Blueberry Ginger Collagen Smoothie (AIP, Paleo)

This Blueberry Ginger Collagen Smoothie is the perfect healthy spring or summer treat! Sweet blues, zingy ginger and gut-healing collagen come together for a delicious immune-boosting trifecta!

I don’t know about y’all, but it’s been rather difficult for me to get all my vegetable servings in, during self-isolation for coronavirus. I have stocked up on hearty vegetables, but in trying to avoid grocery stores, I haven’t been eating enough fresh greens.

But I realized a brilliant solution: Smoothies!

Smoothies pack so many vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants into one, delicious beverage. This Blueberry Ginger Collagen Smoothie has 3-4 servings of fruits and vegetables in one drink, for a nutrient-dense powerhouse!

Plus, it has gut-healing collagen peptides and anti-inflammatory ginger, for an all-around winner, in my book.

This ain’t no ordinary blueberry smoothie.

Why add collagen to your smoothie?

I’ve talked before about the benefits of collagen multiple times before, but it never hurts to have a refresher.

Collagen is a protein found in our skin, hair, nails, bones, tendons, and ligaments. It is the most abundant protein in our bodies, and is essential for bone and joint structure, as well as skin elasticity, strong hair and nails, and a healthy intestinal lining (hence: “gut-healing!”).

While our bodies do make their own collagen protein, collagen production diminishes as we age. Collagen production also requires certain precursors (such as vitamin C, zinc and copper) that many of our diets are lacking.

So, it can help to supplement with collagen, to promote a healthy intestinal lining, healthy joints, and vibrant hair, skin and nails. I don’t know about you, but as someone with two autoimmune diseases, I could always use a little help in all these areas!

Adding grass-fed collagen peptides to this Blueberry Ginger Collagen Smoothie could help:

• Promote healthy skin, hair and nails.
• Support a healthy gut lining.
• Ease joint stiffness and pain.
• Improve bone strength and elasticity.
• Support brain health.

However, I should mention, collagen peptides are not a “complete protein.” They do not provide all nine essential amino acids our bodies need to get from our diets. If you incorporate collagen into your diet, it should be an addition to other protein sources, not your only protein source. Make sure to eat a variety of proteins, including grass-fed meats, seafood and eggs, if you tolerate them.

Benefits of ginger

In addition to adding a perfect amount of zing to this Blueberry Ginger Collagen Smoothie, ginger has numerous health benefits!

Ginger can help:

• Improve digestion and reduce gas
• Fight colds and flus
• Reduce inflammation
• Alleviate pain
• Relieve nausea

Is there anything ginger can’t do?

Blueberry Ginger Collagen Smoothie Ingredients

this recipe!

Alright, on to the recipe! Here’s everything you’ll need:

• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 tsp fresh or frozen ginger, grated
  • I bought a bunch of fresh ginger awhile back and just pre-washed and dried it and then stored it in an airtight container the freezer. You can easily just pull a chunk out of the freezer and grate it while frozen and then return what you don’t use to the freezer
• 1/2 medium frozen banana
• 1-2 cups spinach
  • I like to buy a big container of pre-washed fresh spinach and then just throw it straight in the freezer for use in smoothies (like this!), soups and other dishes. Then I always have “fresh” greens on hand.
• 1/8 tsp vanilla powder
  • The vanilla powder I have linked to may seem expensive, but it lasts foreverrrr because you only use a tiny bit at a time.
• 1 scoop grass-fed collagen peptides
• 1-1/3 cup filtered water

Throw it all in your favorite high-speed blender and whiz until smooth (get it? SMOOTHie?).

Done and done! Drink up!

Looking for another delicious way to pack in nutrients? Try this Strawberry Mango Spinach Smoothie or this 5-Ingredient Chocolate Strawberry Collagen Smoothie!

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