Did you know that vitamin-C-rich foods such as oranges enhance iron absorption? Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, get recipes & tips every week!
…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:
Easy Spinach & Potato Curry (Aloo Palak) Red Lentil Curry (Masoor Dal) Sarson Ka Saag
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! 😊 SaveSave
