Sometimes when we think of the word detox we immediately think it involves drinking some horrible concoction to get our bowels moving.
A colon cleanse can be useful to help the body detox from toxins, however it is not the only way!
These 5 detox smoothie recipes are not only delicious but they use wholefoods that nourish your body while gently supporting your detoxification pathways at the same time.
Simply blend up all ingredients and enjoy!
THE SKIN SMOOTHIE
1 cup frozen mixed berries
1 tbl acai berry powder
1 tbl hemp seeds
250 mL coconut milk
250 mL almond milk
1 tsp coconut syrup
splash pure vanilla extract
THE LUNG SMOOTHIE
1 cup chopped pineapple
1 granny smith apple
1 handful baby spinach
1 Lebanese cucumber
1 lime (skin on for extra anti-inflammatory benefits)
2 cm piece ginger
handful of mint leaves
1 cup coconut water
THE KIDNEY SMOOTHIE
2 carrots
1 grapefruit
1 lemon
2 cm piece ginger
1 – 2 cm piece turmeric
pinch cayenne pepper
THE LIVER SMOOTHIE
2 lemons
1 grapefruit
1 green apple
1 cup chopped pineapple
2 sticks celery
1 carrot
chopped parsley (to taste)
THE COLON SMOOTHIE
1 beetroot
1 red apple
1 pear
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup chopped lettuce
Adding lettuce provides beneficial fiber and other benefits to the smoothie but mixing green with red fruit and veg can make the end result brown. Which doesn’t look all that appetising!
If you’d prefer to keep your smoothie nice and red, just skip the lettuce and pop it in your salad instead!
Strawberries are such a delightful fruit and homegrown, oh my goodness, there is nothing that beats that sweet, juicy taste. We love them in smoothies, as a topper for acai bowls, yoghurt and granola and even just on their own!
Remember to wash thoroughly if you are not buying organic or growing your own. Unfortunately, strawberries are one of the most heavily sprayed fruits in commercial growing.
And here are some of the amazing health benefits of strawberries..
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against free-radical damage and it helps form and maintain bones, skin, and blood vessels.
MANGANESE
Manganese helps the body form connective tissue, bones, blood clotting factors, and sex hormones. It also plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation. Manganese is also necessary for normal brain and nerve function.
FOLATE
Folate is an essential B vitamin that is necessary for the production of red and white blood cells in bone marrow, producing DNA and RNA and transforming carbohydrates into energy.
POTASSIUM
Potassium helps the body maintain normal levels of intracellular fluid and it also helps muscles to contract, supporting normal blood pressure.
Once upon a time we didn’t call food organic or non-organic, it was just food.
Can we all just go back to that please?
It bothers me that organic farmers have to prove their organic-ness and pay for organic accreditation just so we, the consumers, know their food is just as nature intended. Shouldn’t it be the other way round?
I’m not an agricultural expert by any means but I have grown my own and know all too well the effort it takes to produce a crop without the use of synthetic pesticides.
And that’s just for my little backyard garden!
So, why do we want to avoid these nasty chemicals in the first place?
Pesticides are toxic chemicals designed to kill agricultural pests and unfortunately when consumed by humans have been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, ADHD and even birth defects.
THE DIRTY DOZEN AND CLEAN 15
The EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ (aka Dirty Dozen and Clean 15) is updated each year and ranks pesticide contamination on 47 popular fruits and vegetables.
While this isn’t Aussie specific, it does give you a very good indication of the types of fruits and vegetables that are the most hard hit.
We don’t want to avoid any fruits and vegetables, so if you can’t buy local and organic, opt for an all natural fruit and veggie wash like the Thieves Fruit and Veggie Soak as a great alternative.
We actually use it even on our organic bought produce and it’s surprising to see what’s left in the water and the difference it makes to the longevity of our fresh food.
SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS
Many local farmers grow their crops using all or mostly organic practices but aren’t big enough, or simply choose not to, pay for accreditation. It makes sense to get to know them and ask them how they do things so that you can happily buy their produce and feel good knowing you are not only supporting them but also giving your family high quality and nutrient dense local foods.
