This week I thought I would do something different and post one of my favorite smoothie recipes me and my mom have come up with. Using food as medicine has become a staple in my journey of healing my Autoimmune diseases naturally. The only problem is I only like extra processed foods with no nutritional value. So you can imagine getting all my fruits in veggies can be hard at times. Making smoothies and juice shots has made it a million times easier to get all my healing foods in for the day.
Today I’m going to share a recipe that helps reduce inflammation and is tasty. First, let’s dig deeper into how this smoothie reduces and fights inflammation and how to create your own smoothie recipes to fight inflammation.
I always start a smoothie that I want to reduce inflammation with a base of leafy greens like kale, spinach, swiss chard, etc. Leafy greens contain Vitamins A, E, and D as well as Omega-3s, and alpha-linoleic acid which is all known to reduce inflammation! Don’t be shy to add 1-2 cups of your favorite leafy green as a base.
Next, I like to choose 1-3 fruits that have been proven to reduce inflammation. Fruit is a great source of natural sugar, fiber, and antioxidants on top of reducing inflammation. Here’s a list you can choose from.
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Apples
- Lemons
- Limes
- Grapes
- Pineapple
- Avocado
- Cherries
The options are endless with fruit. Go wild and make a crazy smoothie creation. Making weird smoothies helps make the whole drinking it part fun!
Anti-inflammatory herbs
Ginger and Turmeric are two staples in any anti-inflammatory smoothie and just any smoothie I make in general. They both have powferul anti-inflammatory properties and are full of antioxidants. These are two of the powerhouse herbs for healing you will see them everywhere for reducing inflammation.
Nuts that reduce inflammation
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Hazel nuts
- Pecans
- Pistachios
Seeds that reduce inflammation
I always add 1 tbsp of either chia, flax, or hemp seeds. All three contain high amounts of Omega-3s which have been found to reduce inflammation. I make sure they are ground up EXTRA well in the smoothie. I cannot stand a chunky smoothie been there did not drink that.
Nut butter
For a creamier smoothie, I like to choose from almond, natural peanut butter, or cashew butter. On top of making the smoothie silky nut butter contains a high amount of vitamin E which fights against inflammation. I like to add 1-2 tbsp per smoothie.
Base
Coconut water is the base for almost every smoothie I make. Coconut water contains flavonoids that fight against inflammation and it also is packed with electrolytes. I absolutely love coconut water. The first time I tried it I will admit I gagged but you get used to the taste and I find myself craving it when Im feeling dehydrated. I am always stocked with a whole case of coconut water you will never catch me empty-handed.
Let us know what you think of this smoothie it’s one of our top favorite smoothies for reducing inflammation. And one of the best tasting I’ve ever tried…. That is for reducing inflammation.