Kefir is the new "old" food on the market for health! It has been a part of traditional cultures for thousands of years for its health benefits. Now it is becoming popular for boosting the immune system and restoring the intestinal flora in the digestive tract. Here is a smoothie that is healthy and tastes delicious. It is a wonderful way to get all the beneficial bacteria in your daily diet. The yogurt in the recipe adds additional benefits.
What You Need:
1 15 oz. can pineapple chunks, with juice
2 bananas
1 apple, diced
¼ - ½ cup coconut water
1 cup yogurt
½ - 1 cup kefir
6 ice cubes
Coconut flakes, unsweetened
Smoothie Recipe
Pour the pineapple chunks with the juice into the blender. Slice the bananas in chunks and put them in with the apple, coconut water, yogurt and ice cubes. Blend on ice setting until smooth. Then add the kefir and stir or blend in on a slower speed. It is recommended to put kefir in last to maintain the active bacteria. Heat and too much whipping will destroy them. Top with a sprinkle of coconut flakes.
The pineapple is full of vitamin C. The bananas and coconut water provide an excellent amount of potassium, which is so important during the hot weather months, or when you are recuperating from illness. The apple has fiber and vitamin C and supports the heart and cardiovascular system. Yogurt and kefir both have good bacteria but have different strains. Kefir has more strains of bacteria than yogurt and also has good yeasts. These are all essential to reestablish in the digestive system.
So make a kefir smoothie every day to keep replenishing all that good bacteria. Your immune system will thank you.
©2009 Shanna Ohmes
Kefir Tropical Smoothie
Want to know more about how to boost your immune system? Traditional diets and how to prepare them, healthy fats, herbal remedies and debunking health myths are some of the subjects covered in The Natural Living Site Newsletter at http://thenaturallivingsite.com