The best papaya, lime and coconut smoothie
A refreshing, hydrating and delicious smoothie made with papaya, banana, coconut and lime.
Believe it or not, I’m not a big smoothie girl. At least not in the winter months.
But after a workout that left me drenched, dehydrated and thirsty, I caught a craving for something cold, smooth and sweet.
Made with papaya, a little bit of banana, lime and coconut, this smoothie hits all the notes: cool, refreshing, hydrating and absolutely delicious.
Here’s everything I love about it (and why you’re going to love it too).
Healthwise…
There’s a lot going on for a smoothie with just 4 ingredients! So let’s get started…
Papaya is incredible for you, but especially first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. It contains a powerful enzyme called “papain”, which is often found in supplements because of how effective it is for healthy digestion and helping with an upset stomach. Papaya also has a high water and fiber content, which helps keep you hydrated and keep things moving, if you know what I mean (if you don’t, I’m talking about poop).
Lime is another fruit that does a body good. It’s loaded with antioxidants believed to help reduce inflammation and prevent certain chronic diseases. It’s also very high in vitamin C, which can help protect you from or fight against infection and speed up your body’s healing process.
You can use coconut meat or water in this, depending on your preference (both will taste delicious). If you practice food combining, coconut water is the way to go as it will pair well with fruit and won’t disrupt digestion. If you want to keep the fruit sugars low, go ahead and use coconut meat, instead of coconut water ; it’s a great source of MCTs and healthy fats and insoluble fiber (the kind that can help improve gastrointestinal issues and promote good gut health).
For a fruit smoothie, it’s quite low in sugar (only 10 grams). Obviously fruit sugars are not harmful to your health like refined sugars are, but some may wish to be mindful of consuming too many fruit sugars if weight loss or management is a concern.
It’s made using only real, whole foods and absolutely zero crap whatsoever!
A couple of helpful tips…
Because no one like to put their time and energy into making something only to have it turn out like sh*t (or make you feel it).
At least one ingredient needs to be frozen in order to achieve the creamy texture (ice alone won’t do it, sorry). I’ve tried freezing both papaya and banana, though prefer frozen banana for smoothies in general.
I love sweet things but like to limit my sugar intake. To make this as sweet as possible, without having to add in more fruit, opt for an extra ripe banana. The browner the skin, the better. Ripe bananas are super sweet and much easier to digest.
With every recipe I create and share, I aim to optimize health and digestion. And with that in mind, I recommend enjoying this smoothie in the morning on an empty stomach for optimal digestion and to help you avoid bloating or discomfort.
Keep scrolling for the full recipe below. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Papaya, lime and coconut smoothie
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 15 seconds | Yields: 1-2 servings
Ingredients:
1/2 a papaya, seeds and skin removed
1/4 of a frozen banana, sliced
1 lime, juiced
1 pckg of frozen coconut meat (This brand is my favorite)
1 cup of filtered water or coconut water (or 1/2 a cup each)
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and puree until completely smooth.
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