Maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet is crucial for peak athletic performance. Spices such as turmeric and black pepper are thought to work in tandem (no pun intended) to reduce inflammation—a concern for cyclists.
Tip
Because mango adds wonderful sweetness to this smoothie, you may wish to omit the honey or maple syrup to substantially reduce the total amount of sugars. Frozen mango cubes make a delicious dessert on their own, straight from the freezer, tasting a lot like sorbet.
Ingredients
1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut water, plus more to thin
1 Tbsp (15 mL) lime juice
1 Tbsp (15 mL) honey or maple syrup
1 cup (250 mL) frozen mango cubes
2 Tbsp (30 mL) hempseeds
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground turmeric
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground black pepper
Pinch of salt
2 ice cubes
1 tsp (5 mL) chia seeds (optional)
Directions
In high-speed blender, add all ingredients except chia seeds, if using, in order listed. Blend until smooth, thinning with additional coconut water as needed. Quickly pulse in chia seeds, leaving some texture. Pour into glass, chill for 10 minutes, stir, and serve.
