Post-Thanksgiving immune boosting green smoothie

Feeling a little hangover and sluggish after your last night’s dinner? You’re not alone. It was well worth it, I know, but if you’re looking for a quick pick me up, here is my favorite green smoothie recipe. I always make it when I feel like I’m getting a cold or during busy days, when I’m running on fumes and need something quick and super nutritious.

Let’s analyze the ingredients and their role in helping you recover from a night of over-indulgence.

Ginger – long known as a GI stress reliever, possessing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Kale & spinach – loaded with vitamins A, C and K, as well as fiber, calcium and iron.

Lemon – high in vitamin C, helps absorb iron from kale and spinach.

Parsley – besides being high in folic acid, vitamins A, C and K, parsley is considered a “chemoprotective” food, a food that can help neutralize certain kinds of carcinogens.

Pineapple – high in vitamin C, thiamin (vitamin B12) and manganese for energy production, antioxidant defences and immune support.

Enjoy!

Immune-boosting Green Smoothie Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes

Serves: 1

Nutrition per serving: 106 calories, 0 g fat, 25 g carbs, 4 g protein.

Ingredients

1. 2 large handfuls of fresh spinach

2. 2 large leaves of fresh kale (stems removed)

3. 1/4 cup (packed) fresh parsley

4. 1/2 lemon, juiced

5. 1 inch (finger thick) piece of fresh ginger root, peeled

6. 1/2 cup pineapple (fresh or frozen) or 1/2 apple

7. 8-12 oz filtered water or green tea (start with 8oz and add more water if it's too thick).

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.