Beetroot smoothie with aronia berries

Citrus fruits

Now is the time to confess to a grave, serious addiction – to citrus fruits. For example, a criticism of our cooking that we’ve heard more than once is that we put lemon in everything. But we just can’t resist… It is so brightly flavoured, and makes everything taste alive and fresh. Another citrus fruit we love is bergamot. Learn more about bergamot and its benefits. However, we’ve been trying to cut back of late and embrace simplicity a little more. It’s working, but we’re indulging ourselves with this beetroot smoothie packed with raw beets, lemon and aronia berries. You’ve heard of the wisdom of starting the day with hot water and lemon. Likewise, this is the lush, pink option. What’s not to like?   

What to put in

Frozen fruits should be something that’s always at hand. They’re so handy for thick and creamy smoothies, or you can throw them into baked goods or whip up quick homemade sorbets or dairy-free ice creams. If you have a child, they are wonderful in baby food. Fruits are usually frozen at the height of the season. And, freezing slightly intensifies the flavour, so it’s a win-win kind of thing. Good organic frozen fruits are widely available, or you could always freeze your own.

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    The range of plant-based milks you can now find is slightly mind-boggling and we love them all. However, we find almond milk to be the creamiest and the most subtle in terms of giving other flavours room to shine. Make sure your nut milks are organic and free of carrageenan, an emulsifier that may cause inflammation. If you have the time to make your own nut milks, you’re completely sure of what goes into it. For extra sweetness in your beetroot smoothie, add the other half of the banana or top up with more sweet berries. For extra heartiness, add chocolate, nuts and/or oats. All these also pair well with aronia berries.

Purple rain

Simple phenols, such as those found in aronia berries, have been looked into by researchers interested in their anti-inflammatory properties and potential to disinfect the bloodstream and, in turn, the body.(1) Anthocyanins are the pigments that bestow the rich hues of red, purple, and blue plants, including aronia berries. In a study by Tsuda et al, mice were fed anthocyanins while simultaneously being fed a high-fat diet. The usual evils accompanying this type of diet, such as hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia, did not show their faces when mice also ingested isolated anthocyanins. This suggests that anthocyanins, as a functional food component, has potential to aid in the prevention of obesity and diabetes.(2) It should go without saying that nothing is a substitute for a healthy diet.   

Beetroot benefits

What is special about your beetroot smoothie? Beetroot is a wonderful source of the amino acid betaine, which provides the red colouring of this vegetable, along with a host of health benefits. Betaine may aid with liver function, detoxification, and the processing of fats within the body.(4) The fitness enthusiasts among you will be especially interested to know that there has been ongoing research into the ability of betaine to improve muscle mass. In 2013, the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded that betaine does positively impact body composition by aiding in muscle power and growth and contributing to increased stamina.(5) In conclusion, starting your day with this seemingly simple, if very pink, beetroot smoothie brings a whole array of healthful and flavourful blessings.

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Beetroot soup

Have you enjoyed this beetroot smoothie? You may also like another beetroot aronia combination, this time in a nourishing soup.