You and your family deserve a delicious, summery treat! Here’s a seasonal smoothie bowl to keep everyone, and their gut bugs, happy 🌞 We’ve listed the ingredients, method and why these foods are so good for you! Job done!
Ingredients
- 2 small raw beetroots, peeled and roughly chopped
- Pinch of 100% pure stevia (to taste)
- 170ml Chuckling Goat Kefir (Original or Light)
- 2 frozen bananas, chopped
- 4 large strawberries
- 10 cherries
- Chia seeds
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Yacon syrup for drizzling
Method
Blend the beetroot, stevia, Kefir and bananas into a thick consistency – spoon into bowls (or one big bowl if you’re feeling hungry!). Thinly slice the strawberries and remove the stones from the cherries. Lay these on your blended smoothie along with a generous pile of raw coconut flakes. Sprinkle with chia seeds and drizzle over the yacon syrup for extra sweetness!
Health Benefits
Beetroot
- High in folate which plays a key role in controlling damage to blood vessels, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.1https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-beetroot
- Great source of vitamin C – an antioxidant important for immune function and skin health. 2https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16373990/3https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25010554/
- High in fibre which promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, aids digestion and reduces the risk of constipation.4https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-beetroot
100% pure stevia
- Low GI, therefore, has little to no effect on blood sugar levels.5https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666310000826
- Reduces bad cholesterol and increases healthy cholesterol.6https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09735070.2009.11886351
Chuckling Goat Kefir
- Actively supports your skin, digestion and immune system.
- Contains probiotics that boost your immunity.7https://draxe.com/nutrition/kefir-benefits/
- Reduces tiredness and fatigue.8https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.628741/full
- Contributes to normal psychological function, reducing feelings of anxiety and depression.9https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170523124119.htm
Bananas
- Moderate your blood sugar levels.10https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bananas-diabetes
- Pectin – a fibre found in ripe and unripe bananas – may help prevent constipation.11https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-bananas
Strawberries
- Excellent source of vitamin C.12https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/strawberries#vitamins-and-minerals
- Support heart health due to their anthocyanin and quercetin content.13https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271285 Reports show that anthocyanin has links with a lower risk of heart attacks14https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31102958/ and quercetin may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis15https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27385185/
Cherries
- High in polyphenols which help fight cellular damage, reduce inflammation, and promote overall health.16https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6259571/17https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5872786/
- A rich, natural source of melatonin, a neurotransmitter that influences sleep and mood.18https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23480341/
Chia Seeds
- High in nutrients that are important for bone health, including calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.19https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds
- Highly nutritious, packed with fibre, protein and omega-3 fatty acids.20https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds
Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Good source of manganese which is needed for healthy connective tissue, blood clotting and bone formation.21https://www.livestrong.com/article/281682-unsweetened-coconut-flakes-nutrition/
- Low GI, making it a more gut-healthy sweet snack option.
Yacon Syrup
- Prebiotic properties which improve gut health, digestion and immunity.22https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-yacon-root#123https://draxe.com/nutrition/yacon-syrup/
- Due to its high fructan content, yacon has been shown to reduce symptoms of constipation.24https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18781073/
- Increases the concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium in bones.25https://draxe.com/nutrition/yacon-syrup/
Tuck in and enjoy, knowing that you’re keeping your health in check too 😉
References
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