Iron Rich Smoothie
Many pre-menopausal women are low in their iron stores due to a monthly cycle and postpartum. This Iron Rich Smoothie is a great way to naturally help increase iron levels. Plus, it tastes great and is a satisfying breakfast or meal replacement smoothie.
Green smoothies can be delicious, even when you aren’t used to the color! This one is naturally sweetened with a date and includes lots of iron-rich plant based ingredients. One serving of this iron-rich smoothie contains almost 4 grams of iron, or almost 20% of the recommended daily intake.
Even kids say they can’t taste spinach in a smoothie, so you will enjoy this recipe even knowing what goes into it.
Why You Need This Recipe
- Most all pre-menopausal can use more iron in our diets. Whether you’re having a monthly cycle or you are postpartum, it is very common for women of child-bearing age to have iron-deficiency anemia. This means that you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. This particular recipe is part of my round-up of the best breastfeeding smoothies for new moms. Kids can also have low iron too! Getting iron from whole foods is always great, even if you also need to take an iron supplement.
- Iron supplements can cause constipation so this fiber-rich smoothie is a great option.
- The banana, date, and molasses add a great sweetness here.
Key Ingredients
Spinach is a dark, leafy green that is rich in plant-based iron (also called non-heme iron). Try using baby spinach for a tender leafy green that blends well into smoothies.
Bananas are naturally sweet and when frozen make this smoothie creamy. See my guide on how to freeze bananas.
Orange juice is full of vitamin C which helps your body absorb iron. It’s perfect to use to keep this smoothie dairy-free. Feel free to swap out the orange juice for other liquids like prune juice which are also high in vitamin C and iron.
Blackstrap molasses is again, an iron-rich food! It has a strong taste but is great mixed with the other ingredients.
Pepitas (also known as pumpkin seeds) are rich in plant-based iron and healthy fats. They also add some protein.
Recipe Steps
Step One
Add ingredients to the jar of a high-powered blender in the order given.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Blend until smooth and creamy and serve!
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- If you want a thicker smoothie, feel free to add a handful of ice cubes before blending.
- If you want to increase the protein content of this smoothie, feel free to add 1-2 scoops of your favorite unsweetened protein powder. I recommend using a beef protein powder or cricket protein powder to add even more heme (bioavailable) iron to this smoothie. You can also check out my list of the best clean protein powders or the best protein powders for pregnancy.
- This recipe can easily be doubled if you want more servings.
Recipe FAQs
Yes it is, as no dairy or even milk alternatives are used. Orange juice is the liquid to allow everything to blend and a date is used as a natural sweetener.
In order for the spinach to fully blend into the smoothie, I find a high-powered blender fairly necessary. You can always try blending the spinach into the juice before adding the other ingredients to see if that works for you in a regular blender.
Animal foods generally have the most iron and are the best absorbed. That said, there are lots of plant foods that also have high iron content. Legumes, some nuts and seeds, and leafy greens can all help improve your iron intake. Just be sure to also consume vitamin C-rich foods like citrus or red bell peppers to help with the absorption of iron.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes You Might Like
- Anti-Cancer Green Smoothie
- Constipation Smoothie
- Strawberry Protein Smoothie
- Turmeric Shot
- Weight Gain Chocolate Smoothie
- Liver Detox Green Smoothie
Check Out These Articles About Women’s Health
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Iron Rich Smoothie (Plant-Based)
Many pre-menopausal women are low in iron stores. This Iron Rich Smoothie is a great way to naturally help increase iron levels. Plus, it tastes great and is a satisfying breakfast or meal replacement smoothie.
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 ripe kiwi, cut in half (peeled or unpeeled)
- 1 frozen banana, broken into chunks
- 1 pitted date or prune
- 2 handfuls baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons unsalted raw pumpkin seeds
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
Instructions
- In the base of a high-speed blender, combine the orange juice, kiwi, banana, date, spinach, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder, and molasses.
- Lock on the lid and blend for 30-45 seconds, or until the mixture is fully combined and creamy.
- Serve immediately.
Equipment
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Notes
- If you want a thicker smoothie, feel free to add a handful of ice cubes before blending.
- If you want to increase the protein content of this smoothie, feel free to add 1-2 scoops of your favorite unsweetened protein powder. I recommend using a beef protein powder or cricket protein powder to add even more heme (bioavailable) iron to this smoothie.
- This recipe can easily be doubled if you want more servings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: postpartum green smoothie, iron smoothie, plant based iron smoothie
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This is one of my favorite smoothies! Tastes great and easy to make.
★★★★★