April 9, 2026, 2:35 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Nutrition expert Carolin Kotke shares her personal longevity smoothie recipe and explains why it’s not just one superfood that matters, but the right combination. Discover which four recipe components truly stabilize blood sugar and protect cells—and why many “healthy” smoothies are actually sugar traps.
FITBOOK editor Sophie Brünke met Carolin Kotke, nutrition coach and author, at Lidl’s Silvercrest event. The focus: A bright pink smoothie that Kotke calls an “absolute longevity smoothie”—essentially an effective anti-aging drink from your own kitchen.
Understanding Nutrition as the Key to Longevity
Longevity is trending. The internet is flooded with tips on how to stay healthy, fit, and productive into old age. There are uncomfortable tips like ice baths, but also tasty recipes. For Kotke, “Longevity isn’t something we start someday; it’s something we live every day. With every meal we eat, we decide not only how we feel today or tomorrow but also how we’ll feel in ten, 20, or 30 years. Nutrition is one of the few levers we have in our hands daily.”
Smoothies Can Quickly Become Sugar Traps
Sugar is a natural enemy of the longevity trend. A study published in 2024 showed that it increases biological age. And Kotke knows: “Many smoothies are really just liquid sugar. Especially those from the supermarket, when they’re heavily processed and preserved, contain hardly any nutrients. They look healthy but are mostly fruit and send blood sugar on a roller coaster. A healthy smoothie should stabilize you, not throw you off balance.”
Expert Reveals 4 Components for a Healthy Smoothie
“Longevity doesn’t come from one ingredient, but from the combination,” says the expert. That’s why she has outlined four components that give a smoothie the longevity touch—and can be applied to other meals:
- Vegetables and fruits provide nutrients
- Fiber supports gut health and blood sugar levels
- Fats make them available to the cells
- Proteins ensure stable energy.
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The Recipe for the Longevity Smoothie
Let’s get to the nitty-gritty. How does Kotke apply these components to a smoothie? For her vibrant drink, the following ingredients go into the blender:
- 60 g cooked beetroot
- ½ apple
- 80 g raspberries
- 1 handful of spinach
- 20 g almonds or walnuts
- 1 tsp flaxseed
- 150 ml unsweetened oat or almond drink
- 70 ml water
- ¼ tsp Ceylon cinnamon
- a few fresh mint leaves
What Makes the Ingredients Special
Let’s go through the checklist: Berries, apple, spinach, and beetroot provide vitamins and secondary plant compounds that have antioxidant effects and protect cells from aging. Fiber is found in fruits and vegetables as well as in nuts and seeds. This stabilizes blood sugar levels and gut health. “The healthy fats from nuts and seeds have anti-inflammatory effects and improve the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and yes, they even bring a bit of protein,” adds Kotke. Thus, all longevity components are indeed covered.
Kotke explains: “The key is: The ingredients don’t work individually, but together. Longevity doesn’t come from one ingredient, but from the combination.”