Kymythy’s Kitchen Nutrition: Summer in a Glass

Question: The sky is gray and the air is cold. I can’t afford a cruise to Bahamas; so how about a recipe to lift my spirits and remind me that summer will return!

Answer: Okay, but that cruise sounds pretty good too – can I come? In addition to the following recipe, you might consider using full-spectrum lighting in your home and workplace. These bulbs produce light waves that more closely resemble those of the sun. Without the sun’s light, some people can become unhappy or depressed. So, screw in some full-spectrum lighting, sip on the following smoothie, and imagine yourself basking on the cruise ship’s sun deck!

Tropical Treat

1 banana
1 cup pineapple
1 cup peeled papaya
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger
Coconut milk to taste

Cut fruit into chunks (use fruit from the freezer section if fresh isn’t available). Put the first four ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree; add coconut milk to desired consistency. Garnish with a sprinkle of shredded coconut.

Coconut milk is made from the expressed juice of grated coconut and water. One cup contains more than 5 grams of protein, along with important minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and zinc. The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut are easily digested and absorbed. They provide cells with a direct, efficient source of energy and may improve the body’s absorption of other nutrients. They also increase metabolism and may help with weight loss.

Coconut is also rich in lauric acid, a fatty acid that’s antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and good for the immune system. Coconut has also been used successfully in the treatment of skin and digestive disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, and hypothyroidism.