Iron-Boosting Orange Green Smoothie
This iron-boosting orange green smoothie combines iron-rich ingredients with vitamin C to help enhance iron absorption.
“I really loved this recipe. I have also struggled with low iron and excited to try this supplement too. I love your beautiful pictures on your site as well.”
Erika
Did you know that vitamin-C-rich foods such as oranges enhance iron absorption?
…You did? Okay.
BUT did you know fermented foods such as yogurt also increase the availability of iron? Even though calcium inhibits iron absorption, fermented foods seem to do the opposite.
And many of us could use a little boost. According to the World Health Organization, 2 billion people – more than 30% of the world’s population (!!!) – are anemic. (Iron-deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia.)
You know what that means? It means you need this iron-boosting orange green smoothie in your life!
Especially if you are a woman, pregnant (or both), a child or a cute baby.
Which reminds me of why I created this smoothie in the first place…
Like most moms, much of my life revolves around my baby’s food intake. It’s an obsession, really.
“Is she eating enough?”
“Is she getting all the nutrients she needs?”
And since iron stores start to deplete at 6 months, “Is she getting enough iron?” This one especially plagues my mind.
I offer her iron-rich foods, but since she’d much rather see said foods splatter on the floor or decorate the walls, and is currently eyeing anything in my cup/glass/mug, I thought of the perfect solution — green smoothies!
I set out to create a smoothie with foods that provide iron: spinach and chia seeds, and pair them with foods that enhance iron absorption: orange juice and yogurt…and Viola!
The creamy base of banana, the refreshing taste of citrus with the slight tartness of the yogurt….This smoothie is packed with nutrition and a treat for everyone, iron deficient or not.
P.S. If you love healing drinks, don’t miss my Turmeric Milk or Masala Chai!
More Vegan/Vegetarian Iron-Rich recipes:
2022 Disclaimer: When creating the recipe, I thought the small amount of calcium in 1/4 cup yogurt wouldn’t block iron absorption, but the smoothie would get the benefits of probiotics (and honestly, taste!) of the yogurt. In hindsight, given I’m not a nutritionist or doctor, I’m really not qualified to offer any health benefits, just a great-tasting smoothie! 😊
Iron-Boosting Orange Green Smoothie
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 ripe banana, previously frozen
- 1 (~125-135 grams, peeled) tangerine or small navel orange
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt, (optional)*
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 3 ice cubes
- 1/2 Medjool date, (optional – add if needed)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the date to a blender and blend until smooth. Add a half of a Medjool date if more sweetness is desired and blend again. Add additional ice cubes as necessary to thicken and cool. Serve immediately.
Notes
63 Comments on “Iron-Boosting Orange Green Smoothie”
Hello, this looks delicious! However I don’t suggest adding any dairy because calcium inhibits iron absorption.Â
Orange juice is necessary bc Vit C facilitates iron absorption.Â
If you are anemic it is important to know the interactions like no antacids 2 hours before or after iron. Or else you are wasting your hard efforts. I have been there and struggle with iron deficiency anemia. So we want every effort to count 🙂
Hi Tiffani, Thank you for pointing that out. When creating the recipe, Izzah thought the small amount of calcium wouldn’t block iron absorption, but the smoothie would get the benefits of probiotics (and honestly, taste!) of the yogurt. In hindsight, given she is not a nutritionist or doctor, she feels she is not qualified to give that answer and has put a disclaimer up on the notes as well.