Recipes, Photography, Musings

Revitalizing Berry Smoothie

Treat your body to a smoothie full of vibrant flavors and important nutrients.  Frozen blueberries, tart cherries, and cranberries give this smoothie lots of flavor and antioxidants, not to mention a naturally beautiful color.  Ground flax seeds and hemp seeds add Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, protein, and lignans, among other nutrients, which is probably why these little seeds are sometimes called “super seeds.”  Just add a splash of cranberry juice and a handful of ice, blend it all up, and you have a bright, tasty beverage full of anti-inflammatory properties.

berry smoothie with purple 6There is a lot of talk these days about chronic inflammation and how it contributes to a lot of health problems, including arthritis, heart disease, auto-immune disorders, and depression.  And apparently, in our modern society, many are at risk of developing chronic inflammation with our processed foods, high sugar intake, and fast-paced lifestyle.

berry smoothie with glassI am definitely not an expert on inflammation in the body, but what I read makes a lot of sense.  According to Paul DiCorleto, PhD, in an article for the Cleveland Clinic, inflammation is the body’s natural way of fighting an illness or injury.  When the illness or injury is healed, the inflammation response is supposed to shut off.  However, sometimes the body’s inflammation response does not stop, due to chronic anxiety, diet, or other factors. “Over time, you can end up with too much of a good thing. With chronic inflammation, your body is on high alert all the time,” says Dr. DiCorleto.  This can cause lots of problems within the body.

DiCorleto and other experts recommend making lifestyle choices that will help reduce the risk of developing chronic inflammation. These include regular exercise and eating and drinking lots of plant-based foods, which contain anti-inflammatory properties.  Berries, flax seeds, and hemp seeds are all considered anti-inflammatory foods.

berry smoothie on towelSometimes when I am very stressed out and not taking good care of myself, I can feel like my body is out of balance. That is when I reach for things like this smoothie, and I feel like I am putting good things back into my body, soothing it and energizing it at the same time.  It’s all about striving for that balance.

We may not be able to hold ourselves in balance for long periods of time, but we can continually try to keep bringing ourselves back into balance.  It’s in that process that we feel alive.  According to poet and philosopher Rumi, “Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralysed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds’ wings.”

I hope you all have a great weekend! One of the things I am  looking forward to is Angie’s Fiesta Friday, co-hosted this week by Steffi @ Ginger & Bread and Andrea @ Cooking With a Wallflower.berry smoothie on towel 2berries and seeds berry smoothie on towel 3

Mixed Berry Revitalizing Smoothie

  • Servings: 2
  • Print

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup of frozen cranberries
  • 1/2 cup of frozen tart cherries (preferably tart Montmorency cherries)
  • 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons (depending on your taste) of ground flax seeds (you can buy them already ground, or you can buy them whole and grind them in a coffee grinder)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons (depending on your taste) of hemp seeds
  • 2 cups of cranberry juice
  • a handful of ice

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth.  Pour into glasses and enjoy!

23 Comments

  1. Debbie Spivey

    I like the looks and sounds of this smoothie. I have trouble finding smoothies without bananas used to thicken them (I’m allergic).

    • Jenny

      Thanks, Debbie! I think you would like this. I didn’t feel like it lacked a banana. I hope you are having a great weekend!

  2. CakePants

    This is such a gorgeous color! It really does look revitalizing. I’ve never tried tart cherries in smoothies, but I’ll have to try it sometime!

    • Jenny

      Hi, and thanks! Since you like tart cherries, I think you would like them in a smoothie. They add such flavor and color. Stay warm this weekend! It’s a cold one! 🙂

  3. petra08

    The colour is beautiful and I agree with you that we need to look after our bodies. This looks like a great way to do it! 🙂

    • Jenny

      Thank you, Petra. It really does feel like a smoothie that is good for the body. Take care. 🙂

  4. Ginger Dawn Harman

    Wow! That looks good! And the photos are great!

    • Jenny

      Thank you so much! I was really happy with the color of this smoothie, so it was fun to photograph. Hope you are having a great weekend!

  5. Debbie

    I have a smoothie almost every morning and I love them. I use a pea protein powder in mine for lots of protein which I love. I have TONS of frozen cranberries and never thought of grabbing a few. I will do that tomorrow. What a pretty color you have in your glass!

    • Jenny

      Thank you so much, Debbie. I have never tried pea protein. I will have to look for that. I am always looking for new sources of protein. Thank you so much for visiting my blog!

  6. Julie is Hostess At Heart

    This is a great smoothie. I know when I’m stressed I am less apt to take care of myself, and the body takes a beating. This recipe is a keeper!

    • Jenny

      Thanks, Julie. My body was in dire need of that smoothie this week. 🙂 Hope you are well, and happy FF!

  7. carolinescookingblog

    Such a pretty color and love everything in there too!

    • Jenny

      Thank you, Caroline! I love the color too. Happy Fiesta Friday!

  8. nancyc

    This sounds like a great smoothie, and such a beautiful, rich color!

    • Jenny

      Thank you, Nancy!

  9. cookingwithauntjuju.com

    I love a good fruit smoothie and try to drink a variety of them that I have posted and ones I get from other bloggers such as you. Sounds healthy and delicious 🙂

    • Jenny

      Thanks, Judi! I look forward to checking out the smoothies you have posted too, because I love trying new ones. Happy FF! 🙂

  10. Ginger

    It looks absolutely stunning – although I am feeling quite well I still crave those colours 😉
    Happy Fiesta Friday!
    Ginger x

    • Jenny

      Thank you, Ginger! The beautiful color is even more appealing to me in the winter, when I feel a lack of it. Thank you for co-hosting FF this week!

      • Ginger

        You’re welcome! I can imagine waking up to these – the colour alone makes up for the lack of sunshine in the morning 🙂

  11. Andrea Giang | Cooking with a Wallflower

    I always love trying new smoothies and this sounds soo amazing. Happy FF!

    • Jenny

      Thank you so much, Andrea! And thank you for co-hosting Fiesta Friday this week!

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