I wouldn’t exactly call ginger ‘spicy’ but it does have the potential to spice up your life and add a little something special to your smoothies.
Ginger adds flavor, as well as lots of health benefits.
What Is Ginger Exactly?
Ginger is a plant that blooms flowers, coming from Southeast Asia. Understanding this plant is key to knowing how to use it right and what good it can do for you.
The part that we are familiar with is the stem that grows underground, which is otherwise known as the ‘rhizome‘. This is the part that is used for medicine and cooking.
This plant has a very long history of being used in traditional medicines, and it is still being studied to this very day for the health benefits that it can bring to us.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Ginger?
Ginger has so many health benefits you would not believe, from being a remedy for nausea and stomach discomfort to being able to relieve inflammation and pains.
It contains an active ingredient known as gingerol, which is a substance that has been shown to have super powerful anti-inflammatory effects, as well as antioxidant properties.
Ginger is even capable of battling the common cold and flu to help you get better!
To learn more about the benefits of ginger, click here.
How Should You Use Ginger Root For A Smoothie?
Firstly, peel that ginger! Use a vegetable peeler or spoon to peel away the skin and then chop or grate up the ginger root into much smaller parts.
If you are a fan of the taste of ginger and want a less-potent flavor, then a half teaspoon added to your smoothie should be perfect.
However, if you adore ginger, add a teaspoon or even two!
Fresh ginger has quite a potent taste, so it is always best, to begin with a half teaspoon and keep adding more until it tastes as you wish for it to. You can add more, but you can’t take it out.
But what if you do not have any fresh ginger root, what then?
Well, ginger powder is still good, you can use this form of ginger too.
When using ginger powder, use no more than a 1/4 teaspoon to begin, and then add more to taste.
Ginger powder can be even more potent than fresh ginger sometimes, so you want to ensure you do not overdo it!
A little can go a very long way when you are using ginger, even when you are using ginger powder.
It is always better to start slow and then add more in bit by bit, tasting it as you go along to make sure that you are not adding too much.
Top Tips For Using Ginger In A Smoothie
Not everyone will want to use ginger in their smoothies, but it can be a great way to get some awesome health benefits from having smoothies in your diet.
If you intend on using ginger in your smoothies, here are some top tips to ensure you make the most of it, and use it correctly.
- If you are not a fan of the taste that fresh ginger has, try seeping some in hot water for around 5 minutes before you add it to the smoothie. Doing this can help to mellow out the flavor, and it won’t affect the health benefits that you get either!
- Mix ginger with fruit and veg that will compliment its taste, such as carrots, apples, oranges, bananas, or pineapple.
- When using fresh ginger, ensure you put it in the fridge after, to prevent it from drying out. If you want to freeze it, you can do so.
- You can store ginger powder in a cool and dark location for half a year!
- Only add the ginger powder after you have already blended your other ingredients.
My Best Ginger Smoothie Recipe
Now that you are here, I might as well give you my best ginger smoothie recipe:
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Ginger Smoothie (Detox & Weight Loss)
A nutritious and health benefits-packed ginger and lemon smoothie, perfect to reduce inflammation, detox you, fight colds and flu, and aid weight loss!
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of freshly minced ginger (root)
- 1 lemon (juiced and zested)
- 1/2 apple diced
- 1 cup frozen mango (or pineapple)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 tsp manuka honey (or regular honey)
Instructions
- To a blender, add the mango and ginger first, followed by the rest of the ingredients.
- Blend for 2-3 minutes or until smooth.
- Pour into a cup and enjoy!
Notes
*For smoothie benefits, recipe notes, and more, scroll down!
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Smoothie
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 23.3g
- Fat: 5.3g
- Carbohydrates: 36.5g
- Fiber: 10.09
- Protein: 5.1g