Arushi Sakhuja
The months of Feb and March are synonymous with flu even as we go through spring. As the weather gets warmers and summer approaches, cold beverages replace hot winter drinks. And for those of you who prioritise health, smoothies make for a nutritious alternative to aerated drinks and sugary juices. Here are some immunity-boosting smoothie recipes that are packed with nutrients to keep you healthy and fit, with fresh fruits and vegetables to mint and yoghurt.
Mansij Vaidya, Restaurant Manager at Cafe By The St. Regis Mumbai
Tropikale Smoothie
Ingredients:
80 gm Fresh Pineapple
5 gm Kale
50 ml Fresh Orange Juice
125 gm Yoghurt
10 ml Honey
Method:
Add all the ingredients to a blender and mix until it becomes a smooth puree. Refrigerate the smoothie and serve it cold.
Benefits: Kale is an amazing superfood and is regarded as a nutrition powerhouse. This leafy vegetable contains high amounts of vitamins A, K, and C along with numerous other benefits such as preventing heart disease, lowering cholesterol, and providing bone health. This is one of the immunity-boosting smoothie recipes that is helpful for weight loss because it’s high in fibre and healthy fats, which will help keep you feeling full for longer.
PowerBerry Smoothie
20 gm Cranberries
20 gm Blueberries
30 gm Pitted Dates
120 ml Fresh Pineapple Juice
120 ml Yoghurt
Method:
Add all the ingredients to a blender and mix until it becomes a smooth puree. Refrigerate the smoothie and serve it cold.
Benefits: Berries are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a great addition to any smoothie. Plus, they add a delicious flavour to the smoothie. Not only do they work as antioxidants but also help to regulate your blood sugar and improve insulin response and are rich in calcium and potassium. It’s a great drink to have before or after a workout, in the morning or even to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Rahul Shinde – F&B executive Pune Sugar Box, Conrad Pune
Vegan Oatmeal Smoothie
250 ml Oat milk
2 tbsp Rolled Oats
1 Banana
Half an Avocado
1 tbsp Chia Seeds
50 g Mixed Berry
3 tbsp Honey
1 tsp Turmeric
Method:
Cut the avocado and banana into bite-size pieces. Add all the ingredients to a blender with 4-5 cubes of ice. Put the blender on smoothie mode and blend for 40-45 seconds. Enjoy!!!
Kiwi Smoothie
2 Kiwi
1 Banana
50 g Pineapple
250 ml Greek yoghurt
6 Spinach leaves
3 tbsp Honey
Method: –
Cut the kiwi, banana and pineapple into bite size pieces. Add all the ingredients to a blender with 4-5 cubes of ice. Put the blender on smoothie mode and blend for 40-45 seconds. Enjoy!!!
Chef Dane Fernandes, Executive Chef, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
Artfully Blended Immunity Boosting Smoothie
Photo Courtesy: JW Sahar Mumbai
Ingredients:
200 gm Apple
20 gm Ginger
1 Lemon
60 gm Yogurt
30 gm Avocado
15 gm Blueberries
Method:
Blend together the apple, yoghurt, blueberries, avocado and ginger. Strain it and squeeze the lemon juice into it and stir. Serve Chilled.
Benefits: The combination of all these ingredients contains antioxidants that help protect good cholesterol levels in the blood, reduce nausea, pain and inflammation, and provide heartburn relief. It also aids digestion and may help to boost the body’s metabolism.
Debabrota Roy, Wellbeing Mixologist at Woods At Sasan
Cucumber & Pineapple Detox Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup pineapple
1 cucumber
1 lemon
12 dates
Method:
Peel the skin of the cucumber and chop/slice it. Chop the Pineapple and Dates (without seeds) pieces. Add the lemon juice and cold water to a blender and blend until fine and smooth. Pour into a glass and serve.
Benefits: Cucumbers and Pineapple are important to add to your diet because they’re 95% water and naturally detoxify your body. Being rich in Vitamins A, B, and C, it’s an easy way to rejuvenate after a hard workout or a yoga session. Enjoy the cucumber and pineapple smoothie for breakfast or sip it down slowly throughout the day if you plan to reduce solid food intake.
Parth Purandare, Cofounder & Chef, Jade & Ginger
Green Goblin Smoothie
Ingredients:
20 gm spinach
10 gm kale
½ avocado
½ green apple (de-seeded)
5 gm cilantro (stem and leaf)
5 gm mint leaves
15 gm honey
60 gm ice
Method:
Wash and refrigerate all ingredients for 30 minutes.
Using a blender add in ice first followed by the kale, spinach, avocado, and green apple. Turn on the blender at a low speed and gradually increase the speed.
Once it begins to transform into a puree, add in the cilantro, mint and honey. Blend until it is smooth and it is a uniform green puree. Serve immediately
Note: Do not blend for over 2 minutes as the heat from the bender will reduce the nutrition of the smoothie.
Benefits: Green smoothies are rich in antioxidants, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, all of which can help to detox the body and remove harmful toxins. They can help you lose excess body weight without skipping any meals. In order to have a healthy breakfast, including green smoothies as a strong detoxifying drink every day
Ultimately the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables is a natural and pure immunity booster, so skip the junk and load in on nutrition.
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