I feel like it’s a rarity when all the stars align and everything just happens perfectly. And when it does I’m so darn grateful.
To kick things off, I had a phenomenal appointment with my rheumatologist recently. First, she’s a runner. Plus, she’s super easy to talk to. We chatted about everything: running, my running-related injuries, my sugar addiction and how fantastic I’ve felt since giving up trying to avoid the sweet stuff, and she tested all my joints and said they all feel fantastic. Afterward, I unfortunately had to sit for 10 vials worth of blood work. That part was not awesome. After the blood work, I went for X-rays and I was lucky enough to have an X-ray tech who happened to be a competitive runner in her younger days. I left the office feeling empowered and well-cared for.
Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Smoothie
If you’ve been a Running on Happy reader for a little while, you’ll know that I’ve been making a conscious effort to really clean up my eating. I was very health-conscious before but after my diagnosis of arthritis I’ve stepped it up a notch. Yes, I’ve had slip-ups every now and again (ahem, Valentine’s Day) but for the most part I’ve been doing really well. I’ve been avoiding known inflammatories — namely sugar — and reaching for foods and beverages with known anti-inflammatory properties instead. Now that I’m in marathon training again, not only do I want to keep inflammation down as it pertains to arthritis, but I also want to keep it in check in all areas of my body.
One of my very favorite anti-inflammatory foods (and beverages) are cherries and tart cherry juice. Cherries are very easy to snack on and I add the cherry juice to almost all my smoothies. Some mornings, however, I want something with a little more oomph in the anti-inflammatory department.
I created a breakfast smoothie to take care of those extra little cravings — the sweet, the wanting to eat well, and the desire to keep inflammation at bay. It’s full of tart cherry juice, turmeric, kale, and blueberries so it definitely offers a big bang for your buck. Enjoy it with your avocado toast or some eggs!
Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Smoothie
makes one serving
Ingredients
- 1 banana OR 1/2 avocado, pitted and sliced
- 1/2 C kale, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 C frozen blueberries
- 1 C tart cherry juice
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a single-serve blender cup. Pulse until well blended. Sip and enjoy!
This simple recipe will start your day on the right foot. Plenty of energy, good fuel, and delicious ingredients to keep your inflammation down. It’s easy to make so you literally have no excuses but to fuel your body well. 🙂
Have a fantastic week!
xo
TALK TO ME!
What’s your favorite anti-inflammatory food?
Do you add turmeric to your meals or recipes?
