Immune Ammo: Carrot-Orange-Ginger Smoothie

I’ve felt a bit taxed the last few days, as though a cold is reaching its long, nasty tentacles for me. I made a super-immune booster smoothie in less than five minutes, and I’ve felt great ever since I consumed it this morning. This powerful smoothie contains fresh carrots, ginger and orange. It boasts large amounts of immune-powering vitamin C, beta carotene, gingerols and flavanones,

Ginger hosts potent antioxidants as well, and holds its own for biting back at cancer tumors. It’s known for its immune-enhancing properties in Ayurvedic medicine, and the story goes like this: ginger is hot, which opens pores and allows you to sweat out toxins. The toxins that don’t make it out through your pores can become neutralized by ginger because it is an anti-pyretic for the common cold. (Read more about Ayurveda and medicinal uses for ginger here.) Aromatically, ginger gives this drink an exciting and pungent kick, so start off with small amounts if you aren’t used to it.

Use ORGANIC. Organic supplies you with better nourishment than conventional, plus it will save your body from the burden of processing synthetic pesticides in your smoothies.

Enjoy the fiber in this lovely smoothie! Unless you have a medical condition that forbids you consume fiber (and you probably don’t), you need your fiber. If you use a juicer for this recipe, add the pulp back into your juice.  The fiber is a *brilliant* gift of life, and your DNA evolved consuming A LOT of roughage. Most Americans are missing out on the valuable benefits fiber. The average American barely meets one-third to one-half of their recommended fiber intake. What a loss! Fiber improves your overall weight, too. It fills you for longer, which encourages you to eat less! If you weren’t filling up on fiber, chances are that you’d fill up on fat and carbs instead. It also slows the rate of sugar entering your blood, so your blood sugar is more stable.

Drink and be merry for this glass of juice and all its fibery goodness. It’s a lovely smoothie. Give thanks you have tasty, life-giving foods. Be happy you aren’t drinking Sunny Delight or Hawaiian Punch.

Makes 2 servings

Equipment needed: A mighty blender that is tough enough to puree carrots (I use a VitaMix). You can use a juicer, if you have one.

Ingredients:

• 4 carrots, washed and chopped into chunks (sized appropriately for your blender) – avoid skinning them to retain nutrients.
• 2-4 Tbsp RAW ginger (I leave skin on).  *If using powdered ginger, sprinkle it into juice lightly because it tastes about 6X stronger when powdered.
• Optional: apple slices (leave skin on)
• One large whole orange (more if desired)
• Water or nut milk

Instructions:

Combine carrots, orange and ginger in your mighty blender. Fill with enough water so that it just passes the top of the vegetable line. Puree. Add more liquid if needed. Taste and adjust the ginger or any other flavors, if needed.

Have another wonderful smoothie recipe? Please share it with us in the comments section below!

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