Nothing beats a cold and creamy banana smoothie, especially when it’s made with probiotic Lifeway Kefir! Our Lowfat Plain Kefir is packed with benefits for your gut health, muscles, immune system, and more. Better yet, bananas and kefir make the perfect pair since bananas are an excellent source of prebiotic fiber that feed the good bacteria in Lifeway Kefir. This synbiotic relationship makes them two must-have ingredients for any smoothie recipe, but we decided to make them the main stars of this recipe for a creamy treat that tastes like a milkshake. We boosted the sweetness with Medjool dates, and for a pretty yellow color, we added ground turmeric powder which also acts as a potent anti-inflammatory ingredient with additional skin health benefits.
Cultured Dairy: The Nutrition Benefits You Need to Know
With increasing research linking the correlation between probiotics, gut health, and immunity, it’s no secret that the integrity of our gut is vital to our health. Although additional factors such as stress, antibiotic usage, and individual health conditions can contribute to the condition of our gut, a focus on healthy food choices is one of the easiest ways to support the microbiome.
Several studies have shown a strong association between the gut-brain-microbiota. Probiotics introduced to the gut have been found to support immunity, improve allergies, and improve digestion.
Studies have shown that reduced diversity of healthy gut bacteria during early years is associated with an increase in food allergies during school-age years. In addition, kefir made from whole milk helps absorb key nutrients such as Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin K is important because it helps your bones absorb calcium. It’s important to know that kefir contains a special trio: vitamin D, K, and calcium – all three crucial elements to support bone health. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is also a great source of all these nutrients, just in a different format for all the cheese lovers out there.
Prep Time: 2 mins Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 1 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 1 frozen banana (about 1 cup)
- 2 Medjool dates
- 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder (for color)
- Optional: Add collagen powder or vanilla protein powder if you want to boost the protein
- For the glass: coconut cream (from a can or use frozen CocoWhip)
Directions
- Add the ingredients to a blender in the order listed. Blend on low, then progress to high and blend until thick and creamy.
- In a glass, spread coconut cream (or CocoWhip) around the glass to create the cloud effect on the glass. Pour the blended smoothie from step 1 in the glass, then enjoy!
- Feel free to add any toppings you want, such as fresh banana slices, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, or whatever else you prefer.
