Gracious Living Creamy Pomegranate Crunch Smoothie

by Grace Van Berkum, R.H.N.

Need a new smoothie recipe to keep you going through the day? Give this healthy, natural smoothie a try!

This detox smoothie recipe was very popular at the recent Gracious Living Lifestyle Detox Retreat in the Bahamas with 21 students from around the world, including a special Swami from India. (Next Gracious Living Lifestyle Detox Retreat is in Nicaragua Nov 28 through Dec 5, 2015 with Sunwarrior Ambassadors Ronnie Landis and Grace Van Berkum.) This smoothie is filled with plant protein power from Sunwarrior, vegan creaminess from the avocado, and a specific combination of fruits (and kale) for optimal health. Few fruits provide the sheer concentration of antioxidants that pomegranatesdo. Eating them on a regular basis may offer protection against cardiovascular disease, prostate challenges, and other chronic, degenerative health challenges.

Gracious Living Creamy Pomegranate Crunch Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop Warrior Blend vanilla protein
• 1 cup red apple, cored and cubed
• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 fresh lemon without peel
• 1/2 avocado
• 1 cup kale
• 5 strawberries
• 1 packet Shiitake medicinal mushrooms from Four Sigma Foods
• 2–3 cups water
• Mix pomegranate seeds in the smoothie for antioxidant crunchiness, and also top with pomegranate seeds.

Easy Way to Remove Pomegranate Seeds

Here’s what you do:

Slice the top and bottom off a pomegranate and peel the skin from top to bottom around the pomegranate every few inches, just as you would do to an orange to make it easy to peel.

Place the peeled pomegranate in a large bowl of water and use your fingers to separate the seeds from the red skin and white membrane that surround the seeds. Throw the hard bits of red skin away. The white membrane will easily float to the surface, while the seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl. Use your hands or a small strainer to scoop the white membrane bits off the surface of the water and discard them. Strain remaining water and seeds. Voila! You are left with a whole pomegranate’s worth of tasty and nutritious seeds to use in your smoothie or salads.

Learn more about the health benefits of pomegranate!