Raspberry Smoothie

Who loves a good raspberry smoothie? Anyone besides me!?! Raspberries have always been one of my favorite foods. They are beautiful to look at, smell and taste delicious, and fun to pick too. Did you ever pick raspberries as a kid? One for the basket, one for me, one for the basket, one for me. As it turns out, raspberries are super healthy for you too!

Ok I know it’s not exactly raspberry season right now. And in general, I recommend eating seasonally as much as possible. But it’s Valentine’s Day and raspberries are my favorite food. So to show my love and gratitude for you following my blog, I wanted to share a raspberry treat with you! And this Raspberry Smoothie is delish, with a secret rosy ingredient…

So what are some of the awesome health benefits of raspberries that rank them near the top of the superfood list?

Health benefits of raspberries

• Calorie for calorie they contain more fiber than almost any food on the planet.
• Raspberries are also a good source of vitamins C and K, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.
• Recent studies confirm that raspberries contain a wide array of antioxidants with a host of potential benefits for regulating metabolism and fighting diseases.
• Raspberries contain anti-inflammatory compounds like ellagic acid, which has been shown to fight cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.
• And raspberries contain anthocyanins which are natural Cox inhibitors, helping fight pain and inflammation naturally.

Sounds good to me. I think I’ll eat a few more! This nutritious, healthy Raspberry Smoothie from Healing Foods is a perfect way to LOVE your body every day, not just on Valentine’s Day.

Sidebar: If you like this Raspberry Smoothie recipe, check out the Healing Foods book by Neal’s Yard Remedies. It’s packed full of healthy recipes organized by which body organs and conditions they help support: like heart health, gut health, stress relief, energy boosting, etc. It’s one of my favorite books, and the front section of the book is my favorite part. It includes the health benefits of most whole foods from fruits, veggies, and herbs, to nuts, seeds, grains, and even meats, and dairy. This helps you understand how what you put into your body can affect different systems in your body—boosting your energy, helping you sleep, easing your gut ache, and more. Plus it’s beautifully designed with gorgeous photos too.

Valentines Raspberry Smoothie

Print Recipe

From "Healing Foods" book by Neal’s Yard Remedies. Depending on the time of year, you might have to use frozen raspberries for this recipe. That’s OK since it’s a smoothie, and you need a frozen component to make it a smoothie, frozen raspberries will do the trick instead of ice. The antioxidant-rich raspberries, blueberries, and coconut water help to rehydrate the body and reduce feelings of fatigue. Plus the pistachio nuts, cardamom seeds, and concentrated rose in the rose syrup are said to keep love on your mind.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Healthy

Servings 2

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic raspberries fresh or frozen
• 1 cup organic blueberries fresh or frozen
• 1/4 tsp cardamom seeds crushed
• 2 TBSP pistachio nuts shelled
• 1 cup coconut water
• Dash of Rose Syrup optional (see recipe below)

Instructions

• Put all ingredients into a Vitamix or strong blender and blend to a smooth consistency.
• If serving immediately pour into tall glasses and serve garnished with mint or basil.
• Otherwise, the drink will last for up to two days if stored in a tightly sealed bottle and refrigerated.

Rose Syrup

Print Recipe

Rose syrup is mildly calming and immune-enhancing. And it can be used to sweeten herbal infusions, poured over pancakes and ice cream, drizzled over fruit salads, used in a sorbet, or diluted with water and drunk as a cordial. Highly perfumed Damask Rose or French rose is best for this recipe. Keep the temperature low to preserve their benefits.

Course Sauce

Cuisine Gluten-Free

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic raw sugar
• Juice of one lemon
• Juice of one orange
• 3 1/2 oz organic dried rose petals or the petals of 10 fresh red rose heads

Instructions

• Dissolve the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over low heat without letting it boil boiling will make the mixture cloudy.
• Add the citrus juices, then turn the heat down and simmer for five minutes. Over the next 15 minutes, gradually add the rose petals and stir thoroughly before adding more. Remove from the heat, let cool, and strain.
• Pour the hot syrup into the clean glass bottle, seal it, and keep refrigerated.
• Use within six weeks.

Happy Valentines Day every day! Please leave a comment to let us know your favorite recipe using raspberries.