Tropical Immunity Boost: Day-Glow Antioxidant Fusion

Hello Everyone!  Early fall is in the air here in northern, coastal Maine as evidenced by the smattering of red maple leaves scattered about the woodlands, along with cooler evening temps.  With the change of seasons from summer to fall (and often changing family schedules and heightened stress) many of us can succumb to the cold and flu germs that seem to be lurking about this time of year - just waiting to latch on and make us feel downright crappy. 

By late August, I typically begin to boost my immune system for the upcoming long Maine winter by consuming foods chock-full of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, plus minerals such as potassium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper, calcium, etc., and plenty of live enzymes from raw foods.  A healthy body builds a robust defensive shield against nasty bacterial and viral invaders.

Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite tropical smoothies that contains many of the nutrients I mentioned above.  It can easily be made in any good quality blender.  The recipe comes from page 158 of my book, "Raw Energy In A Glass: 126 Nutrition-Packed Smoothies, Green Drinks, and Other Satisfying Raw Beverages to Boost Your Well-Being" (Storey Publishing c2014). It's the tall orange beverage in the photo below.  The drink in the smaller, adjacent glass is my recipe for "Aloe & Pineapple Digestive Health Elixir", that can be found on page 161 of the same book - it's perfect for boosting digestive health.  If you like tropical fruits such as ripe papayas, pineapples, and mangoes, then you'll be whipping up this drink again and again!  Kids absolutely love the flavor!  Give it a try, won't you?  I guarantee that your taste buds will be left smiling!

Day-Glow Antioxidant Fusion

Like sunshine on a cloudy day, this glorious golden-orange, tropical smoothie is a supreme source of youthifying enzymes, antioxidants, and vitamin C. Great as a refreshing morning beverage or afternoon pick-me-up.  It boosts your immune system, helps keep colds and flu at bay, and helps combat visible signs of aging.

Ingredients:

- Fresh, raw juice of 3 oranges, tangerines, or tangelos
- 1 medium papaya, seeded, flesh scooped out
- 1 cup fresh super-ripe pineapple, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup fresh or frozen mango, pitted, cut into chunks
- 1 teaspoon natural vanilla flavoring (optional, but adds a nice, rich flavor)

Directions: Put the orange juice, papaya, pineapple, mango, and vanilla in a blender and puree until smooth and frothy, about 30 seconds.  

Serve in glasses or insulated mugs.  This tropical smoothie is rich in natural sugars and fiber, so drink very slowly and "chew" each sip so that it digests with ease.

Yield:  1 large or 2 small servings

A good source of: antioxidants, papain and bromelain enzymes, vitamins C and K, folic acid, magnesium, calcium, manganese, potassium, natural sugars, and fiber

NOTE:  This blog was written by Stephanie Tourles and the recipe was excerpted - with permission - from her book, "Raw Energy In A Glass" (Storey Publishing, c2014).  The information presented is true and complete to the best of her knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.  It is for educational purposes only.