Rather than buy lab derived probiotics/prebiotics, vitamin pills that are often synthetic or missing other symbiotic nutrients, or enzymes in a bottle, we use our food to get our nutrients that are necessary for optimal health. An example of this is our daily smoothie. We make cultured buttermilk the old-fashioned way and add valuable food ingredients to this. We add fruits that we have grown beyond organic standards during the growing season and froze, or purchased locally or in bulk. We select ingredients based upon our needs and what makes the smoothie taste good. Below is a list of our ingredients and the reason we put these in there. Good quality, organic, frozen fruit can be rather pricey, but if you can grow your own or find a good pick your own farm during the growing season, and then freeze your fruit for the winter, this could save a lot of money. I have always found that our investments in freezers, even though they cost to run, pay for themselves very quickly! You would also know exactly what you are getting! Here are the ingredients we enjoy adding to our smoothie.

Ceylon Cinnamon: There have been many studies done on Ceylon cinnamon (true cinnamon) and the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants have been shown to provide great health benefits. This type of cinnamon is a good source of vitamin k, potassium, vitamin A, Zinc, magnesium, and cinnamaldehyde (which may make it good for inflammation). According to WebMD “Studies show that regularly consuming cinnamon can help your body’s natural response to insulin. This can help your body moderate its blood sugar levels more effectively. It also states “All types of cinnamon contain a compound known as coumarin, which is known to be harmful in large amounts. Ceylon cinnamon has much less coumarin than cassia cinnamon.”

Avocados: They are a great source of vitamins K, E, C, and B6. They are also a good source of riboflavin, folate, magnesium, potassium, beta carotene, lutein, and omega three fatty acids, and more. These fats help us to feel full longer and slow the breakdown of carbohydrates which keeps blood sugar levels more even.

Cultured Buttermilk: “Ferments boost the immune system, protect against disease, and aid digestion,” According to the Weston Price Foundation. When milk is fermented both vitamin B and vitamin C content of the milk will increase and the lactose will be broken down. Casein, one of the hardest proteins to digest will be predigested in the fermentation process. You can find our recipe here.

Organic Strawberries: They are a great source of vitamin C and manganese. They also contain some folate and potassium, and they are high in antioxidants. Even more important, they add excellent flavor to the smoothie. We grow these in our garden and freeze enough to get us through the year.

Organic Raspberries: These are so easy to grow and they contain a lot of nutrition with little natural sugar. They are a good source of potassium, omega 3 fatty acids, manganese, B vitamins and fiber.

Organic Aronia Berries: We try to eat as much native/open pollinated foods as possible so these are a great option for us. I don’t like to eat these fresh (but our kids love them), so I like to add these to our smoothies. Aronia berries are native to our area, are considered to be one of the richest sources of plant antioxidants, and are said to have a lot of health benefits. We source these from a local farm called Homestead Aronia outside of Stromsburg NE.

Acerola Powder:  Acerola Powder is one of our favorite dried fruits for its high antioxidant and Vitamin C levels. We used to use a highly recommended brand of this, until we discovered that it contained maltodextrin. We find this one here on our website to be more effective, and it doesn’t take near as much. Watch out for acerola powders that contain large amounts of unnatural sugar! It doesn’t have the best flavor so that is why it’s a great addition to our smoothie (you don’t taste it).

Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil: My favorite reason to use coconut oil is that it takes more energy to oxidize this fat than the energy it provides. In other words, coconut oil can help a person to lose weight. It’s a great source of lauric acid and monolaurin which are great for boosting the immune system. It’s been found to be antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, and it’s a good source of antioxidants. There have been many studies on coconut oil and I highly recommend doing a little research on this oil.

Raw Honey: Locally sourced honey from treatment free bees can be a great way to boost the immune system, and is a great source of calcium, magnesium, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc. A local person in our community had great success using raw local honey to decrease allergies during the growing season. Research shows that “antioxidant compounds in raw honey called polyphenols have anti-inflammatory effects that could be beneficial in protecting against a number of conditions associated with oxidative stress.

The raw version of honey can also contain bee pollen and bee propolis, which may have added benefits. A 2017 suggested that raw honey may have potential protective effects for the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, and even has potential in cancer treatment” according to Healthline website.

Organic Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is considered a super food and is rich in potassium and calcium, along with other trace minerals like magnesium, manganese, copper, and phosphorous. Maple products also contain trace amounts of malic and citric acids, as well as some amino acids. Maple syrup has a glycemic index of about 54 and table sugar is around 65. This means that maple syrup will raise blood sugar more slowly than white sugar. Maple syrup is also slightly less than honey (another great natural sweetener)! Syrup that is not produced organically can have traces of formaldehyde.