The first time I had a lassi, a traditional Indian drink, I was actually in Belize. A small shack run by an Indian family offered virtually every type of lassi imaginable. That sticky afternoon, I opted for a mango lassi, unaware of how my selection was about to open up an entirely new world of flavor combinations for me. Ever since that fateful afternoon a couple of years ago, I have been exploring the sweet and refreshing Indian beverage in my own kitchen.

Following my numerous experiments, I finally nailed down my favorite version yet: The Papaya Lassi. This particular version is packed with nutritional benefits, is low in sugar, and overflows with flavor. What is drool-worthy about this version is that it can help control your diabetes as well!

Turmeric and Diabetes

Turmeric is by far one of my favorite spices. It is a killer anti-inflammatory that doesn’t discriminate between inflammation of the joints, brain, blood vessels, or eyes. Diabetes is a disease that causes inflammation throughout the body, slowly leading to heart disease, poor circulation, and cognitive decline. A natural anti-inflammatory—a powerful one, at that—such as turmeric can help control inflammation so that diabetes doesn’t ruin you from the inside out.

The anti-inflammatory properties aren’t the most impressive part of turmeric, though. One study published in Biochemistry and Biophysical Research Communications reported that turmeric could help reverse type 2 diabetes. In fact, turmeric was 400 times more effective than metformin, a popular diabetes drug that helps improve insulin sensitivity. Curcumin, the active component in turmeric, has been found to reduce glycemia and hyperlipidemia.

Papaya and Diabetes

Papaya is a delicious tropical fruit that, when compared to other fruits, has a relatively low glycemic index. More than that, though, is that it offers nutrients that protect against diabetes-related heart disease. Thanks to the antioxidants and vitamins C and A, this fruit works to protect against the damaging effects of diabetes in the heart.

All of these same properties combined with the protein-digesting enzymes papain and chymopapain make papaya a great anti-inflammatory fruit as well. Many people living with diseases related to inflammation, such as diabetes, benefit from eating papaya as it can help reduce the secondary symptoms of inflammation. Much like turmeric, papaya works in all areas of the body, supporting the immune system as a whole.

The Papaya Lassi Recipe

You don’t have to travel all the way to Belize or India to try this delicious drink. Grab these ingredients during your next shopping trip and mix yourself up a delicious anti-diabetes lassi!

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups ripe papaya
• ½ – ¾ cup sugar-free plain yogurt
• 1 lime, juiced
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1-2 teaspoons raw honey (optional)
• Ice cubes

Directions

Combine everything into a powerful blender. Blend until smooth. Add water if you would like a thinner lassi, though I find this combination absolutely perfect.

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