Strawberry Mango Smoothie

Smoothies are, without a doubt, the crown jewel of beverages, and social media has had a rather significant role to play in bolstering its popularity. Lifestyle magazines and social media influencers vouch for this drink, and understandably so. A hybrid between a beverage, breakfast and dessert, Smoothies are not only convenient to make and drink, but also are lip-smackingly delicious. Furthermore, since Smoothies have fruits and milk as their base, and often skip artificial sweeteners like sugar or maple syrup, they are a boon for fitness enthusiasts.

Smoothies are highly versatile; they can be made with almost all fruits, raw vegetables and leafy greens, nuts and dried fruits, and milk. And for the lactose intolerant, Smoothies can also be made with other kinds of lactose-free milk, such as soya milk, cashew milk, almond milk and oat milk. But the one flavour combination that is an instant crowdpleaser is Strawberry Mango Smoothie.

Making Smoothies is incredibly uncomplicated, as long as one has a blender at hand. For this particular smoothie, equal quantities of strawberries and mangoes and chopped and blended together with milk. The mixture can be thickened with bananas or oats. On occasions, carrots can also be snuck in to make the drink even healthier.

What makes strawberries a popular smoothie fruit is that it’s low in calories and rich in antioxidants, iodine, potassium and Vitamin C. Antioxidants are proven to prevent heart-related diseases, while iodine and potassium are responsible to ensure the nervous system and the brain function smoothly. Vitamin C increases overall immunity and may also have properties that prevent eye infections. A predominantly temperate climate fruit, strawberries are harvested between November and February in the country. The variety cultivated in India is adapted to grow in subtropical regions and is hoarded in special storage facilities that retain the fruit’s freshness for consumption even during other seasons.

In fact, preserving strawberries is key to making this Smoothie, since mango is a tropical fruit. The juicy, sticky, achingly sweet mangoes are the elixir of life in the sweltering, oppressive Indian summers. But beyond its delicious taste, the king of fruits is also an underrated superfood. Studies reveal that mangoes contain enzymes that facilitate digestion and also reduce cholesterol.