I love the Holidays! I do, really! But I will be the first to admit, no matter how hard I try, I still have my moments of exhaustion and stress. It’s my own doing. And I’m learning to say NO more and slow down. My body is the first to tell me to do so.
If you’re like me, you carry stress in your gut. If you’re like me, your gut lining may take a beating and need some TLC. This means I need to focus on eating NOURISHINGÂ HEALING foods, yoga, and easing back on intense exercise. These are KEY to helping the body manage acute stress.
If you’re like my husband (aka the Kiwi), his stress comes from big career decisions while still in the middle of training for an Ironman. WHOA! That’s a lot of physical stress!
Either way, stress is stress. Mental or physical. And FOOD can help heal and repair when the body starts to break down. The rest is up to you to take ACTION and slow down. AM i right? YES!
Two of my favorite foods for gut health and coconut and cranberries. You can read up on why I love Coconut MCT oil Here, so let’s focus on the other… CRANBERRIES!
Unsweetened Cranberries rank right up there with berries when it comes to antioxidant content! Antioxidants are essential to for combating the free radicals that can damage our DNA.  Free radicals attack the body when it is ….. STRESSED (physical or emotional).
Raw Cranberries also provide you with an array of nutrients, including digestion-aiding enzymes. In fact, a new study has been linked cranberries to helping prevent attachment of bacteria to the stomach lining, similar to what it does for the urinary tract. This is good news for those who are prone to stomach ulcers. Source.
Okay, so we’ve talked about cranberries, and coconut. Now let’s talk about this smoothie recipe and what else I add to it to make it good for the gut.
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Soothing Coconut Cranberry Smoothie
- Total Time: 5 min
Description
Soothing Coconut Cranberry Smoothie {For Gut Health}
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen unsweetened cranberries
- 1 cup almond or coconut milk
- ½ banana (Optional)
- 1 tbsp MCT Coconut oil
- 1 Scoop Vanilla Vegan or Grass fed Whey Protein
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- Dash of cinnamon
Instructions
- Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
- See link below for My Mix Protein info!
Notes
If you are unable to consume protein powder (for dietary purposes), then sub in coconut yogurt or kefir to get in probiotics.
Recipe By Lindsay @ Cotter Crunch
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Category: smoothie
- Cuisine: smoothie
You’ve got your coconut, you’ve got your cranberries, now let’s about how to get in more probiotics, enzymes, and protein!
This is where  MyMix come into play! I really enjoy this product and what the company is about. They really do TAILOR to your dietary needs. Basically, you create your own nutrition supplement (pre or post workout).
I created two custom nutrition mix powders with specific supplements and allergy friendly combos that we need each day. One is vegan (with hemp and probotics) the other is more paleo friendly with grass fed 100% whey protein, a B vitamin complex for energy, a digestive enzyme and L-Glutamine (to help absorb our nutrients more). Both great for muscle repair GUT health. I like to alternate plant/animal protein so that the body get’s a variety of nutrients.
If you’re interested in trying out my personal COTTER CREATION mixes, check out these links below. It will take you straight to the store. Use Code CCRUNCH10 for 10% off
- VEGAN HEMP Protein/ Sugar Free Chocolate/Greens blend/ B Complex/ Probiotic
- VEGAN HEMP/Sugar Free Coffee/Greens blend/B complex/Probiotic
- WHEY Stevia Sweetened Vanilla /Digestive Enzyme/L-Glutamine
Now go blend this and stay stress free! 😉
Disclaimer: My Mix allowed me to create my personal protein mixes free of charge. We love them! Yes, that is our honest opinion. Always!
What’s your go to HEALING food?
Do you ever use unsweetened cranberries in more than a sauce? If not, it’s time to start!
Cheers,
LC
I had no idea that cranberries were good for gut health? I’m definitely going to start incorporating them into my morning smoothie!!
let me know whatcha think emily!
oh I feel you on the stress level! My body now gabe me the flu to force me to rest.
I love tho red look of this smoothie! I never tried raw cranberries, need to start that.
i know you’ll love this! and feel better friend
I love it when you do gut healing recipes 🙂
This looks great and I love that it is festive too 🙂
and i know you love a good smoothie! 😉
My experience with cranberry stops with cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving so in my mind I don’t like it. I am thinking I need to give this a try!
haha let me know watcha think
This sounds so delish! I love cranberries! I have a great vegan muffin recipe that uses fresh or frozen cranberries, and I love their burst of flavour 🙂
Sounds delicious. I love cranberries– but hate how much sugar is added to the dried ones. I am going to have to throw some in my smoothie this weekend!
What are the protein powders sweetened with? Both sound amazing!
me too! i’m not a fan of sugary fruit anyway. Too much for me.
I can’t even believe how delicious that looks and sounds. WANT!
Mum would always say cranberries were really good for stress relief and she’d cook it with rice lol! Love the idea in a tart smoothie!
your mum is GOLDEN! 😉
I love the color! And I think my gut could use this after my time away..
Yum yum and yuuum! I love cranberries and I love smoothies 🙂 Getting my gut off track….ahem…..is the worst feeling. I love to use fresh dark cherries in my smoothies 🙂
oh i love cherries too!
Definitely saving this smoothie recipe for later! It sounds so refreshing! Even in December 🙂
My digestive tract seems to be operating just fine, but then again I carry my stress in different places. I’ve also been making a conscious effort to slow down.
