I am usually out the door heading to work first thing in the morning. Needing sustenance, grabbing a banana, or downing a yogurt has been sufficient, but this year I decided to spruce it up. For Christmas I splurged on a gift for myself, a Nutribullet Pro 1000, a “compact, powerhouse blender to make superfood smoothies.” My son, Francis, in California, had purchased one for his toddler son who is very picky about what he eats. Thinking he is drinking a milkshake from McDonald’s, (because it is always served in a McDonald’s cup,) the youngster scoffs it down and asks for more. I LOVE McDonald’s milkshakes. What could be easier?

Naïve in the way of making smoothies, I had to do some research on exactly what to add to make it healthy. Non-fat, non-sugar added yogurt is a possible major ingredient, which is a good use for the non-fat, no sugar added Greek yogurt Hubby bought for me at Aldi’s which still sits in the refrigerator because I would not eat it with a ten-foot pole. Putting it in the drink will use it up and the added fruits will add the sweetness needed to make it tolerable.

Ah, fruits... If I were to believe the hype, the benefits of adding fruit would improve my health with the possibility I could live to be 100 years old. Take the luscious looking pineapple for instance. If used frozen, it adds delightful frozen slushiness to the smoothie, as well as vitamins and minerals touted to shorten viral and bacterial infections, especially sinus infections, strengthen bones, prevent cancer and chest pain, prevent blood clots, eliminate eye floaters and gout, relieve muscle soreness and diarrhea, improve arthritis, and help with fertility, (the only medical condition for which I no longer need help.)

I could also throw an orange in the smoothie. Oranges are high in vitamin C, which will help with my immune system and keep me healthy. It reportedly will keep my cells from getting damaged, help my body make collagen so my skin will be smooth and wrinkle free, make it easier to absorb iron so I do not get anemic, slow the advance of macular degeneration (a leading cause of vision loss), slow down the inflammation associated with diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and cancer, lower the stress hormone cortisol and lower my blood pressure. What’s not to like?

Although I have never been a big cranberry fan unless it is jellied on a plate at Thanksgiving, it is called a superfood with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. It is also credited with protecting against liver disease, lowering blood pressure, improving eyesight, improving cardiovascular health and lessening the risk of a urinary tract infection. Because I regularly eat meat, dairy and sugar which can enhance bad bacteria in my digestive system, cranberries can put good bacteria back in and reduce the acids that have been linked to colon and gastrointestinal cancers.

Papaya boasts two potent enzymes to fight inflammation, asthma and arthritis. Strawberries reportedly provide the same benefits, but also have been shown to be a defense against a variety of cancers. Throwing peaches in a smoothie is said to prevent heart disease as well as cancer. Although using an avocado might seem strange, its major benefit is that it fights against hunger, which would be a huge benefit for me because I always seem to be hungry!

Perhaps by partaking of the above-mentioned fruits in a smoothie every day I can live to a ripe, old age, without the ravages of cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. However, this would be spoiled if I were to develop Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia to limit the quality of that life. To remedy this, I will have to throw in an ample supply of blueberries, a serious brain food that is supposed to prevent mental decline.

I cannot wait to start using my blender!