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Sticking to your health goals during the holidays can be tricky. December just doesn’t feel the same without the traditional chocolate treats, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and other comfort foods. As a nutritionist, I believe that regardless of what you decide to eat, guilt is one ingredient that should never accompany a meal. So, enjoy every bite, and don't let a few treats stop you from continuing with your health and/or natural weight loss goals.
Now that the holidays have come and gone, you may be feeling a little tired, sluggish and bloated. To get back on track with your health, a green smoothie every morning it the way to go!
Pro tip: Drink your green smoothies in the mornings on an empty stomach. Drinking smoothies on an empty stomach allows for optimal digestion and assimilation of nutrients and provides long-lasting energy to sustain you throughout the day.
Here are four post-Christmas purifying smoothie recipes to help support your digestive function, take away the bloat, and make your energy levels soar!
Cleansing Smoothie Recipe No. 1: Minty Fresh
Ingredients:
1 cup spinach
handful fresh mint leaves
1 frozen banana
½ avocado, pitted
1 cup almond, coconut or cashew milk
3 tbsp hemp hearts
the juice of ½ lime
Directions: Place the spinach and mint in a blender with nut milk and blend until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and blend again. Add small splashes of water to reach desired consistency if necessary.
Health Benefits:
Spinach is high in antioxidant vitamins A and C, two nutrients your body requires to help promote safe elimination of unwanted materials from your body.
The hemp hearts and avocado in this smoothie are also a good source of healthy fats.
Cleansing Smoothie Recipe No. 2: The Baby Kale, Pineapple and Coconut Cleanser
Ingredients:
1 cup baby kale
the juice of ½ a lemon
½ cup fresh or frozen pineapple
1 green apple, chopped
½ cup filtered water to reach desired consistency
½ cup coconut milk
Directions: Blend kale, coconut milk and filtered water and blend until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and drink up!
Health Benefits:
Just like spinach, kale is a powerful dark leafy green that helps assist the liver with its purification process. Kale also provides the body with some of the fiber it needs to help gently clear out waste from your digestive tract.
The citric acid in lemon juice may also help your body digest food more efficiently.
Chlorella, a superfood freshwater algae, is the shining star of this smoothie. Known for having one of the highest amounts of chlorophyll, chlorella is one of the best superfoods for health (especially after holiday indulgence) because it contains a unique component called Chlorella Growth Factor, or CGF.
Chlorella Growth Factor is the reason why chlorella can multiply by four times every 20-24 hours. The fact that an algae can reproduce at such a rapid rate only implies how beneficial it can be to the cells in the human body. CGF helps with cellular repair and regeneration. Without good cellular health, you may feel sluggish and tired.
Cleansing Smoothie Recipe No. 3: Luxurious Liver Elixir
Ingredients:
1 cup spinach
1 cup dandelion greens or watercress
2 stalks celery
1 inch ginger root
1 green apple
1 cup frozen mango
1 cup filtered water
the juice of ½ lemon
Directions: Blend water and greens until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and enjoy.
Health Benefits:
Your liver and gallbladder favor bitter foods, so dandelion greens or watercress act as the perfect ingredient for post-holiday body cleansing.
The ginger in this smoothie recipe also acts as a natural digestive aid, which is especially helpful if you're experiencing post-holiday occasional bloating and flatulence.
Cleansing Smoothie Recipe No. 4: South Beach Sunset
Ingredients:
2 medium sized carrots
1 frozen banana
the juice of one small lime
1 cup filtered water
3 tbsp hemp hearts
Directions: Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Drink immediately.
Health Benefits:
The hemp hearts in this recipe provides omega-3 essential fatty acids that are also required for liver purification [1].
Life is about balance and it's good to have treats in moderation.
You can use these cleansing smoothie recipes all year long especially after a day or weekend of indulgence. The nutrients in these smoothie recipes will help give your system the support it needs to help eliminate unwanted materials from your body and support vibrant health. You may also find it helpful to regularly take natural health supplements such as chlorella to support your immune system and promote long-term health and wellness.
Author: Brandi Black, RHN