Even though my gut is good, I still want this smoothie and I have everything to make it, except the protein powder. I could just skip that bit right?
P.S. Love the color.
Ha. My post today was about cranberries too, great minds.
I love that you used fresh (frozen) cranberries in this! I feel like poor little cranberries get no love because of how tart they are, but mixed with the right things? They’re delicious. And so festive 🙂
I love cranberry juice so I’m betting I’ll love this. It’s time to get a little more adventurous
I love cranberries but I’m the only one in the house who does – so glad to have another recipe to enjoy them!
I am a cranberry fanatic– by far my favorite holiday flavor– I love tangy! Sounds so good!
Sounds yummy! Love everything cranberry this time of year!
I don’t think that I’ve ever really made anything with cranberries! New project? This looks delicious.
This sounds so cool! I can’t wait to try out myMix!
I have and actually really like the tartness. Even when I make this sauce it has very little sugar and I LOVE that…Tangy tastiness…How’s that for you corny Cotter?
I missed that James added an Ironman to his calendar. Where is he racing?
And love the sound of this smoothie!!!
Ooh, looks good! I’m going to try this! I need some different smoothie ideas.
Oooh I have frozen cranberries in my freezer now!! This is a great idea for a smoothie! Never thought about making one with cranberries. they’re usually strictly for baking over here
I feel you… my body is started to scream at me. Definitely taking a little R&R this week since I have company. We are going to my gym Saturday – might call for a recovery smoothie!!! Or balls.
Cranberry greek smoothie is my favorite of all the smoothie recipes I’ve made. So I actually use them more in smoothies than sauces.
Oh, I am making this today!
Looks wonderful! We all have to remember to breathe this time of year. Will have to re-create this smoothie. Have a great day!
Cranberries are a powerhouse! Love the idea of combining them with coconut–yum. Here’s to a stress-less holiday season!
So, I knew about how beneficial cranberries were to the urinary tract but I had no idea they were so good for gut health too and here I’ve been avoiding them this whole time! What was I thinking?!?! Thanks lady!
i know, right?! same here!
Love this smoothie! I so need it right now too- I have been so stressed that my body is just done by the end of the day. I really want to try out your protein powder too! I had no idea you made your own 🙂
you and me both. It needs vacation. And yes! check out the protein mix. You can create your own!
STRESS!!!! I need that drink!!!! YUM!
LOVE the idea of the MyMix- how cool is that!!!!!
you and me both! xxoo
I’ve used dried cranberries which probably had added sugar. Boo. And you forgot to add how festive cranberries are this time of year!
oh so festive! 😉 now go buy some real cranberries
Love the colour of that smoothie!
I used cranberries the other day to make a chutney, which I guess is sort of like a sauce, but in my head it’s different 😉
Ohh I wonder if the cranberry would mask the coconut? I can’t get into coconut!
try it with just vanilla almond milk!
Gorgeous pics!!!!
I actually randomly made cranberry sauce last night–tottttally love cranberries now!!
I feel like that I will really need this about two days before Christmas when I have sampled every single cookie and every single cocktail I plan on making. My gut will hate me for approximately 100 years afterward.
(Holy run-on, Batman!)
I’ve never thought to try cranberries is a smoothie! Sounds so good!
Cranberry smoothie. Yum! I’m a time to start friend.
Mmmm, Cranberries and Coconut 🙂
Cotter Protein..what a cool concept. Oh, and this flavor combo is on point!!
oh it IS TIME TO START!!!
I put fresh unsweetened cranberries in just about everything! From salads to sides to my morning oats. Or I make a quick sauce in the microwave with a little water and maple syrup then spread that on whatever my little heart desires!
Only used cranberries for sauce and baking bread. Must try them in a smoothie!
The gut definitely is the body’s second brain. Here’s to being as stress-free as possible for the best HEALTH possible.
That smoothie is delicious, nourishing, and gorgeous!
Ooooh yummy! This would be soothing for the gut. Mine has been playing nice the last few months, but with other things going wrong, that is one part of my running that I am glad is okay! Thanks for being the queen of looking after us….just make sure you take some time to look after you too 🙂
Yum! Love that you always provide a delicious recipe AND nutrition facts. 🙂 Can’t wait to try it.
Nope, never used them in anything other than a sauce actually. This sounds pretty fantastic though. As always, thank you for your creations!
kinda summerish.. kinda fallish, yes?
I never thought to combine those two flavours together. I’m sure it’s tasty…and soothing! 🙂
<3 you. You soothe me!
“The rest is up to you to take ACTION and slow down.” YES you’re right! I love cranberries and coconut so going to need to try this combination out asap. Ditto my friend on feeling stress in the gut, for me it’s one of the first ‘symptoms’ I notice. Checking that protein out… now…
i’m still working on it too! haha. And check out the protein, i think you’d like making your own blend for sure!
Speaking of gut health, I need to reorder some MCT oil 🙂
When I’m stressed I can’t digest well. I also think I may have low hydrochloric acid, but I’m not too sure what to do about it.
do you take HCL capsules? I always do. But also, getting in good prebiotics will help!
Looks yummy! I’ve only used cranberries for sauce, so should be interesting!
let me know if you try it!