Tart Cherry Kefir (Image Source: Drink Your Way to Gut Health by Molly Morgan)

This Tart Cherry Kefir smoothie is delicious and it delivers a mix of probiotics and nutrient-rich tart and sweet cherries.

Research has found that the nutrients and compounds that cherries deliver are linked to decreasing markers for oxidative stress and inflammation. (Nutrients 2018)

Plus kefir is used in this smoothie, which is a probiotic and yogurt-like beverage. You can find kefir typically in the dairy aisle at the grocery store, an example of a brand of kefir is Lifeway. A bonus with kefir is that it is protein-rich (11 grams of protein per cup) and delivers 12 different types of probiotics or “good bacteria”. In the body probiotics play many important roles related to gut health and studies find that probiotics play a role in boosting the immune system. (Annals Nutrition Metabolism 2019)

Try adding in this smoothie recipe to your routine!

Tart Cherry Kefir

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen sweet cherries
1/2 cup 100% tart cherry juice
1/2 cup kefir
4 - 5 ice cubes

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until icy and smooth.

Divide among two glasses and serve.

This recipe is from Drink Your Way to Gut Health, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2015.