Saturday, September 26, 2020

Healthy Pomegranate Smoothie

I live for pomegranate season, and get super excited to make a lovely pomegranate smoothie. ’Tis the season for a whole new fruit and veggie palate, and all the goodness that comes with these fresh, new ingredients.

Today’s smoothie recipe is loaded with healthy benefits that will leave us glowing from the inside out. These antioxidant gems make an energizing pomegranate smoothie in just minutes.

plate with fresh pomegranate seeds on it

Pomegranate is a Superfood

Pomegranate benefits our whole bodies in one way or another, and we’d love to share the top reasons why this superfood is the star of this smoothie recipe:

  • Pomegranates have three times more antioxidants than red wine and green tea. Antioxidants can remove free radicals, protect cells from all kinds of damage, and reduce inflammation.
  • One piece of this fruit contains over 40% of the daily requirement of Vitamin C. Hello immune boost!
  • Research from the US National Library of Medicine shows pomegranate aggressively fights various types of cancer cells.
  • Digestion can improve through its anti-inflammatory properties, even in auto immune diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • Reduces inflammation contributing to arthritis.
  • Can lower blood pressure
  • It is rich in vitamins C, E, and K giving it powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties.
  • Has been linked to improvements in memory when drinking 8 oz of pomegranate juice daily.

The list of pomegranate benefits is seemingly endless, which is why we made this smoothie recipe! Civilizations have used this fruit for centuries in medicinal remedies. It is no accident that this fruit comes into season at the height of cold and flu outbreaks.

pomegranate arils

How to blend pomegranate seeds in a smoothie

I know how intimidating it can be to make a pomegranate smoothie, but the arils (or seeds) are where it’s at! They are high in fiber, which helps slow down how quickly the pomegranate sugar is absorbed into your blood stream. I love deseeding a fresh pomegranate and using the whole seeds, or arils, instead of using juice for the added nutrition and fiber.

My husband and I will eat a bowl of the delicious seeds at nighttime while watching a show. It our version of Netflix and ice cream. ๐Ÿ™‚

Having a high powered blender will make all the difference when blending these heart seeds. I suggest adding them with your leafy greens and liquid base to blend them the most. Then add the other ingredients and blend again. This is the key to making a smooth pomegranate smoothie.

pomegranate smoothie recipe

How to Cut a Pomegranate

While we LOVE this great fruit and all the incredible benefits, how the heck do you get it open?! Pomegranates are a little weird in that we can’t just peel or slice to get to the juicy good parts. Here is a short tutorial on how to de-seed a pomegranate. Follow these steps for the least amount of mess and the biggest yield:

  1. Cut the fruit directly in half ‘hamburger style.’
  2. Holding the fruit seed side down over a bowl, use a wooden spoon or flat, sturdy spatula and whack the fruit.
  3. Repeat with the other half.

How to blend pomegranate seeds in a smoothie

Having a high powered blender will make all the difference when blending these heart seeds. I suggest adding them with your leafy greens and liquid base to blend them the most. Then add the other ingredients and blend again.

Looking for even more great recipes with pomegranate benefits? Try our great Antioxidant Berry Smoothie Cubes.

Print

Healthy Pomegranate Smoothie

  • Author: Jen Hansard
  • Prep Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 7 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings
  • Category: Smoothie
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: american
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Try this pomegranate smoothie recipe to give your body an immunity boost and some great energy for the busy day ahead.


Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh red cabbage, chopped
  • 1 cup water, chilled
  • 1 cup pomegranate seeds*
  • 1/4 cup goji berries, soaked in water to soften, if needed
  • 1 cup strawberries, frozen
  • 1 cup raspberries, frozen
  • 1 cup cherries, frozen

Instructions

  1. Place cabbage, water, pomegranate seeds and goji berries into a blender.
  2. Puree until smooth.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth.

Notes

*Can substitute 3/4 cup pomegranate juice

Keywords: pomegranate smoothie, pomegranate benefits



from
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes/pomegranate-smoothie

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