Immune Boosting Smoothie Recipes

4 Easy Immune Boosting Smoothie Recipes with 2 Layers Each

4 Green Smoothies to Boost Immune System + 4 Immunity Smoothie “Toppers!”

Adding one of these immune boosting smoothie recipes to your daily routine is a simple way to strengthen your immune system naturally! I’ve got 4 green smoothies to boost immune system health, each with an immunity smoothie “topper” to pack in even more nutrients.

Of course, you don’t have to make these as double-layered smoothies if you’d rather keep things simple. You can enjoy just the green smoothie recipe base on its own, or just the immunity smoothie topper as its own smoothie. Whatever you’d prefer, you’ve got 8 immune boosting smoothie recipes to choose from here!

Each recipe is packed with immune supporting nutrients from real, whole foods. And, for an added immunity boost, I like to add a scoop of my new, favorite, all-star supplement: Athletic Greens! It’s like a buffet of immune boosting nutrients that comes in a convenient, all-in-one package—and I love how easy it is to incorporate into any green smoothie recipe I want.

As with any ingredient you’ll see in my immune boosting smoothie recipes, you don’t need Athletic Greens in order to make any particular smoothie. But, it is an amazing addition if you’re trying to figure out how to boost your immune system naturally and easily!

How to Make Healthy Smoothies to Boost Immune System

First and foremost, NO supplement or smoothie can substitute for an overall healthy diet and lifestyle. If you’re eating well, making time for movement, getting enough sleep, and managing stress, you’re already doing some of the BEST things you can for your immune system! But, these immune boosting smoothie recipes can certainly provide some powerful support.

Part of why I like Athletic Greens is it’s not trying to be a replacement. It truly supplements an already-healthy lifestyle. It eliminates the need for taking a multivitamin or tons of capsules, and I can add it into a smoothie as part of a healthy meal or snack. Plus, Athletic Greens also supports healthy energy levels, hormone balance, gut health—much more than just immunity!

Also important to note: making healthy smoothies to boost immune system health isn’t about using a particular supplement. The true secret lies in using nutritious, colorful whole foods that are rich in essential nutrients. Our immune systems are complex, and we need a variety of quality nutrients to keep things in tip-top condition!

Immune Boosting Smoothie Nutrients

Again, the first and best thing ANY of us can do to boost the immune system naturally is focus on our overall healthy lifestyle! And as part of that healthy routine, it can help to incorporate supplements and/or immunity smoothie recipes like these. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most powerful immune supporting nutrients in the recipes that follow:

VITAMIN C

• A powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, which can damage the immune system.
• May increase white blood cell production, which fight off foreign pathogens.
• Some evidence that it may be particularly helpful in boosting the immune systems of people under major stress.
• Since the body can’t produce or store vitamin C, we need it in daily doses from fruits and veggies (~200mg/day).

VITAMIN E

• Another powerful, free-radical fighting antioxidant.
• Boosts immune cell activity, supporting the body’s ability to defend itself from foreign invaders.
• Sufficient vitamin E intake (found in foods like nuts and seeds) is crucial for a healthy immune system, particularly in older people.

VITAMIN A (CAROTENOIDS)

• Carotenoids are a type of antioxidant that are found in yellow, orange and red pigments in plant-based foods. (i.e. beta carotene in carrots, sweet potato, etc.)
• When consumed, carotenoids convert into vitamin A—which helps regulate the immune system and produce white blood cells.
• Vitamin A also helps to form the protective mucous membranes that line the respiratory tract, keeping germs out.

VITAMIN B6

• Vital to the formation of new, healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen from our lungs to the rest of the body.
• Also supports some important biochemical reactions in the immune system.

ZINC

• An essential mineral involved in the production of certain immune cells.
• Even mildly low levels of zinc can impair immune function!
• The recommended daily intake for adult females is 8mg, and 11mg for males. (Recommended intake increases for pregnant women.)

SELENIUM

• This essential mineral also has potent antioxidant effects, protecting cells from free radical damage.
• Research shows that adequate selenium can enhance immunity, while a deficiency can delay our immune response.

PROBIOTICS

• These are the good bacteria that we need to support the balance of our gut microbiome.
• It’s now well-known that gut health = immune system health, especially considering that around 70% of the immune system lives in the gut!
• Most of us have also heard of leaky gut, which is a major cause of immune system weaknesses as well as autoimmune disease.

OMEGA-3s

• Essential fatty acids with a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, crucial to keeping chronic inflammation at bay and keeping the immune system in check.
• Omega-3s and anti-inflammatory foods can have a protective effect against the development of immune system disorders and autoimmune diseases.

IMMUNE BOOSTING SMOOTHIES | 4 Green Smoothie Recipes

Green Smoothie Recipes + Immunity Smoothie Toppers

For some inspiration on your immunity smoothie journey, check out the double-layer immune boosting smoothie recipes that I came up with! Each recipe features a base green smoothie recipe PLUS an immunity smoothie topper—for some colorful flare and an added immune system boost.

Of course, if you’d rather just make the base green smoothie recipe and skip the topper, go for it! Or, if the immunity smoothie topper recipe intrigues you more, go ahead and blend that up without the green smoothie base. Adjust the ingredients and ingredient amounts however you like, to come up with the immune boosting smoothie recipes that YOU want to drink!

TIPS for Double Layered Smoothies

Personally, I think the double-layering adds a nice touch to these immune boosting smoothie recipes. And when healthy food looks appealing, I enjoy it more! So, if you DO choose to prepare these as double-layer smoothies, here are some tips:

• Make sure that the bottom layer green smoothie is thick enough in texture to support the topper.
• For the thickest texture, make sure that your fruit is really frozen, and start with less liquid at first rather than more.
• Finally, if you need to thicken up any of these after blending, just add a spoonful of coconut flour and blend again until you’ve got the texture you like!

