Cherry Blueberry Recovery Smoothie
By Coach Chris Newport, MS, RDN, LDN, CISSN, EP-C
Recovery drinks are everywhere on the market. But do they really support your health and performance?
First, let’s remember…
The purpose of recovery nutrition for The Fueling Edge®:
- Rehydrate with fluid and electrolytes (in this recipe from blueberries, tart cherry juice, and yogurt)
- Restore glycogen with carbs (same as #1)
- Repair muscle tissue with protein (in this recipe from yogurt and optional whey protein powder, both rich in leucine too)
- Revitalize immunity and health with good food choices and/or supplements (ALL the ingredients in this recipe do this!)
Recovery drinks are generally loaded with all kinds of sugar, from maltodextrin to fructose. While it’s important to restore glycogen with carbs (#2 on the list), recovery nutrition should also be about taking the opportunity to revitalize your health and immunity.
Real food works for recovery!
There’s not one ounce of research that points to sugar improving your health. But there’s tons of research looking at the health benefits of real foods, especially antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries and cherries for exercise recovery.
If you want to have longevity in your sport, or simply keep that body of yours running like a finely-tuned machine, you’ve got to give it quality fuel.
So when you’re ready to put down that jug of junk, try this Cherry Blueberry Recovery Smoothie instead. It tastes a heck of a lot better than that stuff in the package. It will satisfy all 4R’s of recovery nutrition for The Fueling Edge®.
Happy refueling!
Cherry Blueberry Recovery Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic vanilla yogurt regular or greek
- 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen
- 1.5 oz tart cherry juice concentrate
- 1 scoop protein powder optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the blender in the order listed and blend until smooth. Enjoy within 30 minutes post-workout or as a healthy, high protein breakfast.
