Summer Smoothie Bowl

You and your family deserve a delicious, summery treat! Here’s a seasonal smoothie bowl to keep everyone, and their gut bugs, happy 🌞 We’ve listed the ingredients, method and why these foods are so good for you! Job done!

Ingredients

2 small raw beetroots, peeled and roughly chopped
Pinch of 100% pure stevia (to taste)
170ml Chuckling Goat Kefir (Original or Light)
2 frozen bananas, chopped
4 large strawberries
10 cherries
Chia seeds
Unsweetened coconut flakes
Yacon syrup for drizzling

Method

Blend the beetroot, stevia, Kefir and bananas into a thick consistency – spoon into bowls (or one big bowl if you’re feeling hungry!). Thinly slice the strawberries and remove the stones from the cherries. Lay these on your blended smoothie along with a generous pile of raw coconut flakes. Sprinkle with chia seeds and drizzle over the yacon syrup for extra sweetness!

Health Benefits

Beetroot

High in folate which plays a key role in controlling damage to blood vessels, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.[ref]https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-beetroot[/ref]
Great source of vitamin C – an antioxidant important for immune function and skin health. [ref]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16373990/[/ref][ref]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25010554/[/ref]
High in fibre which promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, aids digestion and reduces the risk of constipation.[ref]https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-beetroot[/ref]

100% pure stevia

Low GI, therefore, has little to no effect on blood sugar levels.[ref]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666310000826[/ref]
Reduces bad cholesterol and increases healthy cholesterol.[ref]https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09735070.2009.11886351[/ref]

Chuckling Goat Kefir

Actively supports your skin, digestion and immune system.
Contains probiotics that boost your immunity.[ref]https://draxe.com/nutrition/kefir-benefits/[/ref]
Reduces tiredness and fatigue.[ref]https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.628741/full[/ref]
Contributes to normal psychological function, reducing feelings of anxiety and depression.[ref]https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170523124119.htm[/ref]

Bananas

Moderate your blood sugar levels.[ref]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bananas-diabetes[/ref]
Pectin – a fibre found in ripe and unripe bananas – may help prevent constipation.[ref]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-bananas[/ref]

Strawberries

Excellent source of vitamin C.[ref]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/strawberries#vitamins-and-minerals[/ref]
Support heart health due to their anthocyanin and quercetin content.[ref]https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271285[/ref] Reports show that anthocyanin has links with a lower risk of heart attacks[ref]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31102958/[/ref] and quercetin may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis[ref]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27385185/[/ref]

Cherries

High in polyphenols which help fight cellular damage, reduce inflammation, and promote overall health.[ref]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6259571/[/ref][ref]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5872786/[/ref]
A rich, natural source of melatonin, a neurotransmitter that influences sleep and mood.[ref]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23480341/[/ref]

Chia Seeds

High in nutrients that are important for bone health, including calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.[ref]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds[/ref]
Highly nutritious, packed with fibre, protein and omega-3 fatty acids.[ref]https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds[/ref]

Unsweetened coconut flakes

Good source of manganese which is needed for healthy connective tissue, blood clotting and bone formation.[ref]https://www.livestrong.com/article/281682-unsweetened-coconut-flakes-nutrition/[/ref]
Low GI, making it a more gut-healthy sweet snack option.

Yacon Syrup

Prebiotic properties which improve gut health, digestion and immunity.[ref]https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-yacon-root#1[/ref][ref]https://draxe.com/nutrition/yacon-syrup/[/ref]
Due to its high fructan content, yacon has been shown to reduce symptoms of constipation.[ref]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18781073/[/ref]
Increases the concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium in bones.[ref]https://draxe.com/nutrition/yacon-syrup/[/ref]

Tuck in and enjoy, knowing that you’re keeping your health in check too 😉