Golden Pineapple Smoothie

This recipe is loosely inspired by golden milk. We’re going to take a coconut milk blend and some warm spices, then blend them with some sweet frozen pineapple for a beautiful and delicious beverage. It’s a dump and go kind of recipe that only requires a handful of thoughtful ingredients and a blender. So, you can’t beat it when something we make is simple, delicious, and beneficial to us!

Let’s start with talking about our milk choice for this smoothie. I love coconut milk and had almost primarily switched to using lite coconut milk in my smoothies. However, I’ve recently learned that coconut milk is extremely high in saturated fat. And ya girl has high cholesterol with elevated LDL’s, so guess who was unknowingly making it worse with all the coconut milk? It’s a real bummer, actually. Especially because coconut milk is the perfect flavor for this smoothie. But, I have a compromise! I found a toasted coconut flavored almond milk blend from Califia Farms that works as a perfect substitute. So, if your body can handle light coconut milk, use that. If not, I totally recommend this almond milk blend alternative.

We’re going to add the milk to a blender with some frozen pineapple and some warm spices. Since this smoothie started as a way for me to get some anti-inflammatory properties into my body, we’re going to use some cinnamon, some ginger, some turmeric, and some black pepper. Yes, black pepper.

Are we going to make this a pineapple and pepper smoothie? Heck no. We just need a pinch of pepper to get the most out of our turmeric. There’s a specific and scientific explanation for why turmeric needs black pepper. But the gist is that black pepper contains a compound which helps increase the rate that turmeric is absorbed by the body. And the more our body absorbs, the more benefits our body receives.

That’s really all there is to it. Hit the button, blend it up, and enjoy. This smoothie is sweet and tropical which is exactly what I love out of a smoothie. But, there’s also a slightly spicy warming element thanks to all those spices we threw into the mix. And the color…you can’t beat it. That gorgeous golden color is an instant mood booster from first glance.

Alright, everyone! You know I love a green smoothie, but this golden smoothie is quickly inching up to my top spot.

I hope you love this one as much as I do. Enjoy! And, let’s drink!