If you read my earlier post, you’ll know I was thrilled to discover Asian pears were a magic remedy to reduce my pregnancy leg swelling. Armed with that knowledge, I used the following recipes to food prep for an upcoming labor after running across the Asian pears for a deal at Cosco.

I grabbed my glass Mason jars, my handy Blendtec blender, and got to work freezing the following smoothies to save and drink after C-section healing. Click the link below to jump to a recipe:

1. Hydrating Cucumber & Asian Pear Smoothie
2. Anti-Inflammatory Pineapple & Asian Pear Smoothie
3. Antioxidant Berry & Asian Pear Smoothie
4. Creamy Avocado & Asian Pear Smoothie
5. Spiced Turmeric & Asian Pear Smoothie
   

When needed, I just pull the smoothie out of the freezer the night before and place it in the fridge for consumption the next day.

Depending on what ingredients you might have on hand, below are a variety of tasty and healthy Asian pear smoothie recipes. They are tailored with specific ingredients to reduce swelling and boost overall wellness!

Side note: The recipes suggest peeling the pears but in our family we eat the peels, and because my blender can handle it, you’ll notice none of my pears are peeled in photos.

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1. Hydrating Asian Pear & Cucumber Smoothie

A refreshing smoothie with anti-inflammatory and hydrating benefits that also fights nausea.

Ingredients:

• 1 Asian pear (peeled, cored, and chopped)
• Apple (optional)
• ½ cucumber (peeled and sliced)
• ½ cup coconut water or coconut milk, or just plain water
• Juice of ½ lime, lemon, and/or clementine
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (grated)
• Handful of ice if serving fresh

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and serve immediately or freeze in Mason jar.

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2. Anti-Inflammatory Asian Pear & Pineapple Smoothie

Packed with bromelain (from pineapple) to reduce swelling.

Ingredients:

• 1 Asian pear (peeled, cored, and chopped)
• ½ cup fresh pineapple chunks (can also use kiwi or mango for bromelain substitute)
• 1 cup spinach or kale
• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk (or water)
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Garnish with a few chia seeds on top and enjoy!

I also added dates for an extra bit of sweetness. I think next time I might add cherries, too, if on hand!

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3. Antioxidant Asian Pear & Berry Smoothie

Rich in antioxidants to fight inflammation. My son says “this one tastes like a popsicle!”

Ingredients:

• 1 Asian pear (peeled, cored, and chopped)
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
• 1 banana (for creaminess)
• 1 cup unsweetened oat milk (or milk of choice)
• 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed (or small handful of walnuts)

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth, then pour and serve, or freeze.

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4. Creamy Asian Pear & Avocado Smoothie

Great for potassium and healthy fats to reduce fluid retention.

Ingredients:

• 1 Asian pear (peeled, cored, and chopped)
• 1 avocado
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt for dairy-free)
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 teaspoon matcha powder (optional, for added antioxidants, but avoid if pregnant. If pregnant, try adding 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder with honey, dash of cinnamon, berries and/or dates for a chocolaty alternative!)
• Large handful of walnuts
• Additional water until you reach your desired consistency (I added 1 cup)

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients until creamy.
2. Serve chilled and garnish with a sprinkle of matcha or chia seeds.

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5. Spiced Asian Pear & Turmeric Smoothie

Anti-inflammatory and comforting with warming spices.

Ingredients:

• 1 Asian pear (peeled, cored, and chopped)
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon raw honey or maple syrup
• ½ inch fresh ginger (grated)
• Handful of ice or pour of water

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Serve with a dash of cinnamon on top.

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These recipes are easy to customize—feel free to adjust sweetness, add protein powder, or include other superfoods like nuts, veggies and seeds. You might also consider ingredient swaps from my list of foods to reduce inflammation on my prior post!

Additional Resources 

You might also be interested in:

• Easy and Versatile Aioli Recipe: ‘Marie’s Joy Mayo’… homemade in a blender!
• Grammy’s ‘Waldorf Icing’: The Best Red Velvet Cake Icing
• How to Reduce Swelling in Legs and Ankles
• A Playscape Plant: Cranberry Fliederfarben Pole Bean
• 5 Best Cincinnati Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals