Foods are filled with tons of nutrition that our body needs to thrive. While you should be getting a variety of all of the essential nutrients, key ones like vitamin C, probiotics, and antioxidants are great for building a good immune system. Junior Ashley Jean, a swimming athlete who takes pride in staying healthy for the long season, is an avid smoothie drinker and said, “They are a good alternative to unhealthy food and fill you up without the unnecessary calories that other foods have.” Foods like oranges, spinach, red bell pepper, and broccoli are high in vitamin C. Ginger and greek yogurt are helpful for your gut by supplying probiotics, and berries have tons of antioxidants. Turmeric is also another ingredient good for building immunity as it has great anti-inflammatory properties. With all of this in mind, smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of nutrition into one drink, but there is not enough information to say that they are curable for certain illnesses. Smoothies are great additions when seeking a nutritious boost. So while you are home during this time, why not give these recipes a try!

  The first smoothie is a tasty tropical green smoothie that is full of vitamin C, fiber, and probiotics.

  Ingredients:

*one cup of frozen or fresh mango

*one fresh orange

*one fresh kiwi

*one to two cups of spinach (I promise you will not taste it!)

*one half cup of greek yogurt

*one inch size piece of ginger (from a ginger root)

*one tbsp of chia seeds 

*a quarter tsp of turmeric powder

*one to two cups of liquid (coconut water, milk, or water will work)

Steps:

1. Take all of the ingredients, and place them in a blender. Mix until the smoothie is your desired consistency. For a thicker smoothie add closer to a cup of liquid. For a thinner smoothie, add around two cups of liquid and blend for longer. 

  The second recipe is a “berry” delicious chocolate smoothie that has a mixture of antioxidant-rich berries and cacao. Yes, there is a way to have chocolate in a healthy way! Cacao is the raw form of chocolate that comes in the form of powder, similar to cocoa powder, and in cacao nibs. The reason we are using cacao powder versus conventional cocoa powder is because cacao is in a raw form that has more antioxidants. Traditional cocoa powder is heated to high temperatures so some of the nutritional benefits are lost.

  Ingredients:

*one cup of blueberries

*one cup of spinach

*two tbsps of cacao powder

*one fresh or frozen banana

*one tbsp of chia seeds

*one to two cups of liquid (I would recommend almond or oat milk to make it really creamy.)

  Steps:

1. Take all of the ingredients, and place them in a blender. Mix until the smoothie is your desired consistency. For a thicker smoothie add closer to a cup of liquid. For a thinner smoothie, add around two cups of liquid and blend for longer. 

  It is important to take care of our health and little steps to ensure that will be beneficial for the future. Smoothies are a great snack, breakfast, or on the go meal. So start a new healthy habit with these immunity building smoothies with The Brook Cook!