
Learn more about the health benefits of consuming tart cherries — one of nature’s superfoods, containing powerful amounts of antioxidants — and how to incorporate them into your diet with this very berry cherry protein smoothie recipe.
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I love a good smoothie. I’ve even deemed Saturdays as #smoothiesaturday to share yummy smoothie recipes with you all so that you too can take part in the goodness.
Improving Tart Cherries & Other Superfoods Improves Overall Health
What goodness am I talking about? When I started incorporating more fruits and vegetables into my diet, I started with green smoothies. They are easy to assemble, pack a lot of nutritional punch in one glass and the taste never gets boring with so many flavor combinations.
This is also when I started to notice health improvements including increased energy, clearer and brighter skin and greater clarity. As I started making smoothies almost daily, I got increasingly interested in the superfood add ins that could really take them up a notch.
While I’ve played with maca powder, spirulina, hemp seeds, chia seeds (the list could go on), there’s still one that I hadn’t tried yet – tart cherry juice concentrate. As I was browsing the Swanson Health Products website (my go to source for health foods I might not find in the store), I saw it and I knew that I just had to have it. Is it weird that I feel that way about foods? Probably.
Give Your Immunity a Boost with the Very Berry Cherry Protein Smoothie
This very berry cherry protein smoothie (try saying that 5 times!) is great to whip up when you want a little immunity boost and are feeling under the weather, need to replenish your muscles after exercising, or just want something that tastes amazing and just so happens to be insanely nutritious. Speaking of…
Nutritional Spotlight: Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate
As the name implies, tart cherries are often too sour to be consumed as a whole fruit, which is why it is often seen in the form of juice or juice concentrate. I like the thought of using the concentrate instead of the juice because you’re getting more bang for your buck by consuming a smaller amount, but reaping maximum benefits.
So just what are the health benefits of tart cherry juice? Tart cherries, aka nature’s superfood fruit, is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. They are also a rich source of phytonutrients, a disease fighting agent found in plant-based foods, and gets its deep red hue from a specific class called “anthocyanins”. These specific phytonutrients are known to fight against cancer, improve nerve function and support healthy circulation of the blood.
The anti-inflammatory nutrients found in tart cherry juice have sparked research studies as it relates to athletic performance. Studies show that those who regularly consume tart cherry juice experience less muscle-damaging symptoms of exercise including soreness, inflammation and even post-race pain.
Verry Berry Cherry Protein Smoothie
This very berry cherry protein smoothie is like a nutritional goldmine in a glass! It has bananas, berries, beets, tart cherry juice, spinach and hemp seeds (for a little extra protein power) that are all blended together with almond milk to make a deliciously sweet and creamy smoothie.
This very berry cherry protein smoothie is a great go-to breakfast in the morning (and can even be made ahead and stored in the fridge!) or a post-workout treat. Cheers!
Print


Very Berry Cherry Protein Smoothie
- Author: FitLiving Eats by Carly Paige
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: N/A
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 smoothie 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Learn more about the health benefits of consuming tart cherries — one of nature’s superfoods, containing powerful amounts of antioxidants — and how to incorporate them into your diet with this very berry cherry protein smoothie recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1 medium beet, peeled and cut into cubes
- Handful of spinach
- 3 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 4 tablespoons tart cherry juice concentrate
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use any kind of milk you might have on hand.
- If you would like a smoother texture, you can use steamed beets instead of raw.
- If you don’t have tart cherry concentrate, you can use ¾ cup almond milk and ¾ cup tart cherry juice.
- For a boost of protein, you can add 1 scoop unflavored or vanilla protein powder.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie
- Calories: 227
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 66mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: anti-inflamatory, berry smoothie, smoothie, superfood, tart cherry juice
If you want to give this recipe a try, but have a hard time finding tart cherry juice, check out Swanson Health Products!
*This post was sponsored by Swanson Health Products and I received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. You can read more about my policies, here.
The recipe is part of the Meatless Monday link up hosted by The Fit Foodie Mama and Running on Happy, as well as Meatless Monday hosted by Confessions of a Mother Runner and A Whisk and Two Wands.
102 Responses
Ohhhh this made me hungry! I also love making a smoothie for bfast in the morning and adding protein powder to it to keep me full until lunch time. I didnt know all of this about tart cherries and it looks so delicious i may have to pick some up today after work 🙂
Hope you love it! The hemp hearts in the recipe also give it a boost of protein. I’ve made this the night before and stuck it in the fridge in a mason jar. The next morning, give it a quick shake and it is delicious!
Lovely photos!! Great captures!
Thank you!
This looks really great I pinned it for later and can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Thanks for the pin love, Ivanna!
Cherries and berries and beets o my! Yes! A perfect anti-inflammatory delicious smoothie!
Yes, yes and yes! The combo is a winner 🙂
I like cherry stuff, as long as it isn’t to tart. This does look delicious.
Thanks, Candy! The berries and almond milk help balance out the tartness of the cherry juice. But it’s actually pretty sweet since it’s a concentrate 🙂
This looks delicious! I love the addition of spinach and beets in this! Pinning!
Thanks for the pin love, Julie!
Wow- this looks delicious and absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Thank you, Annmarie!
I’ve never tried tart cherry juice! I add spinach and kale to my smoothies lately 🙂
★★★★★
I love adding greens to my smoothie! I can never get enough.
love the addition of the cherry juice in there! Healthy and yummy
Thanks, Deborah!
Yum, yum, yum!! Your food pictures always look so bright and delicious. I’m not a huge cherry person but this actually look sooo good.
★★★★★
Thank you for the sweet compliment, Chelsea! I’m not a fan of traditional cherry flavor, but this is delicious!
This recipe looks yummy! I am obssessed with smoothies too!
Thanks, Shamira!
Yum!! I love smoothies and this looks right up my alley. I’ll definitely be looking into making these. I think smoothies are my ticket to being more healthy since I actually really love them 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
That’s great, Hannah! Smoothies have been a game changer in our household.
fantastic color! Pinning.
★★★★★
Thanks for the pin love, Linda!
The colour of the smoothie itself is doing all the work for it! Looks delicious! 🙂
Most definitely!
I love finding new smoothie recipes and this one look absolutely delicious!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes