Healthy Green Detox Smoothie

Today’s post is a guest post, coming to us from Jamie at The Herbal Spoon.  She’s sharing a healthy smoothie recipe to help you get back on track with real food after the holiday indulgences!

Every December I remind myself that it’s the holidays and it’s okay to indulge a little. By January, though, that indulgence has made itself all too apparent when I feel run down and end up catching the bug going around the neighborhood. This detox and weight loss smoothie helps me get back on track and feeling great.

I’ve been trying to make a smoothie every morning for the health benefits. We all feel so much better when I do, but I’ve found that putting a little prep into it can make the process a little easier. This smoothie recipe happens to be one of my absolute favorites. I love the way it tastes, but even more, I love how I feel after drinking it.

What Makes This Smoothie so Great?

A smoothie is only as good as its ingredients. Yes, strawberries and vanilla flavored yogurt together are technically a smoothie, but you want one that’s packed full of nutrition to keep you and your family feeling great. This detox and weight loss smoothie contains healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, enzymes and other good stuff to keep you healthy. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients.

Coconut Milk

Not only is it smooth and creamy, coconut milk can help aid in weight loss. It contains medium chain fatty acids that boost thyroid function and metabolism with healthy fats to keep you full. Instead of raising cholesterol levels these fats actually do the opposite. “Coconut milk can help you lower cholesterol levels, improve blood pressure, and prevent heart attacks or a stroke.” – Dr. Josh Axe

• iron
• magnesium
• phosphorous
• manganese

Raw Honey

This golden substance contains polyphenols that raise blood anti-oxidant levels and help fight diseases like cancer. All around, raw honey contributes to healthier cells (source). Regular honey from the store is a dead food and processed much like regular white sugar in the body. Raw honey however, one that hasn’t been heated above 115 degrees is rich in: (source)

• antioxidants
• enzymes
• vitamin C and B vitamins
• magnesium
• potassium
• calcium
• sodium
• Sulphur
• phosphate

Chia Seeds

These little seeds are a powerhouse for nutrition. They gel when mixed with liquid and help to really clean your body out, especially the colon. Chia seeds help reduce visceral adipose, also known as belly fat, boost metabolism, improve energy and so much more. (source)

Kale

Just one cup of this leafy green gives you over 200% of your dv of vitamin A and 134% of your vitamin C requirements. If you think that’s impressive, it also has nearly 700% of your vitamin K! For a green food it’s also surprisingly rich in calcium and essential fatty acids that boost brain function.

When eaten with other healthy fats, kale’s fat soluble carotenoids become more bioavailable to the body. And when eaten with lemon juice, the iron in kale is also more readily absorbed by the body. Lucky for you this smoothie uses both healthy fats from coconut and lemon. (source)

Green Tea

This drink is probably most popular for its high level of cancer fighting antioxidants. It can also help speed up metabolism and protect cells. Studies have shown it increases thermogenesis in the body, a natural byproduct of metabolism that can significantly aid in weight loss, unlike caffeine alone (source).

Since cheap, bagged green tea can be high in naturally occurring fluoride, make sure you choose a quality loose leaf variety. Even natural sources of fluoride can be hard on those with thyroid problems, a condition many of us have. (source)

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is high in fiber to help fill you up and aid in digestion. It also helps regulate insulin levels in the body. “The smaller the insulin spike after a meal, the more efficiently the body processes food for use as energy and the less it’s stored as fat in the body.” – source. This study showed that just the addition of grapefruit and grapefruit juice to the diet helped participants lose weight.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is high in citric acid that aids your body’s digestion of foods and purifies the lymphatic system. It also helps to cleanse the liver, resulting in clearer skin. Lemon can also reduce unsightly and unhealthy bloating (source).

Healthy Green Detox Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 grapefruit, peeled and seeds removed
• 2 cups fresh kale
• 1 cup full fat coconut milk
• 1 cup green tea
• 1-2 Tbsps raw honey (to taste)
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 2 drops grapefruit or lemon essential oil (optional for more flavor and additional health benefits)

Directions:

1. Step 1: Pour the green tea into ice cube trays and put in the freezer until solid. I like to do this the night before. You can also juice the lemon and mix this with the green tea before freezing.
2. Step 2: In a blender combine the kale, grapefruit, coconut milk and chia seeds and puree until very smooth.
3. Step 3: Add 1 Tbsp of the honey, the green tea ice cubes and lemon juice and pulse until smooth and icy. Add more honey to taste if desired. If the mixture is too thick for you, then add some filtered water to thin.

What’s in your favorite detox smoothie?

 

Jamie blogs about how to be a good steward of your God-given resources at The Herbal Spoon. She has a passion for herbalism and aromatherapy and creates her own plant-based, safe for the whole family body care items for her store.  Check it out for natural living tips, real food recipes, and DIY projects. http://www.theherbalspoon.com/