In the kitchen with Kelley: Sleepy time, pain-relieving smoothie

It’s probably quite safe to say that the smoothie is a health food trend that’s here to stay. And I think that’s a good thing… if for no other reason than convenience and versatility…

You can throw just about anything into a blender… fruit, vegetables, nuts, add-ins like protein powder and — in a matter of minutes — you’ve got a nutrient-dense breakfast or a post-workout meal to replenish spent muscle and energy.

Today’s recipe is a little different though. This is a sleepy time smoothie. Think about it… instead of giving-in to an unhealthy snack craving an hour or so before bedtime, you could reach for a tasty smoothie made specifically with ingredients to help you get better sleep — and better health down the road.

The tart cherry is a great natural sleep aid. I can personally attest to its effective, safe and non-addictive sleep-inducing properties. I used to have a terrible time drifting off to sleep and staying asleep. Drinking a little tart cherry juice in the evening has improved my sleep tremendously.

And if you have muscle soreness, you’ll really like this: Tart cherry juice is so effective at stopping inflammation without side effects that it’s every bit as good as over the counter pain medication.

There are even reports that the tart cherry’s inflammation-fighting properties make it a formidable weapon against arthritis.

For all these reasons, I’m not surprised that tart cherry juice has been called the miraculous juice that helps your body heal itself — that makes sense in many ways, especially considering that your body’s restorative processes occur when you’re asleep!

But not everyone enjoys the taste of tart cherry juice. So instead of drinking it straight, you can incorporate it into a delicious smoothie that serves two purposes: a healthier snack perfectly timed for after supper that helps you sleep like a baby.