout. 

I usually add a few teaspoons of ashwagandha to the mix. You can leave it out but it is really useful in helping the muscles recover and it will help you recover from weakness as well. That's not all this root, also known as Indian ginseng can do. Ashwagandha has a crazy amount of benefits all over the board, here are some: 

• Boosts your inmune system
• Reduces stress 
• Reduces anxiety 
• Helps reduce blood sugar levels
• Fights cancer 
• Reduces infertility in men
• Helps prevent arthritis, asthma, hypertension and rheumatism
• Controls cholesterol levels
• Has anti-anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties

I just learned about this root recently and I'm doing more research on its benefits. I'm also learning how to incorporate it into my diet to get the most out of it. I'll keep you posted on that!

Now let's talk about the flavour of this protein shake. I love fruity smoothies, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it can be too much for me, especially after the gym. This protein shake is slightly sweet without the fruity flavour. The only fruit allowed in our protein shake are bananas, the riper the better. That's where the sweetness will come from. 

I decided to add some cacao powder to my protein shake to get a bit of a chocolaty taste. I really like the combination of banana, almond milk and cacao. It feels more like we are having a treat than a healthy shake.

This is really the ultimate protein shake. It might a bit biased but I really think you will agree with me on that. It is healthy, easy to make, and incredibly delicious. But, most importantly, if it is leg day at the gym, it will help you get back to your car without the need of assistance!