This Goji Berry Orange Smoothie is chockfull of superfoods and antioxidants that aid the body’s healing process and give the immune system a boost.
We love our smoothies! They helped give us a kickstart as we jumped into eating healthier. But we also know that smoothies can be a great way to help our bodies heal, too.
Packing nutrition into your daily smoothies isn’t hard to do, but with the help of other special ingredients it can take those smoothies to the next level.
We were introduced to our friends, Matt and Amanda, when they entered one of our giveaways. They both entered and told us how Amanda had been making amazing smoothies to help Matt, her husband, in his battle against brain cancer. Amanda’s research led her to new ingredients that she began adding to their daily smoothies. Our community requested some of their recipes and they graciously shared two of their favorites.
Amanda graciously shared her research with us, too.
Here’s what she found:
The zest of citrus fruits (organic only please!) contain flavonoids that penetrate brain cancer cells and facilitate their death by apoptosis, and lowers the potential for the cancer to invade neighboring, healthy tissues. Citrus juice contains vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and it also aids the liver in detoxification of carcinogens. Orange and lime juice can also help increase alkalinity in the body. Bananas are full of magnesium and potassium. They release energy slowly to prevent blood sugar spikes and are full of vitamin B6 which can help keep blood levels stable during chemotherapy.
Goji berries aren’t new – they’ve been used in ancient medicine all over Tibet, India, Mongolia, and regions of China. They contain a ton of polyphenols which also stimulate detoxification of blood and elimination of carcinogens in the body.
Healthy fats, protein, alpha-linolenic acid and linolenic acid from hemp seeds (or hemp hearts) give the lymphatic system a boost. Chia seeds add sustainable energy, antioxidant power, slow absorption of sugars, and add protein.
Coconut water is hydrating and replenish the body, which Amanda says is important for Matt during chemo. Amanda says she recommends the Exotic Superfoods brand because there are no preservatives or additives and is not packaged in boxes lined with BPA.
One of the most amazing ingredients in this orange smoothie is TOCOS, short for Tocopheranols and Tocotrienals. TOCOS are stabilized rice bran solubles that contain numerous vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, D, E, Folic acid, Biotin) and minerals like Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Iodine and other Trace Minerals. TOCOS are a potent form of Vitamin E that works as a cancer fighter. And another bonus? TOCOS add a creamy, vanilla flavor which turns this into a powerhouse smoothie that tastes amazing too.
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This is another favorite from Matt and Amanda’s smoothie repertoire. Refreshing citrus paired with the natural sweetness of banana and TOCOS makes this.
Ingredients
- Zest of 2 organic oranges
- 2 oranges (peeled and seeded)
- 1 banana (frozen)
- 1/2 cup coconut water
- 1/3 cup dried goji berries
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons TOCOS (soluble rice bran powder)
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Blend the oranges and other ingredients, except the ice, until smooth.
- Add the ice and blend again.
We want to know:
Which superfood ingredients do you love adding to supercharge your smoothies?
To read more about Matt and Amanda, please see this post.
February 29th, 2016 at 7:14 am
Not a fan of the coconut water. It has a diuretic effect on me. I replaced it with green tea, and while it is also a diuretic, it wasn’t so extreme. How does that affect the nutrition combination?
February 29th, 2016 at 9:46 am
Hi Theresa,
We love switching up our liquid base options + green tea is a great option for this recipe! It contains a high concentration of polyphenols, which are a specific type of antioxidant. These antioxidants are also known to rejuvenate skin cells and give you a clearer complexion. The caffeine kick will also help if you’re trying to kick a coffee habit!
Learn more about our favorite liquid base options here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/liquid-base
March 21st, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Just made this (minus the TOCOS, thinking about ordering) and O M G was it amazing! Seriously, way better than I was expecting (and I love smoothies!). Try this out whether you have the TOCOS or not!
March 21st, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for taking the time to reach out + share your smoothie love!
March 30th, 2016 at 11:47 am
Hi! I live in a very small country and there are a lot of ingredients that are very difficult to find!!
How can I substitute hemp seeds and TOCOS?
