Food Babe Family - Header

The Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie That Will Heal You From The Inside Out

I have been battling a tailbone injury on and off for the last 3 years. When I fell on it 3 years ago, all the nerves surrounding my spine and lower back felt like they were on FIRE! I was traveling for work at the time, and had to be pumped full of morphine just to get on the plane back home. I was bedridden for 3 weeks and miserable. And to top it off, my tailbone doctor said I only had one option for relief – removing my tailbone. Hearing his prognosis was devastating to me, because it meant that I would be unable to sit for at least 3 months and endure lots of physical therapy to regain muscle and strength in my body, not mention having a very expensive surgery, having to take lots of prescription drugs, and missing work and life. So instead of going under the knife, I told him and myself – I can heal myself naturally. And I did it through rest, diet and regular acupuncture treatments (yes – needles right into my butt!).

But then I fell again and re-injured the same spot. Oops.

IMG_8751

Needless to say, I went straight to acupuncture and will continue on the same path of recovery. I’ll be taking my turmeric supplements and not running or jumping for a while, doing lots of elliptical, stair-stepping, and walking and low impact exercise like Barre. I’ll be having lots and lots of anti-inflammatory foods, so I can make sure my body is healing to its best capacity. That means limiting white flour, sugars, processed foods, etc. and eating lots of plant-based foods like in our Meal Plans for Health program.

One of the most powerful anti-inflammatory foods is ginger. Studies are coming out left and right, showing that ginger is more powerful than even drugs. Drugs like Advil, Aleve and Tylenol only work on one level to “block the formation of inflammatory compounds.  Ginger, on the other hand, blocks the formation of the inflammatory compounds–prostaglandins and leukotrienes–and also has antioxidant effects that break down existing inflammation and acidity in the fluid within the joints.”

Throwing a big hunk of ginger into my daily green smoothies has been the best idea ever. I’ll be having this smoothie after my low-impact workouts. This smoothie uses hemp protein powder which is one of the most incredible sources of easily digestible protein that isn’t acid forming. For those that want to try this type of protein – I buy Nutiva hemp because I vote with my dollars. Nutiva is a rock star company who supports GMO labeling and transparency in the food system (my investigations!), and they have given over 1.5 million dollars towards supporting sustainable agriculture.

If you are battling an aliment or just want to feel good – this smoothie rocks. The addition of cranberries helps reduce water weight too – a little aesthetically pleasing benefit that makes you look good too.

Food Babe's Ginger Berry Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie
 
Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons hemp protein powder
  • 2 inch piece of ginger (peeled if not organic)
  • 2 cups of leafy greens (kale, collards, romaine, spinach, chard, etc.)
  • 1 cup of celery
  • 1 cup of mixed frozen berries of your choice (strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, etc)
  • ½ cup filtered water
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 1 min or until smooth
  2. Serve immediately or store in airtight container for up to 1 day
Notes
***Please choose all organic ingredients if possible***

 

IMG_8730

If you see me out and about, I’ll be the girl sitting on the donut pillow. Please don’t laugh.

In hopes of healing fast,

Food Babe

 

P.S. If you know someone who is popping pills left and right, share this recipe with them – I know they will be forever grateful.

 

 

 

Food Babe Family - Book
Food Babe Grocery Guide

Sign Up For Updates

And Get A FREE Healthy Grocery Guide Sent To You Now!

Find out what to buy and where at the top grocery stores near you

Posts may contain affiliate, sponsorship and/or partnership links for products Food Babe has approved and researched herself. If you purchase a product through an affiliate, sponsorship or partnership link, your cost will be the same (or at a discount if a special code is offered) and Food Babe will benefit from the purchase. Your support is crucial because it helps fund this blog and helps us continue to spread the word. Thank you.

