The best part of experimenting with smoothie recipes is discovering the perfect combination that allows you to have more energy, focus and stamina for hours, without necessarily consuming a whole meal.
This is the first smoothie I ever made that I could use to replace a meal. Normally, a smoothie just isn’t heavy enough – this one’s got nutritious grit.
Below are the ingredients I used with an explanation of the benefits.
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I use a NutriBullet to blast the ingredients but you could use a quality high speed blender if it can pulverize carrots and beets. If using a juicer, simply use more of the vegetables but blend other ingredients afterward in a blender.
Easy blood and liver building smoothie – serves one
Ingredients
- 1/8 of a beet, small part of beet top stem cut in pieces
- 1/3 to 1/2 carrot
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder or piece of fresh ginger that mimics the size of the top of your thumb to your first knuckle
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1-2 small scoops of whey protein (I use Standard Process, you might prefer Paleo or pea protein)
- 1 rounded teaspoon of coconut oil
- Palm-sized chunk of frozen raspberries
- A liquid like fruit juice to fill to the NutriBullet cup max line or preferred consistency. I used a tropical one for the pineapple. Berry juices work great. The liver loves grapefruit too. Green tea or water can be used, but it leaves a drink that might be too bitter for many people just starting out. I add vitamin c powder or lemon juice for more tart.
Chop beet and carrot into smaller pieces. Add all ingredients to NutriBullet or blender. I shake the cup first to better mix the powders and coconut oil. Blend for 20-30 seconds. Enjoy.
What if you only have a New York minute to make a smoothie? Then just use the carrot, beet, berries whey, juice and chia if possible. Still a hearty, healing drink. My original recipe included papaya which I like to include for the helpful enzymes. That might have put it over the max line, though – it depends on how much the beet fills out the drink. Any chance of adding dark, leafy greens makes it even more powerful and fulfilling.
Why these ingredients?
Beets – major liver and blood building food. Contains betaine for helping with stomach acid that dissolves pathogens. Rejuvenating the liver helps energize and relieve sluggishness. Red whole foods tend to support blood and cardiovascular health. Beet tops have naturally occurring hydrochloric acid which help to break down protein.
Carrots – helps with phase II liver detox. Builds blood. Helps with bile secretion. Bile is a badly needed detoxifier! Carrots help the liver with the hormone cycle which further lightens the load for the endrocrine and reproductive system. Eat them every day! The roughage from the beets and carrots make you “go” regularly and that helps with energy too.
Frozen raspberries – Blood builder. Sweetness. Red foods can be grounding – is it any wonder why the color associated with the “root chakra” is red? Berries are high in antioxidants without too much sugar, and raspberries are among the best, although strawberries and cherries would make a good substitute too.
Whey – why whey protein? Healthy proteins are nourishing to the body, skin, blood sugar, and liver. Whey in particular is known as a liver cleanser. It’s also high in amino acid L-cysteine, which your body converts into glutathione for detox purposes. Gently help your liver throw off heavy metals. “Whey” to take a load off, Manny – you’ll feel better when you can tell the liver is unloading again.
It’s no wonder that ginger and turmeric show up in liver function smoothies – they both contain compounds that are shown to ward off cancer and aid in detox. Ginger helps with digestion and bile (which explains why it is so helpful with nausea), and turmeric has been heavily studied for reversing liver disease.
Coconut oil – The healthy saturated fats clean out the dirty “oil filter” and restore the crucial bile process so that toxins can be carried out and nutrients can be rightly processed.
Chia seeds – are loaded with components the liver needs to detox, as well as protein and more Omega-3 fatty acids than salmon. They are proven to help with glucose and make you feel full. The Nutribullet (or a Ninja) blasts them into an easily digested liquid.
Know what the best part is? I found out that all of the above ingredients have different methods of fighting inflammation – the precursor to disease. You don’t need rigorous and harsh liver cleanses that cause deprivation of nutrients. Don’t skip out on feeding the liver; feeding the blood.
Need more substitute ideas? Check out this list of foods that the liver loves!
Thanks to Dr. Scott Graves for providing the helpful information on beets and Dr. Bekki Medsker for the information on whey protein.
Heather Callaghan is a natural health blogger and food freedom activist. You can see her work at NaturalBlaze.com and ActivistPost.com. Like at Facebook.
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Hi, I’m Katherine. I lost 56 pounds and recovered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by replacing meals with Green Thickies – my original smoothie concept.
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