Immune Strengthening Smoothie Recipe

by Noor H. Salem

Smoothies can be incredibly healthy and energizing, but they could also land on the opposite end of the spectrum. With the cold and flu season around the corner, it’s essential that you take preventative measures and strengthen your immunity. Smoothies, bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables even, could do your immunity wonders. Unfortunately, however, many fast food chains market remarkable flavors of smoothies as a healthier alternative to their countless drinks.

Nonetheless, these smoothies may possibly include more sugar, additives, and unwarranted ingredients detrimental for your health. One popular chain has a smoothie that contains high fructose corn syrup, and is merely made of a concentrated fruit syrup. While the billboard may market fresh berries, vegetables, and citrus fruit, you end up with a cup of refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, concentrate, chemicals, and possibly some artificial food dyes to enhance the looks. Purchasing them from your local supermarket might not be any different- many are loaded with added sugars, preservatives to keep the color vibrant and taste fresh, and unwanted additives.

Making a smoothie at home is extremely easy; you toss in fresh ingredients in your favorite blender and end up with an extraordinarily healthy drink. It makes it remarkably easy to consume vegetables, such as kale, that you may otherwise find too overpowering in taste to eat alone. If you are not a breakfast fan, at least try to have a smoothie to energize your body and boost your metabolism. Eating a satisfying breakfast could in fact, keep you energized longer during the day, boost your mood tremendously, and cause you to crave less junk when mid-day hits.

This scrumptious smoothie is loaded with dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, B vitamins, potassium, antioxidants, and incredible anti-inflammatory benefits. Whether you are dealing with joint pain due to your arthritis, or have gastrointestinal discomfort, adding this smoothie to your routine could bring about incredible relief. Ginger and turmeric are linked to decreasing inflammation, and the excessive pain that may come along with it. The maca root powder could aid in balancing your hormones, especially your stress-related hormones. The state of stress is extremely unhealthy to be in; thus, if your environment isn’t bringing you relief, consuming healthy foods could aid you to managing it better. Moreover, chronic stress causes dysfunction in your digestive system, reproductive system, and many other systems, and could bring along more health conditions for you to deal with down the road. When you are in excessive stress, you won’t absorb the nutrients from your foods and drinks properly. With that being said, it’s crucial that you relax, and take means to reduce your stress levels, especially prior to meals. Consuming leafy greens like kale and spinach with citrus, such as the orange used in this smoothie, will better allow your body to absorb the iron. Moreover, the amount of vitamin C, vitamin K, omega-3 fatty acids and iron in this smoothie will enhance the function of your immune system, strengthen your cells, improve your mood, and advance your physical and mental health.

You can easily swap the spinach for your favorite greens, and toss in strawberries or blackberries, too. If you are a fan of ginger, adding in another teaspoon could give a pungent taste, and upsurge the benefits you intake. I recommend you try the sweetness level without the raw honey, and if you feel it needs more for your sweet-tooth, organic raw honey or organic maple syrup could incorporate well with the other ingredients. Try to consume the smoothie immediately for optimum benefits, and share with your family, instead of refrigerating it for later consumption.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium orange, peeled
• 2 fresh ginger root slices
• ¼ teaspoon fenugreek, ground
• ¼ teaspoon ginger, ground
• ½ teaspoon turmeric, ground
• 1 teaspoon organic maca root powder
• 1 tablespoon organic raw honey, (optional)
• 1 cup organic baby spinach or kale
• 1 small banana
• ¾ cup fresh organic blueberries
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed, freshly ground (optional)

Directions:

1. Place the orange, ginger and spices in the blender and pulse until it’s liquified. Add the baby spinach; pulse until nice and smooth.
2. Toss in the blueberries and banana; blend. Top with flaxseed.
3. Enjoy immediately, to absorb maximum nutrients.

Serves approximately 2-3 satisfying cups.

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.