Immune-Boosting Smoothie Recipe

This green mango ginger smoothie tastes like a tropical getaway with a little kick. Spinach, celery, parsley, cucumber, ginger and lemon blend with sweet frozen mango into something fresh, zesty and ready in five minutes. Read on to learn what’s in it, how to make it, and a few tips I use when I’m running on fumes and need to love up on my immune system.

What’s in This Smoothie

Each ingredient is here for a reason: the greens keep it fresh, the ginger and lemon add the zing, and the mango makes it taste like dessert.

• The leafy green vegetables, including spinach and parsley, are high in vitamins A, C and K. The parsley adds a peppery brightness that keeps the mango from tasting too sweet.
• The hydrating ingredients, cucumber and celery, are high in water, fiber and vitamin K. They keep this smoothie light, cool and refreshing.
• The ginger root and lemon bring the zing. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and lemon is high in vitamin C. I like to use a whole peeled lemon, not just the juice, for extra fiber and a sunnier flavor. Before you toss the peel, think about making my candied lemon peel for a sweet treat.
• Frozen mango makes it thick and sweet enough that you barely notice the parsley, and it’s high in vitamin C. Can’t get enough mango? Check out my collection of mango smoothie recipes.

Immune-Boosting Smoothie Ingredients

Seven ingredients, one blender, five minutes. Here’s what goes in and how I pick each one:

• Spinach: Choose fresh, bright green spinach leaves for the best flavor and nutrition. You can also learn to freeze spinach for easy smoothie prep anytime.
• Celery: Look for firm, pale green stalks with no wilting. Its subtle, refreshing flavor balances the boldness of ginger and parsley.
• Fresh Parsley: Select vibrant green, fragrant bunches for the best flavor. Its herbaceous and slightly peppery flavor adds complexity to the smoothie.
• Cucumber: For the best flavor, pick cucumbers that are firm and dark green, with no soft spots. Its cool, clean taste enhances the smoothie’s refreshing quality.
• Ginger root: Look for firm, smooth ginger with thin skin for the freshest flavor. It brings a warm, slightly spicy kick to the recipe—just a little goes a long way!
• Mango: Look for ripe mangoes that yield slightly to pressure and have a sweet aroma. Mango works as a natural sweetener and add a luscious tropical flavor to the smoothie. You can also check out my tips on cut mango for easy prep and blending.
• Lemon: Use a whole (peeled) lemon for vibrant flavor with a hint of natural zestiness. Look for lemons that are firm and heavy for their size, with a bright yellow color.

If you’re new to blending or want a quick refresher, check out my tips on how to make a smoothie so everything blends up perfectly every time.

How to Make Immune-Boosting Smoothie

I know this immune-boosting smoothie recipe may have some ingredients you aren’t used to blending, but don’t be afraid to give it a try! Let new flavor combinations surprise you.

1. Toss the spinach, celery, and parsley leaves into the blender, followed by the liquid, for a vibrant green mixture.
2. Scrape down the sides if needed to blend all leafy chunks. Blending the greens first helps break them down well. Even with great smoothie blenders, blending the greens first helps break them down well for a smoother texture.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth. For the best results, remove any seeds from the lemon and peel or chop the fresh ginger before blending.

5 Easy Habits for Feeling Your Best

These are the five habits I lean on when I’m running on fumes and need to feel like myself again:

1. Daily green smoothies: No matter what the day brings, I know I’m starting it the right way with a green smoothie. (If you want something warm, try a warm smoothie)
2. Colorful groceries: Fill your grocery cart with berries, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fresh spices, citrus fruit, red bell peppers and fresh herbs. Lemons and a bunch of parsley are already in this smoothie, so grab those first.
3. Sleep: Take advantage of the shorter sunlight hours and give yourself the gift of sleep. If quality sleep is hard to come by then try my favorite bedtime smoothie.
4. Exercise: When life gets busy, exercise is harder to come by. Setting aside 30 minutes during my lunch break to move (walk, run or yoga) helps make it easier to move my body.
5. Kitchen staples: At the start of each school year, I stock the following for the whole family: fire cider, elderberry syrup, ginger lemon honey tea, and sleep tea.
   

More Smoothies to Try

If you love green smoothies like this one, try these smoothies that are high in vitamins and antioxidants:

• Elderberry Smoothie: Made with elderberry syrup, one of my favorite kitchen staples.
• Antioxidant Smoothie Cubes: Colorful fruits and veggies you can blend into freezer-ready cubes, high in antioxidants.
• Alkaline Smoothie: A cool, refreshing, hydrating drink.

If you make this immune-boosting smoothie recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my free weekly newsletter.