Real Food Friday: Drink Your Reds & Feel Radiant

Another day, another smoothie.

Yummy red smoothies are just as frequent in my house as green ones. Red colored fruits and vegetables are know for their high levels of antioxidants like Vitamin A (beta carotene), Vitamin C, manganese and fibre. They promote heart health and many are packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to cancer prevention.

Beets

Urban Harvest has had beets for delivery every week, and my belly has been very grateful. As most people know though, they can be a bit of a red mess to cook all the time (gloves recommended)!

There are many reasons to consume beets on the regular. Here is a list of some of the health benefits to these big, red beauties:

- They are high in Boron, which is related to the production of sex hormones.

- They are high in many vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, Vitamins A, B, C, as well as folic acid, a B vitamin that is improtant for pregnant women as it is very beneficial to new cell growth.

- They are high in fibre, which slows the release of sugar in the blood stream, which in turn prevents an insulin spike

and crash.

- They are a liver tonic that help to cleanse the body as well as a blood purifier.

- They are a great way to test your levels of stomach acid. If you urine turns pink after eating beets you most likely

have low stomach acid!

Berries

Living in the Okanagan has many perks, and the abundance of fruit is one of them! So during the summer, my partner and I buy a variety of berries in very large quantities and freeze them to last us through the winter.

Blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, saskatoon berries and even some elderberries have filled our deep freeze, and here are some of the reasons why:

- They are a great source of Vitamin C and B-complex vitamins.

- The protective antioxidants help to reduce the effects of stress, and even reduce risk of Alzheimers.

- Like beets, their high fibre content slows digestion and glucose release, which can rpeven sugar/carb cravings.

- Studies have shown that eating berries imrpoves vision as well as reducing age-related vision loss and cataracts.

Watermelon

A true flavor of summer; watermelon is something most of us grew up eating barefoot at a backyard BBQ in the high heat of summer. Watermelon is a treat, but it also has many health benefits:

- Watermelon is 92% water. This makes it a diuretic, increasing the flow of urine, butwithout stressing the kidneys like caffeine does. It extremely hydrating, especially beneficial on those hot summer days!

- They are also very high in lycopene, the antioxidant touted for its anti-cancer benefits as well as promoting

cardiovascular health.

- It is high in citrulline (an amino acid), which has been shown to reduce the fat in our fat cells.

- When ripe, watermelons have an alkaline forming effect in the body, reducing the risk of issues associated with high acid diets.

Red Apple

We all know the old adage "an apple a day", but red skinned apples have a unique list of health benefits:

- Red apples contain quercetin, a flavenoid that posesses powerful antioxidants, most noted for its ability to fight colds, flus and allergies.

- This flavenoid also helps to promote overall cardiovascular health and encourages blood flow.

- Again, they are high in dietary fibre, slowing digestion and the release of glucose.

Drink Your Reds Smoothie Recipe

- 1 whole beet

- 1 whole red delicious apple

- 1 small handful frozen raspberries

- 1 small handful frozen strawberries

- 4-5 slices of watermelon

- 1 small lemon, peeled

- 1 tbsp. bee pollen

- 1 tbsp. chia seeds

- 1 tbsp. hemp hearts

- 1 tsp. Maca root powder

- 1-2 small turmeric roots

- 1 small chunk ginger

- Filtered/alkaline water

First wash all fruit and vegetables, then cut up the apple, beet, lemon and watermelon. Add all ingredients into high powered blender and blend for 60 seconds. Pour into vessel of your choice (I am always a fan of mason jars) and enjoy the vibrant flavors and energy of true health through real food.

Cheers,

Cayla Lou

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