Hot Pink Smoothie

recipe and image from here

I started drinking green smoothies about 5 years ago. Here's a post with more information. A friend gave me the recipe for this pink smoothie. I have to say I was skeptical, but I do really enjoy it. Scott also! I usually don't do the optional ingredients, and and half a medium or one small beet. I've tried using fresh young coconuts, but prefer buying coconut water. This is what I learned about beets: 

"The juice of the beet is rich in sodium, chlorine, iodine, copper, bioflavanoids, and vitamins B1, B2, and C. Folic acid, found abundantly in beets, helps anemias and cervical cancer. The juice is excellent for cleansing and rebuilding kidneys and gallbladder. As a fibrous root, it's excellent for eliminating constipation, adding bulk to the diet, and improving peristalsis in the intestines. The red color is actually betacyanin, a powerful anti-carcinogen known to prevent colon cancer. And a study showed a 30-40% drop in cholesterol and triglycerides of animals fed beet fiber."

It's amazing to me that all of the different whole foods we are give are packed with nutrients. If we ate with variety, prudence and thanksgiving as the scriptures say, we would be the most healthy. Eating what we can in season also benefits us.

Hot Pink Smoothie
1-1/2 c. coconut liquid (raw from a coconut, or you can find this in cans or cartons)
1 large carrot, cleaned and cut into small pieces (or 5-6 baby carrots)
1/4 of a medium beet, raw, peeled
1/4 c. cashews, raw and unsalted
1/4 c. chopped dates
2 t. vanilla
12 frozen or fresh strawberries
optional: 1-2 T. plant protein powder (with hemp, pea, brown rice, and chia)
optional: 2 T. kefir or yogurt.

And if you are up for a heathy start to your holidays, you can sign up for this December green smoothie challenge. Here is the link. If you complete the challenge you'll get these two free e-cookbooks above.

by Dee, wife of Barbara's son Scott