“Spicy” and “smoothie” are two words might not sound good together. But spices like turmeric, ginger, cayenne or cinnamon are loaded with healing compounds that support the liver, skin and immune system, plus they taste great, so why wouldn’t you add them to smoothies? A little heat can help boost our slow winter metabolism (always a bonus). We put together are four ways to spice up your smoothie rotation (literally).
We’re always searching to improve our vegan green smoothies, and we found out that three things can up the game: adaptogens, protein powder or collagen powder and spices. Lots of greens to support the liver activity and small amounts of healing spices can turn your green smoothie into real healing elixirs.
What Are the Best Healing Spices
Here are our favourite spices we like to play with, and their amazing benefits:
Ginger – we can never say enough about ginger. Its key benefits are linked to its active compound called gingerol, with antioxidant, metabolism-boosting, anti-inflammatory and digestive-healing effects. Favour raw to powdered whenever possible, to get the maximum benefits from its healing powers.
Cinnamon – it’s more than just a delicious-fragrant spice. Loaded with detoxifying manganese, cinnamon have anti-microbial and anti-clotting action. But what interests us most is its digestive function boosting effects and its blood sugar balancing properties. In plus, the scent of cinnamon boosts brain activity.
Cayenne – besides adding heat to your meals, cayenne and its spicy pepper relatives cary special health benefits too. Weight-loss promoting, fighting inflammation, naturally relieving pain, offering protection for free radicals oxidation, boosting immunity and clearing congestion – here are just a few of its healing properties. Moreover, capsaicin, its active compound helps to stop the proliferation of the prostate cancer cells.
Turmeric – the anti-inflammatory king of spices, the popularity of turmeric speaks for itself and is backed by scientific studies that proved its decreasing cancer risk, balancing blood sugar, cognitive function improvement and antioxidant properties.
Spicy Green Smoothie Variations
1. Spicy Mixed Greens Smoothie
This smoothie is similar to our Daily Cleanse Water, which boosts energy, regulates pH levels and helps your body get rid of toxins thanks to lemon and cayenne. For more benefits and to make it a little sweeter, add in a little raw honey—preferably Manuka honey (look for a UMF rating of 10+), which has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and digestive-support properties.
Spicy Mixed Greens Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup dairy free milk
- 1 cup mixed greens
- 1/2 cup berries fresh or frozen
- ½ avocado
- 1 tsp peeled ginger root
- 1 tsp maple syrup optional
- 1 tsp ground flax seeds
- Dash cayenne pepper
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 tsp matcha powder
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth.
- Serve it right away or pack to go.
Nutrition
2. The Cleanser Smoothie
Cilantro can help lower bad cholesterol, and remove heavy metals from the body. Combined with greens, turmeric and berries, you have a fiber-rich smoothie that’s full of antioxidants.
The Cleanser
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dairy free milk
- 1 cup mixed greens
- ½ mango
- ½ cup cilantro
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Juice from one lemon
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth. You can also leave the cinnamon out and sprinkle it on as garnish.
Nutrition
3. Immune Boost Smoothie
Fight off the winter crud with this easy smoothie that harnesses the immune-boosting power of red pepper (which contains beta carotene), kale, parsley, and ginger. Add in some raw honey for even more cold-fighting benefits—it’s especially helpful if you’ve got a cough or sore throat.
Immune Boost Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dairy free milk
- 1 cup kale
- ½ cup parsley
- 1/2 green apple
- ½ red pepper
- 1 tsp ginger root freshly grated
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth.
Nutrition
4. Liver Cleanse Smoothie
Dandelion leaves and parsley are the stars of this creamy detox smoothie. They’re known for helping to purge the liver, while cayenne and radish spice things up a bit.
Liver Cleanse
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dairy free milk
- 1 cup spinach
- ½ cup parsley
- 3 dandelion leaves
- 1 radish
- ½ grapefruit peeled
- Dash cayenne
- 1 tsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth. You can also leave out the cayenne and sprinkle it on to garnish.
I’ve never tried a green smoothie with added spices in it, I’m intrigued and i gotta try one!!!
These look great and tasty!
Really good for me! I’m on a diet. I think I need to drink these smoothies every day.