Even if you’re new to the health and wellness world, you’ve probably heard about the risk factors associated with chronic inflammation. It can wreak havoc on so many aspects of your health, including your sleep hygiene, weight loss goals, stress levels, energy, and so much more. So, how do we cool prolonged inflammation? With simple healthy lifestyle choices such as adequate sleep, regular exercise, stress management, and of course, a healthy diet!
Speaking of diet, your food choices play a huge role in managing inflammation — and how you start your day matters! The good news? There are so many simple ways to kick off the day in a healthy way, including easy-prep smoothies. Starting your day with a nutrient-rich smoothie is not only a quick and convenient breakfast option, but it’s also an easy way to load up your meal with anti-inflammatory foods. Plus, they’re easy to customize and delicious to enjoy.
So, let’s get blending, shall we? Ahead, delicious and refreshing smoothies full of anti-inflammatory superfoods to cool inflammation and supercharge your day!
Anti-inflammatory Foods That Make Delicious Smoothie Add-Ins
The good thing about anti-inflammatory foods is that there are plenty of them — this makes it easy to fit these nutrient-dense foods into your clean eating plan without getting bored of eating the same thing.
We’ve added the following foods to the anti-inflammatory breakfast smoothies below.
Berries
Berries are one of the most talked-about anti-inflammatory foods and often one of the easiest to add to a healthy eating plan. Blueberries are loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties — particularly anthocyanins — to help cool inflammation. And while blueberries already have the highest antioxidant capacity of all traditional fruits and veggies, wild blueberries are even more antioxidant-rich (providing up to twice the amount of anthocyanins!). They also pack in a hefty dose of dietary fiber to keep blood sugar levels in check and your digestion running smoothly.
Berries can be added to your morning breakfast smoothie or even on top of your bowl of oatmeal for a delicious anti-inflammatory breakfast.
Turmeric
Turmeric has received a ton of attention for its anti-inflammatory properties, and for good reason. According to research, this powerful spice contains both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
P.S. To enhance turmeric’s anti-inflammatory powers, add a small sprinkle of black pepper! Research shows it can increase the bioavailability of curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) by up to 2000%!
Pineapple
Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that also holds anti-inflammatory health benefits. We combined pineapple and turmeric in one of the breakfast smoothies below as a powerful anti-inflammatory duo.
Cocoa
If you’re a chocolate fan, a blueberry cocoa smoothie will quickly become a welcome addition to your morning routine. And adding some chocolate to your morning can actually be a really healthy choice (so long as you’re choosing unsweetened!) Cocoa flavanols have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, plus some research suggests that cocoa may also contain both cognitive and mood-supporting properties — talk about a healthy breakfast win.
RELATED: Start Your Morning With This Mood-Boosting Chocolate Cookie Dough Smoothie
5 Delicious Anti-inflammatory Breakfast Smoothies
Ready to start your day with a delicious anti-inflammatory breakfast smoothie? Here are five delicious recipes to consider adding to your morning routine.
#1 Pineapple Turmeric Smoothie
A refreshing anti-inflammatory breakfast smoothie to kickstart your day. This pineapple smoothie will remind you of the tropics and is full of wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond or coconut milk
- 1 cup of fresh or frozen pineapple
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk yogurt
- 1 tsp. ground turmeric
- 1 tsp. honey
- Dash black pepper, optional
Directions:
Step #1: Blend everything in a high-speed blender.
Step #2: Sip and enjoy!
#2 Blueberry Cocao Breakfast Smoothie
Blueberries + cocoa make for a decadent anti-inflammatory breakfast smoothie and a delicious way to satisfy a chocolate craving! Add a handful of dark leafy greens for an added boost — you won’t even taste it!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup of frozen blueberries
- 1 Tbsp. raw cacao nibs
- 1 Tbsp. almond butter
- 1 Tbsp unsweetened cacao powder, optional
- 1 cup fresh or frozen spinach, optional
- Ice, to blend (as desired)
Directions:
Step #1: Add everything to a blender and blend until creamy.
Step #2: Enjoy!
#3 Rise & Shine Green Smoothie
If you’re new to the green smoothie game, this is the perfect anti-inflammatory breakfast smoothie to start with. You can add a handful of spinach to this smoothie without altering the taste, and you can add some avocado for added creaminess. Toss in some ground flaxseeds for some added fiber and plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. This is such a mild-tasting green smoothie that most kiddos will approve too!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 frozen banana
- ½ of a sliced ripe avocado (fresh or frozen)
- 1 handful of spinach, fresh or frozen
- 1-3 tsp pure maple syrup or raw honey
- 1 Tbsp ground flaxseeds
Directions:
Step #1: Toss everything into a blender and blend up this ultimate green smoothie until smooth and creamy. Pour into a glass, sip, and enjoy.
#4 Raspberry Chia Anti-inflammatory Smoothie
Raspberries are another one of our top anti-inflammatory fruit picks. Blend up some raspberries with chia seeds for some added omega-3s, and sweeten with honey. This also makes the ideal pre or post-workout fuel to supercharge your energy and help promote muscle recovery.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- 1 cup frozen raspberries
- 2 tsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder
- 1-2 tsp manuka honey, optional
Directions:
Step #1: Add everything to a blender and blend until creamy. Taste test, adjusting any ingredients as desired. Serve and enjoy!
#5 Avocado Mint Cacao Smoothie
Who says anti-inflammatory breakfast smoothies can’t taste like dessert? This avocado mint cacao smoothie literally tastes like a mint chip shake, so if you’re looking for a sweet way to start your day without the added sugar, this smoothie is for you.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 frozen banana
- ½ of a ripe avocado, fresh or frozen
- 1 handful of fresh mint leaves
- ½ – 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup or raw honey
- 1 Tbsp raw cacao nibs
- 1-2 Tbsp cacao powder, optional
Directions:
Step #1: Toss all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
Step #2: Enjoy as a refreshing breakfast or mid-day snack.
Start Your Day Off Right
Ready to take your breakfast to a whole new level? Try one of these anti-inflammatory breakfast smoothies. They are easy to make and require minimal cleanup, making these breakfast smoothies an easy win. The best part? You can adapt them to your taste preference.
Not feeling a smoothie for breakfast? Enjoy one for a snack or meal replacement during the day. You really can’t go wrong.
Looking for more smoothie recipes? Consider joining FitOn PRO for access to personalized meal plans and exclusive recipes to reach your fitness goals faster without counting calories and with foods you’ll love to eat.