Orange Basil Immunity Smoothie

Bright, sweet, fragrant, and fresh—this orange basil smoothie is filled with rejuvenating flavor! The herbaceous, refreshing burst of basil pairs perfectly with the sweet citrus and tangy yogurt.

The bottom green smoothie layer has a bit more tang and a hint of bitterness, so it’s complemented beautifully by the sweet banana, sweet potato, and carrot top layer. Plus, this immune boosting smoothie contains powerful nutrients that can help maintain our body’s defenses, like vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants and probiotics!

Immune Boosting Smoothie Nutrients:

• Basil—good source of vitamin A, with 12% of the DV in ¼ cup.
• Parsley—just 2 Tbsp contains 16% of the DV for vitamin C, and 12% for vitamin A!
• Pineapple—around 65% of the DV for vitamin C in ½ cup.
• Yogurt—a quality source of probiotics, just be sure to choose an option with “live active cultures” listed on the label and/or ingredients list.
• Honey—rich in free-radical fighting antioxidants, and high-quality raw honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties!
• Pumpkin Seeds—just 1oz or ¼ cup offers 14% of the DV for zinc.
• Orange Juice—vitamin C content varies by the brand, but freshly-squeezed homemade orange juice can contain as much as 200% of the DV per glass!
• Banana—a single banana offers 20% of the DV for vitamin B6, and 16% for vitamin C.
• Carrots—in just two average baby carrots, you can get 60% of the DV for vitamin A.
• Sweet Potato—just ⅓ cup of cubes contains 125% of the DV for vitamin A!

Tropical Coconut Smoothie

Take a trip to a tropical paradise by sipping on this tropical coconut smoothie! Sweet and creamy, with some bright tropical flare, it’s like immune boosting smoothie meets DIY piña colada.

For an added boost, I used a scoop of Athletic Greens in this recipe—which adds a subtle, earthy, sweet flavor but contains NO added sugars. But, even if you whip up this immunity smoothie without the Athletic Greens, it’s still loaded with immune supporting nutrients like vitamin C, selenium, and probiotics!

Immune Boosting Smoothie Nutrients:

• Avocado—though it varies by size, just ½ an avocado can offer as much as 10% of the DV for vitamin E, 13% for vitamin B6, and 17% for vitamin C!
• Pineapple—around 65% of the DV for vitamin C in ½ cup.
• Mango—just ½ cup of mango can contain 38% of the DV for vitamin C, and 13% for vitamin A.
• Coconut Milk—1 cup offers a variety of nutrients, like vitamin C (11% DV), zinc (11% DV), and selenium (21%).
• Yogurt—a quality source of probiotics, just be sure to choose an option with “live active cultures” listed on the label and/or ingredients list.

 

Green Apple Berry Smoothie

This immunity smoothie recipe brings together tart green apple with sweet strawberry banana—to make one deliciously double-layered drink! Between the tartness of the green apple, the tangy yogurt, and the refreshing ginger in the bottom green smoothie layer, you won’t even taste the generous helping of superfood kale that’s blended in.

Topped with a simple strawberry banana layer, this one may be my favorite immunity boosting smoothie of them all! And of course, it’s a nutritional powerhouse—with or without the Athletic Greens—offering loads of vitamin C, vitamin E, and potent antioxidants.

Immune Boosting Smoothie Nutrients:

• Green Apple—a single apple can offer as much as 14% of the DV for vitamin C.
• Kale—a nutritional powerhouse, with just 1 cup containing more than the total DV for vitamin A (206%) and vitamin C (134%).
• Ginger Root—contains one of the most potent anti-inflammatory compounds on earth (gingerols), along with powerful antioxidants.
• Yogurt—a quality source of probiotics, just be sure to choose an option with “live active cultures” listed on the label and/or ingredients list.
• Almond Milk—it can vary by brand, but 1 cup of almond milk can contain between 20-50% of the DV for vitamin E, while 1oz of almonds contains 37% of the DV.
• Honey—rich in free-radical fighting antioxidants, and high-quality raw honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties!
• Strawberries—just ½ cup of whole strawberries is loaded with 70% of the DV for vitamin C.
• Banana—a single banana offers 20% of the DV for vitamin B6, and 16% for vitamin C.

 

Mint Cacao Immunity Smoothie

For an indulgent, minty, chocolaty kind of immune boost, give this mint cacao immunity smoothie a try! This one is almost like dessert for breakfast—not too sweet, but perfectly rich, creamy, and flavorful.

The bottom layer is a sweet green smoothie with the refreshing flavor of fresh mint, not extract. And that’s topped off with a rich, smooth, buttery cacao smoothie layer! A fun, sippable treat that’s packed with vitamin E, vitamin B6, and zinc—nutritious immune support our bodies will appreciate.

Immune Boosting Smoothie Nutrients:

• Banana—a single banana offers 20% of the DV for vitamin B6, and 16% for vitamin C.
• Spinach—in 1 cup, contains around 56% of the DV for vitamin A, and 14% for vitamin C.
• Mint—a surprising source of vitamin A, with 14% of the DV per 3 Tbsp.
• Almond Butter—1oz of almonds offers 37% of the DV for vitamin E, and you can get 21% of the DV from just 1 Tbsp of almond butter!
• Vanilla Extract—has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
• Cashew Milk—one ounce of cashews contains around 11% of the DV for zinc, which is only slightly more than 1 cup of cashew milk.
• Cacao—this source of rich chocolaty flavor also offers some potent antioxidant benefits.
• Honey—rich in free-radical fighting antioxidants, and high-quality raw honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties!