Here’s a very healthy low calorie antioxidant smoothie to enjoy every day. I like to prepare the pumpkin the night before so that it is ready to use in the morning
Ingredients:
¼ small pumpkin baked
1 cup plain yogurt
1 scoop protein powder
2 drops fresh ginger essential oil
cinnamon powder
Stevia or brown sugar to taste
Blend together pumpkin, protein powder, yogurt, stevia and ginger essential oil. Enjoy.
How to bake the pumpkin
- Preheat the oven on 350 F.
- Seed and cut 1 small pumpkin in 4.
- Place pumpkin, face up, in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon
- Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until pumpkin is very tender.
- You can put the pumpkin pieces in a container and store it in the refrigerator; you will only need 1 quarter pumpkin for each smoothie.
Health benefits of ginger essential oil in your smoothie
Antioxidant – Free radical scavenger (can prevent cancer)
Immune stimulate because it can stimulate the activity of Glutathione producing enzymes
Digestive
General tonic
Anti-inflammatory
Health benefits of pumpkin
The distinctive bright orange color of pumpkin clearly indicates that it’s an excellent source of that all-important antioxidant beta-carotene. Research shows that people who eat a diet rich in beta-carotene are less likely to develop certain cancers than those who fail to include beta-carotene-rich foods in their diet. Pumpkin also has another carotenoid, beta-cryptoxanthin, which may decrease the risk of lung cancer in smokers.*
© 2011, Cristina Proano-Carrion, Aromandina LLC