Island Smoothie: Pineapple, Papaya and Orange

Pineapple, 1/2 cup

Papaya, 1/2 cup

Orange Juice, 1 cup

Agave, 1 Tablespoon

Why do I say "bottoms up" to this Island Smoothie?

This smoothie contains some amazing fruits, including pineapples. Pineapples are nutritionally packed members of the bromeliad family. This delightful tropical fruit is high in the enzyme bromelain and the antioxidant vitamin C, both of which play a major role in the body's healing process.

Papaya fruit is an excellent source of dietary fiber, folate, vitamin A, C and E. It also contains small amounts of calcium, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and niacin. Papaya is very rich in antioxidant nutrients, flavonoids and carotenes, very high in vitamin C and A, and low in calories and sodium.

Oranges are our last ingredient - they have long been known to be a rich source of healthy vitamin C, but now some California chemists have discovered that the fruits have some other nutritious chemicals, too. Oranges are rich in a compound called citrus limonoids, which have been proven to help fight a number of varieties of cancer, including that of the skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.