The next part of my health-promoting series is these healthy cleansing smoothies. As mentioned in the previous post, eating, and making smoothies is not just about having a meal. There’s a lot more to it.
When considering making healthy smoothies, we often think of the most nutritious, delicious, or healthiest ingredients. And that’s great. But no matter how strongly we hold to our principles of eating healthy and using fresh and/or organic food, some factors will impact our health, especially our digestive tract and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We can’t do anything to prevent or deter most of these influences.
Fortunately, there is a way to fight back. Effectively. After a certain period of holding a regular diet combined with today’s fast and busy life, there is an unwanted build-up of toxins in the body. These are considered to be the most influential factors raising this issue.
Like it or not, it’s there.
All the tiny impurities in the air and the water due to industrial expansion, and the heavily processed food, become a significant weight to bear. The symptoms can vary depending on the person and lifestyle. Also, being very subtle and impossible to notice, one may only notice the build-up after some time.
Some of the main indicators are:
- lack of energy;
- increased heart rate even from minute tasks;
- lack of regular and effective sleep;
- lack of appetite and/or irregular diet;
- unclear mind and unorganized train of thought;
- minor confusion and lack of focus.
These are only some symptoms; I have felt all of them and maybe some more. But back to the solution.
Cleansing smoothies
With a little research, or reading a guide like this one, we can easily find a way to fight back. Thoughtfully chosen and combined ingredients are the right arsenal needed to set this battle off. Here are some of the more useful ingredients for this task:
- fruit (apple, banana, all kinds of berries);
- coconut water, water, almond milk;
- leafy green vegetables;
- acidic fruits (mango, ginger, lemon);
- green tea;
- beets.
In that context, I have compiled several healthy selections to help you fight the toxin build-up. I hope you’ll love my selection of tasty cleansing smoothies because I know they are effective. Enjoy:
Green Power
An amazing mix of extremely healthy ingredients and cleanse-friendly nutrients. Based on half a cup of almond milk, this smoothie recipe brings anti-aging benefits due to this ingredient’s vitamin E content and anti-gastritis potential.
Almond milk also helps the GI tract absorb fat and sugar and, at the same time, protects it with its fiber content. Now let’s add half a tablespoon of almond butter to the mix. We add protection for the cardiovascular system and blood cholesterol level regulation properties.
Another extremely friendly ingredient for cleansing and GI tract health, in general, is the banana. Rich in fiber, bananas promote lower intestine health by practically feeding the good bacteria within. They are often used in successful weight loss plans as they vigorously promote them. This is all without mentioning the heart-friendly and antioxidant-rich environment and kidney health promotion.
Finally, we will add a conveniently named powerhouse mix. Half a cup of kale and the same amount of chard provide the final punch of extremely healthy ingredients for today’s first cleansing smoothie.
Starting with kale’s rich spectrum of nutrients such as fiber, vitamins (A, C, and K), antioxidants, and calcium, all the way to chard’s rich portfolio made of the same vitamins and fiber, as kale, but also minerals like magnesium, iron, and the ever-important potassium.
The recipe:
- 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup kale
- 1/2 cup chard
Jade Fantasy
The next entry in my list of cleansing smoothies for today mesmerized me with its emerald shade. Its taste is on par with the appearance and expectations. From a nutritional point of view, we’ll end up with a cup of gut-friendly liquid that will make your day! This recipe did wonders for me (it was kinda fantastic, actually, hence the name), especially since I included it in my regular diet, and I am sure you will also feel the benefits.
We’ll start preparing the Jade Fantasy by peeling one fresh kiwifruit. Named after New Zealand’s national bird, this amazing and tasty fruit bears ancient importance, and not just as a food or ingredient, but as a medicine as well.
While growing up, my parents always told me that kiwis are extremely healthy (actually so rich in healthy nutrients, especially vitamin C and fructose, that one needs to be careful with the amounts), so they became a highly respected ingredient in my diet.
Because it is rich in fiber and many other beneficial nutrients, kiwi promotes a healthy GI tract and helps the body fight against developing serious conditions, such as diverticular disease, and against those pesky carcinogens!
After getting the initial green shade, we must mash one banana in the blender. This is another extremely popular and beneficial fruit that’s entered my regular consumption rituals.
Like the kiwis, bananas are rich in fiber and vitamins and bear benefits that make them a high-priority ingredient from bowel-friendly properties, anti-infection properties, and loads of antioxidants to heart-health promoting and blood pressure-regulating values.
Next, we need two fresh celery stalks. A very famous vegetable among people with strict weight loss diets, and it is so for a good reason.
Besides the freshness and the addition of a natural green shade, celery brings a decent amount of fiber. Due to it, the food digestion process happens in a smoother manner. One of the consequences is a reduced risk of developing colon cancer.
Celery fun fact: Celery was a common aphrodisiac in Ancient Rome.
Now we have a mix that has almost reached its final shade. Let’s add one big fresh green apple. Yes, a green apple is preferable. It will add that last touch of jade shade to complete the fantasy.
Apples are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and they discourage the piling of the infamous bad cholesterol. Also, apples are loud promoters of a healthy metabolism. Adding a cup of almond milk provides the final smoothing look and the aforementioned benefits.
The recipe:
- 1 kiwifruit
- 1 banana
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 large green apple
- 1 cup almond milk
Icy Green
The decoration
For this next recipe, I am using older decorative ice cubes, which are very simple to make. Mix a small amount of almond milk and honey nicely, and fill an ice tray with it. Let it freeze, and voila! Amazing, tasty almond milk–honey ice cubes that provide a sweet, refreshing aftertaste. You don’t have to use extra almond milk for the ice cubes as it does not take much, so you can use the rest for the recipe.
Now, let’s get to mushing. Mix almond milk with one fresh and nicely rinsed celery stalk. Once all of it is well mixed, add one-half of a green or a red apple.
I used green apples again for this recipe, but you can also choose red if you want. Mash it nicely and proceed by adding a tablespoon of ground flaxseed. Flaxseed is another extremely frequently used plant, especially in cleansing smoothies.
Cultivated even from ancient times, many people consider flaxseeds to be one of the most potent plants in the world. Among the numerous conditions this plant can help us fight against.
Its anti-stroke potential is what is most impressive to me. Of course, I must mention its fiber, antioxidant, and omega-3 fatty acid content, which is only partially the reason for its popularity.
Honey
Now, the final ingredient before the tasty meal begins honey. Add the honey to the mix and blend it to the desired consistency. I have mentioned honey so much in my recipes, which stands for a reason. It’s the healthiest and most amazing ingredient of them all.
I always prefer using raw honey, but feel free to use whichever kind you have available. Honey is a potent infection fighter and is also very efficient energy storage, so we can remain productive throughout the day. And just prior to serving, add several ice cubes from earlier as our decoration.
The recipe:
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 celery stalk
- 1/2 red or green apple, chopped, pitted
- 1 tbsp flaxseed (ground)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 or 3 ice cubes
I hope you enjoyed our presentation for today, our choice of cleansing smoothies. Please let us know if you have any remarks or suggestions, or let us know if you have a specific recipe you’d like to learn. Also, please share these healthy recipes so people you know can help themselves. Enjoy! :)