Creamy, Green, Anti-inflammatory Smoothie Recipe

Green smoothies are bringing sexy back. This suave elixir boosts your immune system, while also one-upping your anti-aging cream. Green drinks are the best tasting multi-vitamin you can get your pretty paws on.

Drinking your salad gives you an opportunity to consume far more veggie-loves than you would treat yourself to otherwise. I can guzzle 3 cups of yummy veggies way faster than I can (or want to) eat them. They’re also faster to prepare.

The purpose of this post is to help you gain a few building blocks to get you started. There are lots of ways to prepare smoothies and juices, and I’m only presenting my favorite way of doing this.

Once you’ve got the basics down, all you need is a sense of adventure to test new recipes. Start slowly. When trying a new idea out, just add one ingredient at a time to see how you like it. Don’t worry, you won’t mess it up. If it doesn’t taste right, just add more of what you love. For me, that means adding beets and coconut milk. But if I’ve really messed it up and need some help, I might add banana, avocado, strawberries or pineapple.

As for blending, it helps if you have a powerful blender. However, you’d be surprised just how much you can pulvarize with any old blender. Just quarter your veggies a little smaller. I’m very grateful to have a Vitamix in-house because it treats me like a Queen, blending up everything I ask of it (except for rocks).

Got your green food for St. Patty’s Day lined up? Did you know that #greensmoothies are bringing #sexy back? http://t.co/RpzoVEHhgd

— Frances Arnold (@FrancesLArnold) March 16, 2014

Here are the basic ingredients of my favorite creamy, anti-inflammatory green smoothie:

1. About 3 stalks of kale, beet greens, or swiss chard (tear off of thick ribs at the base).
2. 1/2 avocado
3. 1-2 stalks organic celery (helps with blood pressure, and organic is essential, as celery is highly sprayed)
4. 1/2-1 ” ginger root (anti-inflammatory)
   
5. 1/2-1 ” turmeric root (anti-inflammatory)
   
6. 2-cups(ish) preferred milk (I use coconut milk)

Carrot is wonderful, but may change the color of the green. Add almond milk, hemp milk, or coconut milk.

Instructions:

1. Wash everything, including the avocado skin before you cut it open.

2. If the ribs are thick on the greens, remove them and compost. Chopping and peeling is UNNECESSARY. Instead, you can chop large items into smaller chunks if your blender needs it.

3. Add all ingredients to the strongest blender you own (I use a Vitamix)

4. Add enough liquid to cover just about all of the veggies.

5. Blend 30 seconds. Check consistency. Adjust liquid if needed. Blend more if needed.

Turmeric Root – an excellent supplement for combating chronic inflammation.

Awesome Additions:

Sprouted seeds or soaked nuts (like soaked almonds)

1/2 apple, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup berries

Chili pepper, radishes

Cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, vanilla, clove, cardamom

Lemon, lime

Kombucha (fermented tea)

Ice cubes

Experiment with other ingredients!

This smoothie is loaded with vitamin K, vitamin E, and vitamin A, which are fat-soluble. You NEED to add fat to promote absorption of fat vitamins. Avocado is a wonderful choice because it is creamy, mild, and low in sugar.

(Read this brief post on why Vitamin K deserves respect!)

Voila!

Other smoothie superstars:

Immune Ammo: Carrot-Orange-Ginger Smoothie

Super Beet Smoothie

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Thanks for reading, sweet ones!

xoxo

Frances