376 responses to “The Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie That Will Heal You From The Inside Out

  1. As for your injury, I have experiences helping out tail bone injuries.
    One is a high school girl fell from a horse back and injured tail bone, which MD said she needed surgery for repair. Her mother, nurse, didn’t want and tried to find help for her.
    The other one is a lady, who were jerked backward by her dog while walking him and injured her tail bone.
    Both suffered a lot they said, excruciating pains and intolerable headaches.
    Both cases were get better fortunately in one session. Maybe because it is acute cases and bones could get back to normal position easily 😉 as simple as that 😉
    Anyway, I agree with you being natural with every aspect of our life as far as we can 😉 Our body is miraculous. It would do miraculous jobs with a little help from us for bringing the temporarily misplaced condition back to normal 😉
    Surgery can of course be the very last resort.
    my 2 cents 😉

  2. Food babe, first off love your web site. Really enjoying your posts. Have you ever heard of Vemma. It is one of the most powerful liquid antioxidants and is an has been proven by independent Brunswich clinical lab to significantly reduce inflammation, boost immune function and raise your antioxidant level by 18%. my 4 yr old son had asthma like symptoms and they have completely gone away since taking it. It has been a god send bc i was desperately not wanting to give him the inhaler!! Honestly i would LOVE your feed back on the Vemma flagship product.

  3. Always believer of lots of ginger in my diet…yes it is great for the body, including for blood circulation…CHEERS!

  4. This recipe sounds great- no doubt, an alkaline smoothie for healing. My only problem is when people I respect (Food Inc) promote someone who writes terribly.

    1. A diet full dark leafy vegetables and little to no refined sugar. Sugar and caffeine effect the mood a lot!

      1. Add probiotic yoghurt to your smoothie, definitely helps with anxiety (Google it for more info on this)

  5. Thank you for sharing this, can’t wait to try it!
    Have you tried CranioSacral Therapy for your tailbone? Its is great work and I have had much success working on people w tail bone injuries! Check out http://www.upledger.com for a therapist in your area. Look for someone that at least has 3 or more classes for the best results.
    Good luck!
    Marie 🙂

    1. For better results see an actual Osteopathic Doctor someone who has the education to perform such a therapy and yes it is also covered by medical..:)

  6. Thank you for sharing! My husband has dealt issues back pain for quite some time. How often and how much do you suggest eating ginger to see some benefits from it?

  7. Just curious, is the hemp powder only for the protein or does it also help with inflammation? I just don’t care for the taste, but can tolerate it if its beneficial. Thanks!

  8. Thanks for sharing. I too injured my tailbone and endured years of pain until my new chiropractor told me to do kegels. Laugh – I did until i tried the exercise. ooohhhh that hurt. But now I am pain free.

  9. Looks great. How much is a 2 inch piece of ginger? It makes a big difference if it’s a fat root vs. a skinny root.

      1. I don’t think that’s what she meant. My answer would be, about the size of your thumb.

  10. Hi Vani, I’m so sorry to read about your injuries. Yes, to the donut pillow. In 1983, while learning to snow ski on a beginner’s hill in Wisconsin, I fell while turning left…13 times. I was persistant and finally broke my tailbone. I remember well the pain. It was like none other-ever! Well, like you, I mended myself, donut and all.
    That wonderful pillow went with me everywhere for a very, very long time. You know…. I am fine now w/o any hint of pain. My tailbone is a bit crooked, but still fine w/o any surgeries. I’m a 66 yr old woman, very active, eat only organic foods, fussy about my diet. My choice is to live my life without the need for any prescription drugs. Foods are my medicine. But! Wait!! I don’t get sick. No headaches or whatever. How good is this? I’m doing really well as if I was still a child. Really. No matter what I hear from friends, in town, or anywhere else, our good diets really do keep a body and mind healthy. Don’t every give up, Vani. You have chosen to help so many others and, you do just that. Thank you and Happy Healing. Time heals all. Patty

  11. For some reason my comment was only partially posted. My purpose in writing wasn’t simply to note Food Babe’s obvious beauty, but the server clipped my comments. Suffice to say I’ve enjoyed the recipe and many thanks! Be well. Tschüss 🙂

  12. Dear Food Babe,
    I feel your pain I just recovered from a back injury nearly a year later. I’m about to start my water aerobics classes again. I was recently looking at the Eliptigo I’m sure you have seen it. I can’t tell you how much I want one of these however, the price is just a little out of my budget at the moment. If you haven’t checked out their web site yet do so I think you’ll agree this is a phenomenal piece of exercise equipment.
    I hope your progress is speedy and the discomfort minimal.