Summer is officially over but it’s not too cool to still enjoy a freshly made strawberry and mint sorbet.
This recipe ticks all the boxes if you are needing something sweet and tasty but you want to make it at home quickly and easily without any silly chemicals or unhealthy ingredients.
There is the option to add a little refined caster sugar or rapadura if you want to but the strawberries, mint and apple are quite sweet on their own.
I needed to supplement my homegrown strawberries at the market with this recipe as I’m not producing as much right now. I also grabbed some beautiful organic apples to juice up.
My mint is growing great guns however, so I was super excited to add that in to the recipe.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED
250 – 280g of strawberries (you can use frozen)
3/4 cup ice cubes
60 mL organic apple juice
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
1 tsp caster or rapadura sugar (optional)
METHOD
Blend all ingredients together until your desired consistency.
Add a little water or extra juice if you need it smoother.
Want to know the nutritional benefits of strawberries?
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity! Don’t you agree?
As mummas we often put the needs of others before our selves and wait until we get a break before we do something, “just for us”. But what if we do the thing, when we need to?
Too often we wait until our body is screaming out for a rest or we literally flip out and yell at our kids because our emotional needs haven’t been met. It’s ok to need to stop. It’s ok to take 5, 10 or 20, whatever it is you need to do so you can keep on being the awesome mumma you are.
FRESH WHOLE FOODS
One of the simplest ways that you can nourish your body is with a hit of fresh whole foods. And my favourite way to do this is to whip up a superfood smoothie.
THE BENEFITS OF THE GOJI BERRY
Goji berries (wolfberries) protect the eyes and provide immune system support. They protect against cancer and promote healthy skin. Goji berries contain a high amount of antioxidants which fight harmful free radicals and inflammation in the body.
CHIA SEEDS
Chia seeds are rich in Omega 3 fats and provide a good source of fiber. They contain quercetin which is a bit of a buzz word at the moment, but basically quercetin is also another antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in the body and keeps your immune and cardiovascular system working well.
STRAWBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES
Berries in general keep your mind and eyes sharp and help to promote lovely skin. They protect against heart disease and are considered a low GI fruit. This makes them a great addition to your smoothies. Berries are also a great source of antioxidants which helps keep those nasty free radicals at bay.
HEMP SEEDS
Hemp seeds are a great source of protein and pack a punch in your smoothie. They assist with healthy weight management by stabilising blood sugar levels and are a good source of essential fatty acids.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED..
1 cup frozen blueberries 1 cup frozen strawberries 1 tbl chia seeds 1 tbl hemp seeds 3 medjool dates (pitted) 1/4 cup organic goji berries juice of 1 lime 3 drops of YL Lemon essential oil (optional) 2 drops YL Grapefruit essential oil (optional) 3 tsp organic coconut oil 1 cup filtered water 5-7 cubes ice
METHOD
Blend frozen fruit, seeds, dates, goji berries and ice.
Add water, juice of lime, essential oils and coconut oil and continue to blend until smooth.
Decorate the top with shredded coconut, chia seeds and blueberries!
– high in flavonols and contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
EGGS
– rich in choline and used by the brain to make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter for memory and brain cell communication.
AVOCADOS
– rich in both Vitamin K and folate. They’re also high in protein and low in sugar. Avocadoes are said to prevent blood clot in the brain and stroke and they also improve memory and concentration!
BROCCOLI
– rich in Vitamin K and glucosinolates that slow down the breakdown of acetylcholine, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s.
ALMONDS
– contain high levels of omega-3s and brain protecting Vitamin E.
PUMPKIN SEEDS
– an excellent source of magnesium, copper, iron and zinc.
Which one on this list is your favourite?
Could you add each one to your weekly healthy eating plan?
Find out why these foods are so good for the brain and nervous system over on this post:
Have you tasted Vegemite before? If you’re not from around these parts there’s a high chance that you haven’t and if you have, you most likely don’t like it!
