Looking for a smoothie with a lower glycemic index? Look no further than this cherry smoothie made with just four plant-based simple ingredients.
My family loves cherries and we can’t get enough of them. Of course, nothing beats fresh cherries, but frozen ones are often more affordable and can be used year-round.
What goes well with cherry?
I’ve used coconut milk as the liquid base in this cherry smoothie for a couple reasons. Coconut milk is rich in healthy fats, which helps curb your appetite and give you energy. It also makes the smoothie extra creamy and delicious. And lastly, a coconut cherry combination is hard to beat. It’s delicious!
Can you put cherries in a blender?
When blending cherries, it’s best to use frozen since they are already pitted and will naturally chill your smoothie. If using fresh cherries in your smoothie, you will need to manually remove the pit before blending.
Sweet vs Tart Cherries
Tart cherries are, well, tart, and sweet cherries are sweet. Another is that sweet cherries tend to be bigger and a deeper, darker red, where as tart cherries are brighter red and small. Both are high in antioxidants and great to use in smoothies,
Most studies regarding the health benefits of cherries have been conducted using Montmorency cherries, the most common variety of tart cherries. The cherries, fresh, frozen or dried, and their juice can help with muscle recovery after intense physical activity.
Both types of cherries contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that we associate with sleep. It is a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, both of which help with mood and sleep. Tryptophan supplementation has been shown to reduce irritability, PMS, and depression and anxiety.
When blending this cherry smoothie, it’s truly up to you which type of cherry you use. All of them are winners in our book!
Low Glycemic Fruits for Smoothies
Berries and cherries are low glycemic foods meaning that eating them won’t drastically affect blood sugar levels. These fruits are naturally lower in sugar and high in fiber which also keeps blood sugar levels steady.
Low Sugar Fruits Include:
- Cherries
- Grapefruit
- Apricots
- Limes
- Lemons
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Dates
- Pears
- Apples
- Oranges
- Plums
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Kiwi
- Prunes
Fun fact: Bananas are often though of as high on the glycemic index, but they are actually considered low glycemic with an index score of 55. (Anything 55 and under is considered low glycemic.)
Tropical fruits tend to be high on the glycemic index. Pineapple, figs, cantaloupe and watermelon, and guava are especially high in sugars.
Cherry Smoothie With Kale
Yep! We love to blend with kale, but that wasn’t always the case! Spinach and other milder leafy greens are a bit more beginner-friendly. If you’re just starting out blending your greens, feel free to use spinach and work up to kale.
Now, kale isn’t that scary, but it can be an acquired taste. Depending on the season, kale can vary from sweet to bitter. Baby kale is the mildest and sweetest. Mature kale is stronger flavored and can verge into the “cabbage-y” realm.
If you happen to find kale on sale, snatch it up and freeze it. Freezing makes blending kale easier as it breaks down the cell walls without sacrificing the nutrients. And frozen greens tend to have a milder flavor too.
See this post for tips on freezing leafy greens. And check out this post on why it’s important to rotate the greens you blend.
Lots of reasons to blend up a cherry smoothie today!
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PinDescription
Coconut milk is rich in healthy fats, which helps curb your appetite and give you energy. The berries and cherries lower the glycemic index making it a great after dinner treat. This smoothie has also been called Coco-Cherry Berry Cooler.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh kale
- 1 cup coconut milk, unsweetened
- 1 cup cherries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
Instructions
- Blend kale and coconut milk together until smooth.
- Add remaining fruit and blend again.
Notes
- Use at least one frozen fruit to make the smoothie cold or serve over ice.
- Can substitute cherries with berries.
Keywords: cherry smoothie, green smoothie, kale smoothie
from
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes/green-smoothies/cherry-smoothie
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