Today I want to share one of my favorite summery smoothies. It’s filled with beautifying vitamins, plenty of fiber, so much Vitamin C it’s crazy, and a whole lot of digestive enzyme magic. Basically it will make you sparkle inside and out.

The main star of this smoothie is fresh papaya; a fruit I had never eaten until I lived in Thailand. Because papaya trees continuously produce their fruit, it’s always papaya season in Thailand! In the states you can find fresh papaya most of the year too, especially in health food stores like Whole Foods.

My first time eating fresh papaya, like all other exotic fruit tastings in Thailand, happened at the night market. Here where tastes, flavors, and smells jumbled together in a cacophony of foodie paradise, I could always find folding tables filled with the most unusual and bizarre fruits and vegetables. One night, I settled on purchasing half a cut papaya and went right about my tasting experience. Using a spoon and scooping the meaty orange flesh right from the half, I munched away and became mesmerized by the delicious taste of papaya. I had never eaten a fruit so musky, soft, buttery, creamy, and mouthwateringly sweet. It was amazing! Then I tried to eat a seed and I nearly threw up.

Anyways. Papayas are delicious, their seeds, although edible and enjoyed by some, taste like a bitter and spicy black pepper kernels. The fruit itself, however, is fantastic and is a rich source of skin beautifying antioxidants such as carotenoids, Vitamin C, and flavonoids. Vitamin C aids in the production of collagen while carotenoids and flavonoids protect your skin from free radical damage. Papayas also contain the digestive enzyme papain, which is similar to the bromelain enzyme found in pineapple. Papain and bromelain are known to treat sports injuries, inflammation, muscle relaxation, and pain. So, papain plus all the fiber found in papayas make the fruit one excellent way to support your digestive health.

All the other goodies found in oranges, carrots, raspberries, and oats make this smoothie a vitamin, fiber, and antioxidant powerhouse for sparkling beauty inside and out. Let’s get smoothie making/sparkly!

Sunrise Smoothie

Makes 3 servings

2 cups papaya, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 orange, peeled
Big handful raspberries
½ cup rolled oats
2 cups unsweetened almond milk

Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!