Immune boosting garlic smoothie4 min read

 

The Immune Boosting Garlic Ginger Smoothie entered my vocabulary shortly after I met my now-husband in 2012. The first time he offered me a homemade garlic smoothie, I almost laughed in his face. Garlic? In a smoothie? I couldn’t help but think that a garlic smoothie would taste a lot like guzzling down some pizza sauce. Luckily for my immune system, I happen to to enjoy trying new foods. Imagine my surprise when, despite garlic’s smelly reputation, I could barely taste it in the smoothie! (Note: The key to making a a garlic smoothie that doesn’t reek of garlic is using a strong blender! More on this in the recipe below.) That was almost 6 years ago now, and it has become a staple in my wellness routine.

What’s so good about adding garlic to your typical fruit smoothie anyways?

When you chop fresh garlic thus, expose it to air, something incredible happens. Its chemical compound, Alliin is converted into an enzyme called Allicin, the chemical responsible for garlic’s pungent odor. Researches have linked the Allicin in raw, fresh garlic to anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. And it’s been linked to many more health benefits as well. I add a few crushed cloves to my smoothie almost every time I make one (which is a few times a week) as a way to support my immune system in fighting off any potential sickness that may. I start revving up my Vitamix as soon as I start to feel under the weather (which is not often),

Why add ginger as well?

Adding ginger to this smoothie is optional. However, since it’s one of my favorite flavors and researches have linked it to so many health benefits, I try to work ginger into my diet as often as possible.

Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Yield: approx. 24 oz

Ingredients:

• 2-3 small cloves of fresh garlic
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger root (optional)
• 2 cups of frozen fruit
• 1/2 of a banana (optional)
• Handful of ice cubes (optional)
• 1/4 cup of milk/milk alternative
• 1/4 cup of water
• Sweetener to taste (optional)
• A pinch of cinnamon and/or turmeric and/or nutmeg

Directions:

1. Chop 2-3 small cloves of fresh garlic in order to activate the immune-boosting properties of Allicin. Drop the pieces in the blender and let them sit while you prepare the other ingredients.
2. Cut and peel one 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root, and add it to the blender. (optional)
3. Add frozen fruit to the blender. I like to use a mix of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches and cherries. I’ll even add fresh greens like kale and spinach when I have them on hand because it’s a great way to sneak in some extra veggies!
4. Place half a banana in the blender. While this step is optional (some people aren’t a fan of the banana flavor), it does help create a creamier smoothie. Since bananas are Milo’s favorite food, I always let him eat the other half!
5. If you’re a fan of a more chunky smoothie, this is where  you can add about a handful of ice cubes. I, personally, prefer extremely smooth, almost runny smoothies. So, I always skip this step.
6.  Pour the liquids into the blender with the rest of the solid ingredients. I usually use a combination of water and Vanilla Almond Milk.
7. As is, this smoothie will have a slight sweetness to it. You can add a sweetener of your choice to bring the sweet factor to the next level. I like to use honey. But now that Milo insists on tasting everything I eat/drink and honey isn’t recommended for babies (I still can’t remember why), I’ve been swapping honey for stevia.
8. For extra flavor and wellness-boosting properties, I usually add a pinch of cinnamon, turmeric (and black pepper for absorption) and nutmeg to the mixture.
9. Put the lid on the blender and gradually increase blend speed until you reach the highest setting. Blend on high for 1 minute. It is extremely important that you use a strong blender in order to pulverize the garlic into tastelessness. If you added raspberries or blackberries to your mixture, blending on high will also help to really break down the tiny seeds found in each fruit, thereby reducing the smoothie’s grittiness.
10. Pour into your favorite cups and enjoy!

If you make the Immune Boosting Garlic Smoothie yourself, reply to this post with a comment and let me know how you liked it! This smoothie is really easy to adapt your personal tastes, and I’d love to know how you make yours.