Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie for Colds & Coughing

My 4 year old caught his first cold of the season after his classmate coughed in his face. You can’t always avoid germs, but you can help fight them with food. This smoothie is my favorite way to help soothe his throat and calm his cough, naturally. The enzyme bromelain found in pineapple has anti-inflammatory, mucolytic (mucus reducing), and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Ginger is naturally anti-inflammatory and antiviral, specifically effective against rhinoviruses (the common cold). Manuka honey is a potent antioxidant and antimicrobial. This smoothie is also packed with immune-boosting nutrients vitamin C, B6, folate, manganese, and fiber. Bonus, it tastes delicious!

Ingredients

2 cups frozen pineapple (preferably with the core, where the highest concentration of bromelain is found)

1 tbsp minced ginger

2 tbsp manuka honey

Sources:

Brien S, Lewith G, Walker A, Hicks SM, Middleton D. Bromelain as a Treatment for Osteoarthritis: a Review of Clinical Studies. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2004;1(3):251-257.

Mashhadi NS, Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Hariri M, Darvishi L, Mofid MR. Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence. Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(Suppl 1):S36-42.

Alvarez-Suarez JM, Gasparrini M, Forbes-Hernández TY, Mazzoni L, Giampieri F. The Composition and Biological Activity of Honey: A Focus on Manuka Honey. Foods. 2014;3(3):420-432. Published 2014 Jul 21. doi:10.3390/foods3030420