Vibrant and Delicious Immune Boosting Smoothie

Coming into cold season I do all that I can to prep my families immune systems for the inevitable wave of sicknesses that come with temps dropping and school germs. One of my favorite ways is by incorporating and putting an emphasis on foods that naturally support our health overall like this vibrant and delicious immune boosting smoothie. 

Not only is this smoothie packed with a burst of citrus flavors and vitamin C, it is the perfect blend of antioxidants with energy boosting capabilities.

To make it sweeter it is stunning in color. I mean absolutely gorgeous. It has bold and rich flavors with colors of Autumn that will keep you filled up even on cold winter months.

I have to admit. Learning to fuel my families bodies with things that carry the most healthy properties is highly rewarding.

Your diet and consumption plays a major role in so many diseases and ailments. Not to say things can be cured based on food alone but nutritious eats can be used as a preventative or to help ease the punch on some of those pesky problems. 

Looking to incorporate foods into your home that might help lessen the burdens on your bodies through the winter months?

Give this smoothie a go and start your morning off right. 

Vibrant and Delicious Immune Boosting Smoothie 

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
• Juice of one lemon
• 1 cup of frozen mango chunks
• 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 small raw red beet, chopped
• 1 blood orange or small grapefruit, peeled and pulled apart
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 3/4 cup pomegranate juice

 

To bring this beautiful blend of colors and flavors together it is so simple. Get everything prepped and ready and then the blending begins.

1. Put mango, orange juice, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, ginger, turmeric and honey into a blender and blend until smooth. Add to cup.
2. Rinse blender and then put beets, blood orange OR grapefruit, raspberries and pomegranate juice into blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour on top of orange mixture, slowly. Stir downwards, gently to blend flavors. Top with frozen berries!

Food To Support Cold Weather Worries

I make sure to keep our fridge and freezer stocked with all of these and more. A lot is freshly harvested and processed out our own gardens. It feels great to grow and provide right from our own land and then to know what is being put onto the table is also helping keep us healthy and sick free throughout the winter months makes it that much more worth the work.

Added benefit? It keeps our minds all feeling good too. Less sunlight and cold weather can take a toll on your mental state. So fuel your body with packed nutrition and your mind will stay more vibrant too.

Root Vegetables

Vitamin C is a go to when trying to keep those winter colds at bay. Some of the obvious ones that are high in Vitamin C is citrus like oranges and grapefruits however root vegetables also provide the push you need such as beets, parsnips or carrots. 

I know I have a freezer stocked with root veggies that I will pull all winter long and add into recipes. If you don’t tend to like roasted root vegetables solo go ahead and add them into a soup or stew.

Oatmeal

Old fashioned rolled oats is what to purchase. The pre-packed oatmeal is ok but packed with a lot of unnecessary sugars and additives. The old fashioned oats can be jazzed up with berries, cinnamon or a touch of maple syrup. Oatmeal has high levels of zinc which helps with immune system, wound healing and even boosts your metabolism function.

Butternut Squash

Cold weather season is the perfect time to whip up some delicious meals with butternut squash involved. It’s hearty and warm and has tons of fiber and potassium. Butternut squash can be a preventative for diabetes and assist in good heart health.

Ginger

Adding ginger into smoothies, teas or a cold weather recipe is a way to stimulate the circulation system. Ginger will open up and clear sinuses from mucus and build up during the start of a cold. 

Learn how to make a ginger tincture!

Watercress

A wonderful addition to soups that acts as an anti inflammatory and loaded with Vitamin C. Watercress is a vegetable that not everyone uses regularly but has a ton of benefits especially when trying to combat the sniffles.

Mushrooms

Not only are they delicious but mushrooms carry large levels of Vitamin D which is needed to support a healthy immune system.

Recipes To Add To Your Cold Fighting Menu

Cleansing Detox Soup by The Glowing Fridge to help you heal from the inside out 

Beetroot Soup by Veggie Desserts for a bowl of gorgeous that keeps you up on your toes instead of resting away for days.

Lemon, Apple and Ginger Shot by Aline Made that will kick start your morning in the healthiest of ways.

• Cold Fighting Smoothie by Mile By Mile
• Lemon and Honey Tonic by Mama Instincts
• Hearty Turmeric Soup by Natalie Paramore
• Mango Orange Banana Cold Buster Smoothie by Penny Wise Mama

Or try some of our past recipes that have ingredients with great immune building and nutrient boosting properties like Homemade Chicken and Stars Soup Recipe or How to Make Your Own Herbal Tea Mixes at Home.

You can even dive into the world of making your own home remedies to help in the healing if the germs found their way inside of your home like with this Homemade Mint & Honey Cough Syrup or How to Make a Ginger Tincture.

The options are endless for getting your mind, body and spirit equipped for the lull of cabin fever months. 

We pack in all of the nutrients we can for us and the kids and overall it seems to keep us healthier and happier.

You Might Also Like…

• Homemade Healing Soup for Colds and Flu
• Home Remedies for Winter Colds
• 7 Best Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Your Garden

Love, light and a little grace…

-Olivia