Tropical Turmeric Smoothie

Why I reached for it this morning

I woke up with noticeable knee warmth and wrist stiffness—classic signs of a lupus symptom flare-up. I also had nausea - one of my precursor symptoms for migraines. My stomach felt settled enough for solid food, but I wanted something anti-inflammatory that wouldn’t require standing at the stove. This smoothie fits because:

• Turmeric (curcumin) and coconut’s lauric acid bring mild anti-inflammatory support that helps when joints are swollen.

• Fresh fruit and coconut milk keep histamine low compared with aged dairy proteins, so it doesn’t aggravate migraine risk for me.

  
  

Ingredients & where I bought them — single serving

Item	Amount	Source	Notes
Frozen banana	1 (sliced)	Harris Teeter	Freeze ripe bananas in 1-inch chunks.
Frozen mango	½ cup	Trader Joe’s	Unsweetened bag.
Vanilla collagen powder	1 scoop	Whole Foods 365	Optional for protein (≈10 g).
Shredded coconut (unsweetened)	1 Tbsp	Trader Joe’s	Texture + MCTs.
Coconut milk (full-fat, canned)	1 cup	Trader Joe’s	Shake can first.
Honey	1 tsp	Durham Farmers’ Market	Adjust to taste.
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp	Pantry bulk jar	Stir well so it blends evenly.
Coconut cream (for glass)	1 Tbsp	Trader Joe’s	Optional decoration.

3-minute method

1. Blend banana, mango, collagen, coconut milk, honey, and turmeric until thick and smooth.

2. Swirl coconut cream around the inside of a chilled glass if you like a layered look.

3. Pour, top with shredded coconut, and drink immediately while cold.

Nutrition snapshot (with collagen)

• Protein: ~12 g

• Fiber: ~5 g

• Sodium: ~45 mg

• Potassium: ~550 mg

• Added sugar: 4 g (honey only)

(If you need sodium for POTS, add ⅛ tsp sea salt—brings total sodium to ≈320 mg without changing taste much.)