March 31st, 2016 at 12:05 am
Hi Cecilia,
Feel free to swap out the hemp seeds and TOCOS for another healthy fat + protein :). Here our some of our favorites:
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/green-smoothie-meal-replacement
Amazon.com is also a great resource for any hard to find ingredients!
April 20th, 2016 at 8:17 am
What happens if you leave the seeds in fruits like oranges?
April 20th, 2016 at 8:20 am
Hi Holly,
Great question! Citrus seeds can be pretty tough on your blender, so we suggest removing them to ensure your smoothie is blended to creamy perfection. Also, some seeds may have small amounts of toxins (to prevent them from being eaten by birds or other animals) which can be tough on your digestion.
Hope this helps!
April 20th, 2016 at 8:20 am
Also, what about juicing an orange versus putting the peeled orange in the smoothie? What’s the difference there?
April 20th, 2016 at 8:24 am
Hi Holly,
Thanks for reaching out. We love blending the entire fruit, so you don’t miss out on any of the fruit’s healthy benefits. When juicing you’re missing out on the fruit’s fiber that helps your body feel full + satisfied.
Cheers!
August 31st, 2016 at 8:36 am
i’m trying to find new recipes with goji berry powder. I find the taste of goji berries strong and not fond of it but it is good for you so do you have any other recipes that hide the flavor of goji berries?
Thanks,
Heather
August 31st, 2016 at 5:29 pm
Hi Heather,
While we don’t have any other goji berries at this time, goji berries are the perfect compliment to our Cucumber Grape Punch Green Smoothie!
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/Recipes/cucumber-grape-punch
September 5th, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Hi I just got diagnosed with lymphoma and begin radiation soon, I had a question about the smoothies, should these be meal replacements or additions to my daily diet? Thank you.
September 6th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
Hi Jennifer,
Spending plenty of love + healing vibes your way! Our recipes can be used as a healthy snack option in addition to your regular diet or as a meal replacement. When using your green smoothie as a meal replacement we suggest adding protein + healthy fats to ensure you’re fueling your body with a complete meal. Learn more about our favorite meal replacement booster combos here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/green-smoothie-meal-replacement
April 4th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
My husband was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. Do you have any specific recipes you’d recommend?
April 5th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Hi Laura,
I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s diagnosis. We’ll be sending plenty of healing vibes your way!
You may be interested in reading Amanda + Matt’s story + their green smoothie story.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/why-i-blend/matt-and-amanda
Also, this is a recipe Amanda made for her husband while he was going through cancer treatment…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/green-smoothie-recipes/goji-berry-orange-smoothie
June 12th, 2017 at 10:52 pm
I have frequent stomach pains, do you have any problem to solve this problem? Thank you
June 13th, 2017 at 11:02 pm
Hi May,
Oh no! I am so sorry you’re suffering frequent stomach pains. I wish I could offer more, but unfortunately because I’m not a doctor or nutritionist, I’m not the best person to help. But I’ll definitely be sending plenty of healing vibes your way + hope you feel better soon!
February 17th, 2018 at 7:23 am
Hellomy sister has been diagnosed w glioplastoma brain cancer .what is the best smoothie that can reduce the rapud growth of this cancer. .she has to wIt 2 weeks before she s seen for treatment
November 11th, 2018 at 9:58 pm
Hi there! I found you through google search and im intrigued and excited to try some of your smoothies! I am just a bit of a loss as to where can I find TOCOS? I’m doing research on smoothies because my 2 and 4 year old boys love them and they are a great way to sneak in all the good stuff they need to grow big and strong. Thank you for all the information you share! This is a very neat website!
With Love,
Oliver’s and Sebastian’s Mama
January 24th, 2019 at 2:22 pm
Hi just another mom of 2 and 4 year old boys, looking for a better way to fit nutritious foods into my kids diet! Was just going to let you know you can find TOCOS on Amazon.com for around $18!
January 24th, 2019 at 2:32 pm
Yes, what Amanda said! You can get these right off Amazon.
Enjoy 🙂
★★★★★