Pomegranate Pear Smoothie

Prepare to meet your new favorite holiday smoothie inspired by some of our favorite flavors of the season. Our Pomegranate Pear Smoothie made with Lifeway Kefir is sure to become your blender’s and your gut’s new BFF. This sweet, slightly tart, and creamy recipe combines fiber-rich pears, nutrient-dense pomegranate arils and juice, banana, berries, and probiotic-packed Lifeway Kefir. The probiotics and protein in our kefir are an excellent match to the fiber and nutrients in the fruits, which means this delightful drink is more than a treat to look at—it’s also pretty pear-riffic for you!

Benefits of Pomegranates and Pears:

Pomegranates and pears are two of the best fruits to eat during this time of year, not only for their beautiful colors and seasonal appeal, but because they’re also rich in nutrients that support skin, gut, and heart health.

Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants and polyphenolic compounds that support a healthy heart, blood flow, and skin health. Polyphenols are emerging as an important part of gut health since they have been found to support the microbiome by acting as a prebiotic, feeding the good bacteria in your gut and allowing them to grow. Additionally, pomegranates’ tiny seeds (arils) are rich in fiber that supports digestion and a healthy heart. These beautiful, juicy fruits make a stunning culinary addition to any holiday recipe, so add them in wherever you can. If you don’t want to remove the seeds yourself, you can buy pomegranate arils (seeds) sold separately at grocery stores in the produce department.

Pears are a well-known source of fiber, but there’s more than meets the eye to these familiar fruits. Pears are an excellent source of vitamin C to support the immune system, and they’re rich in potassium to support heart health and electrolyte balance. These fruits contain special types of polyphenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and rutin, which have all been shown to support a healthy immune system, support anti-aging, and combat inflammation. So don’t pass by the pears next time you’re shopping! Pick a few up, and try different varieties to expose yourself to more nutrients.

Lifeway Kefir = Pear and Pomegranate’s Best Friend

Lifeway Kefir is filled with 12 different strains of probiotic cultures, containing more probiotics than yogurt. Our kefir’s unique cultures prime your body with beneficial types of probiotics that make any smoothie better for you and more enjoyable to drink knowing your gut health is supported. The probiotics in our kefir act as the perfect pair to pears and pomegranates since these fruits’ prebiotic fiber feed the good bacteria in our kefir, allowing them to proliferate and support your body even better. Our kefir’s natural protein is another benefit not to miss since it supports energy levels, healthy blood sugars, muscle health, and satisfaction at meals when paired with fiber-rich foods like the fruit used here.

Now, head to the kitchen and grab your blender, because this sweet, seasonal smoothie is one we know you’re going to love!

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.