Anti-Inflammatory Orange Carrot Smoothie

This anti-inflammatory orange carrot smoothie is a refreshing drink packed with powerful anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants—easy to make in just 5 minutes with healthy ingredients. Vegan, gluten free, nut free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Powerfully anti-inflammatory
• High in antioxidants
• Improves gut health

This orange carrot smoothie has impressive anti-inflammatory effects and can be enjoyed whenever an extra dose of vitamin C is needed. You will feel refreshed and energized after drinking this vibrant smoothie!

Carrots are a healthy root vegetable that are easy to include in smoothies, such as this one. They are high in vitamin-C and beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is important in maintaining good vision health. Carrots are also high in other antioxidants which are important for lowering oxidative stress in the body.

Turmeric is included in this smoothie because it’s one of the best foods for reducing inflammation. Curcumin is the anti-inflammatory compound found in turmeric that makes it so powerful. Both ground and fresh turmeric has a pleasant earthy flavour, making it easy to combine with different fruits.

This smoothie also has lemon juice which has been shown to help prevent the formation of kidney stones. Pineapple and banana make up the cold base of this smoothie and have lots of gut healthy enzymes and fibre. Soluble fibre acts as a prebiotic in the gut, helping balance good bacteria levels.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this orange carrot smoothie.

Lemon: Just the juice of the lemon will be used in this smoothie.

Turmeric: This recipe calls for turmeric powder but fresh turmeric can also be used if you have some on hand.

Orange: Peel and remove any seeds before adding to the blender.

Carrot: Washed and peeled, roughly chopped.

Frozen pineapple & banana: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie and adds sweetness.

Cold water: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly.

For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Benefits

Hydrating

Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!

High fibre

Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.

Nutrient dense

Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.

Variations

Using fresh turmeric

Both ground and fresh turmeric have impressive health benefits so you don’t have to worry about using one over the other. To use fresh turmeric instead of ground turmeric replace the amount listed with 1 thumb-sized chunk. The peel can be left on if using a high power blender.

Adjust the consistency

If you prefer a thicker consistency you can try the recipe using a bit less liquid than what is suggested. If you want a thinner consistency, try adding a bit of extra liquid to the recipe.

Switch base ingredients

If you don’t like bananas then try something else as the base! Mango usually substitutes banana well. If you’re allergic to or simply dislike a suggested ingredient then try to find something with a similar texture that you enjoy the flavour of. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie, and you can always omit any ingredients you don’t have on hand.

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Pour into a glass and serve your orange carrot smoothie.

Prep & Blending

Add ingredients in the correct order

Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.

Use a tamper

Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Don’t over blend

Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.

Use a high power blender

For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.

Chill your glass

By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!

FAQ’s

Will turmeric stain my blender?

Turmeric is a highly pigmented root but the amount of turmeric in this smoothie will likely wash right out of your blender container without any issue. Some very slight staining may occur if a large amount of turmeric is used. Wash the blender right away after making your smoothie.

Can I lose weight with smoothies?

Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.

Can smoothies be refrigerated?

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar.

Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.

How can I increase the protein?

If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.

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