anti inflammatory cherry spinach smoothie

Pancake

Anti-Inflammatory Cherry-Spinach Smoothie

Drescription

This healthy smoothie is not only delicious—it also provides anti-inflammatory foods. It starts with a base of creamy gut-friendly kefir and includes cherries, which can lower the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein. Heart-healthy fats in avocado, almond butter and chia seeds deliver additional anti-inflammatory compounds, while spinach offers a mix of antioxidants that sweep up harmful free radicals. Fresh ginger adds zing, plus a compound called gingerol, which preliminary studies suggest may improve inflammatory markers of heart disease if consumed daily.

Ingredients

1 cup plain low-fat kefir
1 cup frozen cherries
½ cup baby spinach leaves
¼ cup mashed ripe avocado
1 tablespoon salted almond butter
1 (1/2 inch) piece peeled ginger
1 teaspoon chia seeds, plus more for garnish

Directions

Place kefir in a blender. Add cherries, spinach, avocado, almond butter, ginger and chia seeds; puree until smooth. Pour into a glass; garnish with more chia seeds, if desired.

Szechuan Tofu & Green Bean Stir Fry

This spicy vegetarian stir-fry is a great way to use green beans when they're bountiful and inexpensive at the supermarket. You can also try it with other vegetables, such as broccoli or peppers, just make sure to cut them into small pieces so that they cook quickly. Coating the tofu in cornstarch before you cook it gives it a light crust.