Pumpkin Superfood Green Smoothie Recipe

Although pumpkins are delicious to juice, we often don’t have time to juice a pumpkin or we desire a superfood-rich green smoothie. Moreover, some nutrients are more bioavailable – that is, the body is capable of absorbing the nutrients – in raw juice form where as others are more available in cooked form.

The prestigious Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health notes: “Carotenoids are best absorbed with fat in a meal. Chopping, puréeing, and cooking carotenoid-containing vegetables in oil generally increases the bioavailability of the carotenoids they contain.”

Canned pumpkin has been puréed and cooked and thus it’s carotenoids are highly bioavailable. Indeed, one serving of canned pumpkin has more alpha-carotene than carrot juice. Canned pumpkin also has nearly as much beta-carotene as the all-might carrot. Canned pumpkin is also rich in beta-cryptoxanthins. The indispensable World’s Healthiest Food’s Digest notes that beta-cryptoxanthins help prevent arthritis and joint inflammation.

Now that you know the importance of pumpkin, head to the grocery store to buy a few cans. As its Halloween, there are a lot of good deals to be had. I just ordered a case of the stuff. (Note: You don’t want to accidentally buy “pumpkin pie”mix, as that is loaded with sugar. Buy plain canned pumpkin.)

Pumpkin Green Superfood Smoothie

• 1 can pumpkin,
• 1/2 cup of greens (spinach works best) or 1 tablespoon chlorella (this is a good brand),
• 2 scoops vanilla protein of your choice,
• 1 frozen banana (adds creaminess),
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, coconut flakes, cocoa, or even butter (to aid in absorption).

Blend it all together until it’s rich and creamy.

If you want to get fancy, follow the can’s recipe for pumpkin pie. Add all of the spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, all spice, and cloves) while omitting the sugar. Add vanilla protein and you will think you’re eating dessert.

Pumpkin Pie Superfood Smoothie

• 1 can pumpkin,
• 1 frozen banana (adds creaminess),
• 1/2 cup of greens (spinach works best) or 1 tablespoon chlorella,
• 1-2 scoops of vanilla protein powder,
• 1-2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spices (this is a good all-in-one mix),
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, coconut flakes, cocoa, or even butter (to help with absorption).

Enjoy!