    GiGi

  13. HI, Great recipe. If you battle constant inflammation due to injury, how often should you drink this in a week/month…etc??

  14. Try Feldenkrais exercise. It’s amazing and very easy on the body. I had chronic hip pain which was drastically reduced by just one session!!

  15. Try out Ozone Therapy Vani, my results and many professional athletes results have been amazing! Hit me up for any questions! Ciao

  16. The answer to your tailbone issue is Chiropractic. You will be amazed with the results. Chiropractic is non-invasive and works wonders. People often slip and fall on their coccyx and have those symptoms. We have seen great results in our office! Acupuncture is great but doesn’t address the structure of the spine. The spinal cord is actually anchored at the coccyx so people who have had an injury resulting in an internal or external coccyx often experience intense pain, even headaches. Chiropractic is simply amazing!

  17. I would suggest Rossiter for your pain. It can often remove long-standing pain in one session. There are not many practitioners, but as you are always traveling, you should be able to find someone.
    The smoothie sounds good.

  18. Defense Anti-Inflammatory Support Dietary Supplement assists the body’s natural process for regulating its own inflammation, using all natural ingredients to assist in maintaining healthy levels of inflammation at a cellular level. Endorsed by David Lyons who was featured on Dr. Oz, Fox & CBS.

  19. Is it ok to buy non -organic walmart ginger and peel it? ( comes from China!)

    I don’t always have the time to drive to whole foods and walmart is much closer…

    1. Pompo, I wouldn’t. Root veggies absorb the largest amount of pesticides etc, Walmart looks for the cheapest sources it can find, and China is known for bad contamination issues. This combination would keep me going to whole foods for organic ginger.

  20. Ooo, I feel your pain 🙁 I fractured my coccyx a few years ago. For months after I would almost pass out with pain every time I stood up. Still bothers me from time to time. I will definitely be adopting this recipe. Thanx. Lx

  21. I feel your pain!! I just fell down my parents hard oak stairs on Saturday night (only down 1 or 2, thank goodness!) and fell RIGHT onto my tailbone. Hurts to sit or lay on it but isn’t awful when standing or walking. I am definitely going to try your smoothie!! You said you’re using the elliptical trainer…… do you find that doesn’t aggrivate the spot? I am an exercise maniac and need to do SOMETHING while this heals!!

  22. I will use Arbonne’s Vegan protein powder with this recipe. Provides 20 grams of protein, great vanilla taste, no GMO’S, soy, whey or gluten. All natural & no artificial colors or flavors.

  23. I had Severe RA.. For two years I battled dropping things from my hands and just pain from walking was enough to make me tear up… I used Tumeric in EVERYTHING and it cured my RA today I am a runner, not marathons or anything, but I run ALOT! My knees and joints and my lower back KILL me on cold and rainy days, but I just turn up the Tumeric. I will add ginger back into my routine tho I do sprinkle it in my green tea every morning, but I will write to buy the root again. Hope you get the relief you need VERY soon! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

    1. How many Tumeric tabs do you have to take to make the pain go away? I was taking three but pain still persisted in neck. I will try using a larger 2″ piece of ginger in the hopes that that will work…..something’s got to take this stiff knot out of neck.

    2. My sister swears by doing the following: 1 square inch of Tumeric root, 1 square inch of ginger, chop both up and pour 1/2 cup boiling water over the top. She lets it steep overnight and in the morning add half of a lemon juiced and hot water. She does this every morning and her pain is gone.

  24. take MSM, research it on the internet, it will help your body heal, it’s in the food we eat but poor soils, long time on a store shelf, cooking, processing etc we do not get what we should and live on long term shortage of it.

  25. Vani –

    I don’t know how you store your ginger, but here’s the best way.
    Take a ceramic flower pot and fill it 2/3-3/4 with soil, put the ginger on its side (so it lays flat) and then top with an inch or two of soil. Keep watered and in a light spot (mine is on my kitchen counter by the window), and your ginger will start to grow. When you need some, just reach in and break off a piece. You won’t need to peel it because the skin will be nice and thin – but the best part is that it will be sooooo juicy because it is alive. Also, it will eventually start to grow sprouts and leaves which can be harvested and cut up in a stir fry for a more subtle ginger flavor.
    Enjoy!

