Our body has incredible self-healing power. When we bruise our skin, our body throws all its might into renewing what was damaged. The same goes for the less visible parts. When we have inflammation (like the flue, arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint stiffness or fevers), it’s our body’s response to infection, irritation or an injury. In a way it’s good, as it shows the fighting spirit that glows within us, but this can be incredibly bad if it becomes chronic, especially as it is essentially a malfunction of the immune system. It is like the saying, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. So the smoothie recipe below aims to support your body in fighting its internal battles, as nature provides some incredible sources of anti-inflamatory food. While this in no way replaces potential professional treatment, it aims to give you at least a bit of an extra boost along the way.
Servings: 1 * Calories per serving: 324 kcal * Preparation time: 5 min * Start to finish: 5 min
Ingredients
- 1 cup of chilled green tea
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 cup of of frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup of diced up pineapple (or 1 freshly cut ring)
- 2 broccoli florets
- 1/8 teaspoon of tumeric
Throw all the ingredients into a blender and blend them until smooth.
As for why the smoothie contains the particular ingredients mentioned:
- Most of the benefits of green tea derive from its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, primarily a substance called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This inhibits inflammation in the body, as it helps reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production and puts a break on the damaging fatty acids in your cells due to the inflammation.
- Avocado are a rich source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and full of magnesium, potassium and fiber. Half an avocado also contributes to your required daily intake of vitamins C, A, E and the B-complex vitamins. Combined, the nutrients listed above and the polyphenols of the avocado work as antioxidants in your body. This make it a must-have item for any anti-inflammatory smoothie or meal.
- Blueberries are amazing as they help your body produce NK cells, which are a key weapon we each possess to fight inflammation and enhance the immune system.
- Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain, which eases inflammation in your body and also strengthens your immune system as it is stocked to the max with vitamin C.
- Broccoli is loaded with an antiocidant called sulforaphane, which fights inflammation by reducing the levels of NF-kB and cytokines, which are major driving forces of inflammation in our bodies.
- Tumeric contains curcumin, a very powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient. It is known to be effective at reducing inflammation related to arthritis, amongst other functions, for instance.
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