We’re bringing our berry best gut-healthy smoothie to you today with this beautiful Blackberry Vanilla Protein Smoothie. It’s creamy, sweet, packed with protein, and oh-so good for your gut health thanks to Lifeway Kefir used in this recipe. Plain Lifeway Kefir contains billions of live and active probiotic cultures that create sweet harmony for your microbiome, all without added sugar. The live cultures nurture your gut lining and support your body’s balance of good bacteria so your gut stays calm and happy, while the complete protein our kefir contains supports your muscles and metabolism so you feel your best.
Blackberries used in this smoothie recipes are one of nature’s highest fiber foods and provide prebiotic fuel for the probiotics found in our kefir. Blackberries are also high in vitamin C and are one of the best natural sources of anthocyanins, an antioxidant found in other dark blue and purples superfoods like acai, wild blueberries, purple sweet potatoes, and dark purple/black grapes. Blending blackberries with Lifeway Kefir helps make them easier to digest since it breaks down the seeds, and the probiotics found in our kefir also help with digestion and assimilation of the fiber in blackberries.
We boosted this smoothie with protein powder and some extra special additives that make it taste like a dessert shake while still keeping it healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast or a post-workout treat. Blend it up and give it a try, and be sure to make extra to serve to a friend or loved one!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 2 mins Servings: 2Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 1 cup frozen blackberries
- 1/4 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (about 30 grams)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract or flavoring (or use the seeds from 1 vanilla bean)
- 1 tsp. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- 1 fresh, ripe banana*
- Toppings: fresh blackberries, plus raw pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, and/or hemp seeds
Directions
- Add Lifeway Kefir, frozen blackberries, frozen strawberries, vanilla protein powder, vanilla, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, and fresh banana to a blender. Blend on low to get it started, then progress to high until thick and creamy.
- Pour into 2 glasses, then top with fresh blackberries and pumpkin seeds, coconut and/or hemp seeds.
- *If you want it even thicker, like the consistency of a smoothie bowl, use frozen banana instead of fresh.
