The first time I tried blood oranges was about a year ago when I was following a rather strict paleo diet. Ever since then, I make it a point to always pick some up every time I go to the grocery store — I enjoyed them that much. So naturally it only made sense to come up with a smoothie recipe using them. Here’s the good news — this resulting blood orange paleo smoothie definitely exceeded all of my expectations. Using only four simple ingredients, you can make a delicious paleo-friendly smoothie that works wonders for giving your immune system a boost. You don’t have to follow a strict paleo diet like I did in order to enjoy some fantastic health benefits — simply making healthy smoothies like this one is a great way to supercharge your health.

Paleo-Friendly and Oh So Yummy

One of the main reasons I love this recipe so much is because of how simple it is to make. Requiring only four ingredients (plus some ice) to make, it was important to make sure that each of the ingredients used is as nutrient-dense as possible. Thankfully, this recipe succeeds on all counts. Starting with adding two blood oranges, you’ll be adding a rich source of antioxidants that studies have found help to improve your overall antioxidant defense system. (1) Blood oranges contain anthocyanin antioxidants which are responsible for giving them their blood red color. Those same anthocyanins also help to reduce inflammation and lower LDL cholesterol levels as well. (2)

One cup of frozen mango chunks adds another great source of disease-fighting antioxidants to this recipe while also providing a delightful tropical taste to it. Mangoes provide numerous great health benefits, thanks to their antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-cancer effects. (3) The point of the paleo diet is to optimize your health, increase your mental clarity and energy levels, and reduce your risk of chronic diseases — adding tasty ingredients like mangoes is a great way to do just that.

The antioxidant benefits continuing by adding in ½ tsp of sliced ginger, which gives the smoothie a delightfully spicy hint while also offering some incredibly potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. (4) Ginger is one of my favorite ingredients to use when making smoothies, and it’s equally as good when using it to make fresh juice with a juice extractor. You should definitely make a habit of including more ginger in your smoothies!

You can finish the recipe off by adding your choice of either coconut water or regular water along with a bit of ice. I prefer coconut water because I love the taste of it and it’s a great way to stay hydrated thanks to its electrolyte content. Both options work perfectly well when making this smoothie though, so the choice is entirely up to you.