A Little Glass of Paradise: Anti-Inflammatory Tropical Smoothie
Discover the Benefits of a Tropical, Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouse
Get ready to treat your taste buds to a tropical paradise with this delicious and nutritious anti-inflammatory tropical smoothie!
Packed with anti-inflammatory and healing spices like fresh turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and a hint of black pepper, this smoothie is both sweet and slightly spicy. Your body will thank you for every refreshing sip!
Anti-Inflammatory Tropical Smoothie
(Serves 2)
Ingredients:
2 cups coconut milk* (see note below)
1 fresh mango (or 1 cup frozen mango)
1 frozen banana
1/4 cup fresh or frozen pineapple
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
1/2 lime, juiced (~1 tbsp)
1 1/2” fresh turmeric, peeled and grated (or 1/2 tsp ground turmeric)
1” fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
Dash of freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
Blend until smooth.
Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes:
I prefer using full-fat, no guar gum added canned coconut milk, such as Native Forest. Use one can plus filtered water to reach the full 2 cups. You can also use coconut milk from a carton.
If using all fresh fruit, add 1 cup of ice to the blender to chill and thicken the smoothie. Frozen fruit works best for smoothies, providing a creamy, ice cream-like texture.
The addition of protein powder will help stabilize blood sugar.
The Power of Turmeric
By now, most people have heard about turmeric. If not turmeric, maybe you've heard of curcumin, the active substance in turmeric that gives it its bright orange color and superpowers!
Turmeric is most commonly known as an Indian spice, as it is the main ingredient in many Indian dishes, such as curries. This is because turmeric is the dried root of the Curcuma longa plant, which is locally grown in India and Southeast Asia.
You can find either the whole root in the produce section of your local health food store or dried in the spice aisle.
Although turmeric is most commonly seen in savory dishes such as stews, curries, and soups, it can also be a fantastic addition to sweet dishes, like this smoothie and elixirs, providing medicinal properties and a beautifully bright color.
Enhancing Curcumin Absorption
As much as our bodies love turmeric, they need a little help absorbing curcumin, which is why we pair it with a pinch of black pepper.
Black pepper contains piperine, the magic key needed to increase absorption and bioavailability.
5 Reasons Turmeric (Curcumin) Rocks:
Potent Anti-Inflammatory: Curcumin is considered one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory agents. Studies show it can be more effective than NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen, without the gastrointestinal side effects. It’s great for treating inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune diseases, IBS, and lupus.
DNA Protection: Curcumin has been shown to repair DNA damage caused by carcinogenic heavy metals like arsenic, commonly found in our environment (3).
Cancer Prevention: Curcumin has several cancer-preventing properties and is a strong antioxidant, used medicinally in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
Skin Health: Curcumin can effectively treat skin disorders such as psoriasis, clear up acne, and fade acne scars.
Immune Boost: Curcumin enhances antibody response, boosting the immune system. It’s beneficial for treating arthritis, allergies, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
Give It a Try!
Blend up this vibrant and health-boosting Anti-Inflammatory Tropical Smoothie and enjoy your glass of paradise.
