Berry Hot Pink Drink

If you think spice is nice, you will love this
summer’s super immune booster

 

Organic Ingredients:

2 cups of fresh ripe pineapple
2 cups of fresh or frozen ripe strawberries
Large slice of raw fresh beet
1″ – 2″ piece of peeled ginger root
Cayenne 1 – 2 dashes (optional for those that like it hot or not)
Ice cubes – one dozen

Directions:

In a high speed blender like a VitaMix, combine all ingredients.
Blend until smooth.
Get ready for an immune boosting taste explosion.
Serve and enjoy.

Yields:  2 tall servings

 

Bountiful Benefits

 

Need I elaborate on the immune boosting effects of colorful fruits and vegetables?  As a super food, beets are rated at the top as a medicinal food.  Best consumed raw, beets are loaded with essential vitamins, immune boosting minerals such as folate, zinc, copper, vitamin B6, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, iron as well as vital plant compounds.  Among the many benefits, beets are known to reduce inflammation, regulate blood sugar and high in nitric oxide, beets act as a vasodilator to relax the vascular muscles, widening the arteries to regulate blood flow and lower blood pressure, helping to improve exercise performance and aiding in weight loss.  Packed with antioxidants, beets also help reduce oxidative stress and fight free radicals.  Symptoms of oxidative stress include fatigue, muscle aches, wrinkles, memory loss and joint pain.  Those under oxidative stress are considered immune compromised and at risk for getting infections or diseases.  Beets are excellent for liver health, helping to improve he body’s natural detoxification enzymes; also containing betaine, beets are wondrous for lowering the accumulation of fat in the liver.  Great for digestion,  beets relieve bloating and constipation.  To top it all off, beets are excellent for pre or post workout recovery.  Enjoyed before working out, beets can improve athletic performance and post workout, beets can relieve soreness in the muscles from working out.

As far as the benefits of the other beautiful fresh whole food ingredients, read up on cayenne here.  Another super charged spice is fresh ginger, one of the oldest known medicinal roots.  Most renowned to alleviate nausea, improve digestion and aid in weight loss, ginger can benefit those with ostearthritis.  Ginger is also known to lower blood sugar and help improve heart disease risk factors.  Ginger may help lower cholesterol,  may improve brain function, fight infections and help prevent cancer and even lower menstrual pain,   Need I say more?  Add a slice of ginger to your smoothie, juice, salad,  fresh vegetables or whatever it is you will enjoy as your next meal.

The two mainstays of this berry hot pink drink are pineapple and strawberries.  Both are loaded with wondrous vitamins and minerals and are especially high in vitamin C, a super immune booster.   Containing disease fighting antioxidants like beets, pineapples are thought to suppress inflammation, may reduce risk of cancer, aid digestion, may lessen arthritis, and hasten recovery after surgery or working out.  Strawberries are equally healing helping to protect the heart and boosting cognitive (brain) function.  Known to be good for eye health, strawberries also benefit the digestion, aid with hair, skin, and bone health.  Always choose certified organic as strawberries are at the top of the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) dirty dozen list of foods most laden with pesticides.   Pineapple, on the other hand, is near the top of EWG’s clean fifteen list of those with the least amount of toxic residue.  Loaded with nature’s goodness, what is not to like in this  berry hot pink drink?  In Joy, LaRen

Sources and Resources:

Environmental Working Group:  https://www.ewg.org/

Leech, Joel.  Healthline Nutrition:  111 Proven Benefits of Ginger 19 March 2021  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-ginger

Nagdeve, Meenakshi Organic Facts: 14 Proven Health Benefits of Strawberries 16 July 2021  https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/strawberries.html

R.  Pamela.  Entirely Health:  Food and Nutrition:  8 Proven Benefits of Beets https://entirelyhealth.com/lifestyle/food-nutrition/8-proven-health-benefits-of-beets/8/

Wartenberg, Lisa.  Pineapple:  8 Impressive Benefits. 16 March 2022  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-pineapple#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8

Disclaimer:

These statements have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Foods are not drugs and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  This post is for informational purposes only.  It is recommended you do your own research and consult with a licensed medical physician before adding anything to your dietary regime.