  26. Hi Food babe. Great recipe there. I ♥ ginger in my Hulk drinks too (a.k.a.green smoothie). I have a question, do you know any smoothie recipe that can help to alleviate headaches? I often get tension headaches around the occipital region, at the base of the skull, close to the neck due to muscle strain I guess. Been doing regular stretching when that happens. But is there any smoothies to help get rid of headaches like that?

  27. I took 4 800mg tabs of tumeric daily for a year now I just buy it freshly ground and cook with it….

  28. Trying to get off this sight – to much info ALL THE TIME -please take a break and take me off your sight!!!!!!! Good info but I do not want to hear from you more than once a month!!!!!!!!

  29. Thank you for all you do!!! I just found your website and I love it! Long story short, I have Fibromyalgia, but with 26 day detox, liver cleanse, clean eating and eliminating “Nightshades” from my diet – I don’t. I bring this up because blueberries are in your recipe and are a Nightshade.

    Just wondering if you are familiar with Nightshades. They contain Solanin,” a powerful inhibitor of cholinesterase and interferes with muscle movement – leading to stiffness, inflammation, and pain that can last weeks.” When I eat these it gives me an over all ache. When I don’t – I feel great. I have also been told that are an inflammatory marker. They are tomatoes, potatoes, peppers (red, green, yellow, pepper flakes, cayenne, paprika, chili powder), eggplant, blueberries, huckelberries, artichokes.

    The source of my information is “Pain/Inflammation Matters Recipes for Life” by Gloria Gilberre, N.D., D.A.HOM., Ph.D

    Hope this helps someone else out there.:) It is critical for me.

  30. Fácil ingrediente de la tela de identificación: Abajo composición Productos Tela previo al análisis cualitativo, para entender los tipos y las propiedades de las fibras, que se identifica con un método simple, y luego enviado a una muestra de la organización de pruebas profesionales, analizados por métodos químicos.

  31. My only problem with this Food Babe is that it mixes fruits and vegetables together. Many years ago as a child, my mother always told me that mixing fruits and vegs together was a no-no as they each take different enzymes to digest properly. For what it is worth!

  32. The hemp also has a high quantity of Omega 3s which are also anti-inflammatory. Try adding two tablespoons of tart cherry juice concentrate to this mix as well. I was on narcotic pain relievers for pain from inflammation. I’m not sure which of the ingredients was responsible for the pain relief but this was magic. About two weeks into drinking this twice per day (1/2 for breakfast, 1/2 for lunch) I woke up one morning and was pain free. It was sudden and not gradual. I now have a smoothie twice a day on most days. That also helps avoid a lot of the foods that contribute to inflammation.

  33. any thoughts on substituting ginger powder for fresh ginger…how much would you substitute I guess is a better question.

  34. Love this recipe! I might also add sour cherries to this mix. They have anti inflammatory goodness in them too!

  35. Is this recipe freezable? Would love to make a big batch on the weekend and freeze in individual servings to take out of freezer every day!!!

  36. Oh my gosh!!! Cut out your tailbone and pain meds?!?? Absolute insanity. That’s modern medicine’s answer to everything…surgery and drugs. I stay away from MDs at all costs. CHIROPRACTIC is the solution…plain and simple.

  37. Dear Food Babe,
    The best body work treatment I’ve found for injuries and reducing inflammation is myofascial release–a very gentle and safe approach to healing. If you’d like to learn more about it, check out http://www.myofascialrelease.com,you can also search for a practitioner in your area through that site. I highly recommend it! 🙂
    Best wishes for a quick recovery,
    Sheila

  38. Hi Food Babe, thanks for ALL you do, you are my idol!! I have a question for you. What’s your take on Procter and Gamble buying New Chapter vitamins? So far, from what I can tell, they haven’t changed anything, but I HATE to support them. Anything you are seeing? I typically take all MegaFoods vitamins, but my collagen and turmeric supplements are YouTheory (I admit, I have researched YouTheory much though). Anyway, just wanted your take. Thanks again!

    1. It’s not just about the product and whether changes have been made to it…it’s also about causes the company supports or blocks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

food babe with grocery cart - footer image