Immune Boosting Smoothies to get you ready for party season

As the party season descends upon us like a woman running down a hill in heels and a cocktail dress, it’s time to build up your party stamina with an immune boosting smoothie.

We tend to associate winter with the sniffles and colds, but lack of sleep, increased intake of alcohol (hmm hmm) and rich foods (aHEM) can all contribute to your immune system getting run down, and making it all the easier for you to take ill. This time of year is so much fun! Parties, holidays, getting together will family and loved ones and even long absent friends. It’s all far too much fun to be missing out on anything, so take our advice and start to work some of these everyday superfoods into your diet.

Immune Boosting Foods

What is an everyday superfood? A bit of a misnomer perhaps. In our culture of new food trends and fads and diets, it’s sometimes useful to remember that eating fresh fruits and veggies that are readily available are actually very good for us. Loads of foods are superfoods! Take it from us and harness the power of some of these smoothie ready ingredients.

1. Pomegranate

   – Pomegranates are chock full of vitamin A, vitamin C and loads of antioxidants. They’re perfect for keeping colds at bay, and a lovely treat that’s just coming into season as well.

2. Dark Chocolate

   – We thought you’d be happy about this one! Dark chocolate has a higher cocoa to milk solids content than milk chocolate, making it pretty good for you. Dark chocolate and cocoa have more antioxidants and flavanols than fruit juices like acai berries, cranberries, and pomegranates. Everything in moderation, a bit of good quality dark chocolate is nothing to feel guilty about.

   

3. Kale

   – These curly green leaves are somewhat buzzworthy at the moment, despite being enjoyed by many cultures for centuries. Whether you’re an old hand or a new convert to kale, the science is behind you. This bad boy is packed with vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin, B6 manganese, calcium, copper, potassium and magnesium. What a hard working guy!

4. Ginger

   – Ginger is anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, it’s an antihistamine and a decongestant. MIC. DROP.

   

5. Red Chillies

   – Have you ever craved a spicy curry or larb when you’ve had a runny nose? Not only can a good chilli get your nose cleared out, but spicy foods promote the production of antibodies that fight against colds. They’re perfect for prevention, and definitely add a sophisticated unexpected flavour to this smoothie.

Immune Booster Smoothie

Ingredients

• 2 handfuls of kale
• 2 bananas, frozen
• 1 apple, cored
• 1 tsp ginger, peeled
• a pinch of fresh red chilli
• 1 handful pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup milk
• grated dark chocolate, garnish

Instructions:

1. Add everything (except the chocolate) to a blender.
2. Blend it up until all ingredients are well combined.
3. Pour into a cold cup and garnish with the grated dark chocolate!