We’re excited about Halloween, so we’re giving our smoothie recipe an upgrade today with our Magical Matcha, Matcha, Mandarin Orange Smoothie. It’s a tasty treat with an enticingly tart, citrus flavor. Our recipe makes a bewitching potion because this smoothie is fortified with Lifeway Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Kefir. This loads it with probiotics, protein, calcium, and vitamin D. It’ll put a spell on you. Plus with real fruit, it packs in fiber and has a dose of calming, energizing maca powder for the ultimate seasonal treat.
Benefits of Maca Powder:
With a nutty, malt-like flavor similar to the flavor of butterscotch, maca is an adaptogenic root native to South America that looks like a large turnip and comes in golden, red, and black colors. Maca is known as an adaptogen because it contains nutrients that act as balancing agents in the body and contains natural grounding properties. It helps stabilize energy levels, supporting the body to adapt to either fatigue or nervousness, making it unique in how different people respond. It may also be used for hormonal support since it is used for both men and women in this area of health.
Benefits of Matcha:
With a zen-like, jitter-free effect, antioxidant-rich matcha green tea powder is more than trendy; it’s packed with benefits for your skin, gut health, mood, and more. Using the brightest green matcha you can find ensures the green tea leaves were processed in a way that preserves their antioxidants.
Matcha and maca both pair well with Lifeway Kefir since they all work together to help keep your mood calm and chill while your gut stays as happy as you are. So whip up this fun smoothie recipe to support your body from head to toe, all while enjoying a healthy treat you can feel good about.
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 a 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 a 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: 10 mins Servings: 2Ingredients
- 2 mandarin oranges
- 1 cup fresh pineapple cubes
- 1 cup frozen mango
- 1 tsp. maca root powder
- 1 cup Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Kefir
- *(or you can use plain)
- 3/4 cup more Lifeway Vanilla Whole Milk Kefir (or plain)
- 1 tsp. matcha green tea powder
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (about 30 grams)
- 1/4 cup ice
- optional garnishes: raw almond slices, pumpkin seeds, few slices of mandarin orange
Directions
- Add 2 mandarin oranges (peeled) to a blender and then add the fresh pineapple cubes, maca root powder, kefir, and frozen mango. Blend until thick and creamy; it should be thick. Add to your favorite glass and set aside.
- Add in Next blend Vanilla Kefir, vanilla protein powder, matcha green tea powder, and ice. Add on top of the first layer in the glass, then top with any garnishes you wish! For a pretty fall color, we used raw almond slices, pumpkin seeds, and an additional few slices of mandarin orange. Enjoy!
