Ring the bells the holidays are here!
Whether you are knee deep in the hustle and bustle or staying at home this year, now more than ever, ’tis the season for extra immune support.
To ring in the new year, we are celebrating our immune systems here at Amber Bodily Health!
In honor of showing gratitude for the most powerful machines on the planet, I wanted to share this fantastic holiday-inspired smoothie to start your day strong. If you’ve been part of our community for a while, you know how much I love cranberries.
Get out your Vitamixes, Nutribullets, and Ninjas, and get ready to blast your cells with immune boosting goodness.
Regeneration & Renewal Refresher Smoothie
A perfect recipe to help regulate healthy immune responses using red apples, aloe vera, lemon, cranberries, and mango. Top that off with a powerful tonic herb that increases red blood cells which oxygenate your blood and deliver nutrients to your body and you have a recipe for a strong immune system!
ORGANIC APPLE JUICE
Besides being rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants, apples are a fantastic detoxifier – especially for the liver and gallbladder. Apples have amazing anti-inflammatory properties. When there is less inflammation in the body, your immune system doesn’t have to work so hard and can put its efforts elsewhere. Apples are also highly alkalizing, hydrating, and nourishing on a cellular level. If you’re unable to juice apples yourself, Lakewood Organics has a great clean apple juice without additives.
ALOE VERA JUICE
The wonders of aloe vera never seem to cease! It is known to purify the blood, reduce inflammation, ease arthritis pain, prevent kidney stones, lower high cholesterol, prevent Candida, boost physical endurance, benefit cardiovascular health, and protect the body from oxidative stress. Aloe vera is also highly alkalizing, reducing the body’s acidity, and improving the absorption of nutrients. If you can get an aloe vera leaf from the grocery store and use that, wonderful – otherwise, Lakewood Organics also makes an aloe vera juice I love and use often.
CRANBERRIES
You all know I love cranberries! (See my other cranberry posts here.) These little red cold-weather jewels do wonders for the body. High in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and purifying properties, cranberries are an incredible way to fortify your immune system – they are even part of my top 5 foods to strengthen immunity. If cranberries are not available in your area, I would recommend getting cranberry juice powder and using more mango in this recipe to bulk up the smoothie texture.
HE-SHOU-WU HERB
Also known as Chinese knotweed, or Fo-Ti, this herb supports immunity and has been used to assist a variety of health conditions. From being used as a supplemental cancer treatment, to heart disease and sleep disorders, he-shou-wu has proven to have many different uses. (It even also helps hair growth!) However, this versatile herb is most widely known in Chinese medicine as for promoting a healthy immune system and boosting energy, as well as balancing hormones. How this herb is extracted is extremely important, so I only recommend getting it from Micro Ingredients Superfoods or Dragonherbs at this time.
MANGO
Richly nutritious, surprisingly hydrating, and powerfully anti-cancer, mangoes are a delicious treasure in the fruit world. Mangoes contain a significant amount of pyridoxine (B-6) which is vital for the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Pyridoxine is also essential in maintaining hormonal balance and proper immune function. Fresh is best, but if you can’t find fresh – look for frozen! Costco will often carry big bags of frozen organic mango.
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 Cups of Fresh Pressed Organic Apple Juice from Red Apples (or store-bought from Lakewood Organics)
- 1/2 Cup Lakewood Organics Aloe Vera Juice
- Juice of 1 Organic Lemon
- 2 Cups Organic Frozen Cranberries
- 1/2 Cup Organic Frozen Mango
- 2 tsp Organic He-Shou-Wu herb
Instructions:
- Add the apple juice and aloe vera juice to your high speed blender.
- Add the lemon juice, cranberries and mango.
- Finally add the Ho-Shou-Wu Herb and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Don’t forget to garnish with a few whole cranberries, just to bring a festive smile to your face. Cheers to a delicious holiday boost!
Ignite the healer within,
Amber
P.S. If you’re interested in powerful, tangible, natural ways to strengthen your immune system, check out my online course UNDEFEATED: Your Passport To A Powerful Immune System.
Regeneration & Renewal Refresher Smoothie
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Fresh Pressed Organic Apple Juice from Red Apples or store-bought from Lakewood Organics
- 1/2 Cup Lakewood Organics Aloe Vera Juice
- Juice of 1 Organic Lemon
- 2 Cups Organic Frozen Cranberries
- 1/2 Cup Organic Frozen Mango
- 2 tsp Organic He-Shou-Wu herb
Instructions
-
Add the apple juice and aloe vera juice to your high speed blender.
-
Add the lemon juice, cranberries and mango.
-
Finally add the Ho-Shou-Wu Herb and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
My preferred brands of He-Shou-Wu herb are from Micro Ingredients Superfoods and Dragonherbs.
Lakewood Organics is a good clean brand of pure apple juice and aloe vera juice.