I’m a born and bred Aussie so of course I have tried Vegemite and all of its commercial alternatives. I grew up to the catchy tune that echoed throughout every Australian home in the 80s. Those were fun times!
I’m not sure it gave me those rosy cheeks though??
Being an all natural mumma now, I’ve chosen not to feed this iconic spread to my children. Ingredients like yeast grown on barley and wheat, and other ingredients like Potassium Chloride (Mineral Salt 508) and Ammonia caramel (Colour 150C), are additives that are best avoided. Here’s why!..
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID AND WHY
YEAST GROWN ON BARLEY AND WHEAT:
High possibility this product is GMO and also contains gluten.
MINERAL SALT 508:
Prohibited in foods for infants. Can cause gastrointestinal and liver issues.
AMMONIA CARAMEL (150C):
Also prohibited in food for infants and is known to cause allergic and hypersensitive reactions and hyperactivity.
FLAVOURS:
This quite literally could be anything! The chemical composition of flavourings can be complex and because of this reason, Food Standards Australia New Zealand exempts companies from fully disclosing, and therefore not labelling, exactly what their “flavour” consists of. There could be 50 or more substances (or ingredients) that make up just one flavour. For a savvy mum making wise choices about the food they are feeding their kids, this presents a real problem. Best to avoid!
WHAT ABOUT THE VITAMINS!!?
It is true that Vegemite is renowned as having added vitamins such as Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin and Folate, however unfortunately, these vitamins are synthetic! The body does not absorb and therefore utitilise them, in the same way as it would if they were naturally found in wholefoods.
NOT A HEALTH FOOD PRODUCT
Although we may have fond memories of our childhood and Vegemite playing a starring role, let’s not forget that it was a pantry item created from a waste product. Breweries at the time had a surplus of leftover yeast and so with the help of a chemist, Vegemite was born and marketed to the people as the latest and greatest thing. It was heavily promoted (hence the catchy tune) to appeal to busy mums and fussy kids.
It was never intended to be a health food product.
A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE
When something is super simple to make and it uses all natural ingredients, I want to know about it. A friend recently shared this recipe with me and it is so good, I had to share it with you!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED
3 1/2 cups organic black sesame seeds
2 tbl organic sesame oil
1/8 tsp rock/sea salt
150g organic Tamari (Soy Sauce)
3 tbl Bragg Nutritional Yeast Seasoning
3 tsp organic Apple Cider Vinegar
STEP 1 – MAKE THE BLACK TAHINI PASTE
In a high speed blender, grind up the sesame seeds.
Add the sesame oil and salt and blitz again.
This makes your Black Tahini Paste. You will only need 210g for this recipe.
Store the rest in a glass jar in the fridge for up to one month.
STEP 2 – COMBINE INGREDIENTS
Take 210g of your Black Tahini Paste and add it back to your high speed blender.
Add the tamari, nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar and blend well.
Transfer to a glass jar and store in the fridge.
THE END RESULT
A delicious savoury, salty spread to put on sourdough and crackers..
You could even add a tablespoon to a hearty stew!
Are you a Vegemite lover?
Even if you’re not, you might like to still try this yummy recipe.
You know I love to share how this juice is helping people right!? Well this story really hit home for me because I remember what it felt like to be in that space. Tired, no energy, feeling like you can’t keep up.. The difference is, back then, I didn’t have access to this incredible drink. I was 5 kids in before I was introduced to it!
I have a small child who is very active and I was really struggling to keep up with him. After one week I started waking up feeling like I had energy to get through the day and now we don’t seem to catch every little thing anymore. So happy I’ve found this product.
A Mumma With Low Energy
When Sam first reached out, she was desperate. Her energy levels were super low and life just didn’t feel good anymore. She was struggling to get things done during the day and the constant demands of her little one left her feeling exhausted. Her relationship with her husband suffered because all she could think about was how everything was piling up around her and that made her feel resentful towards her husband, even though she knew he was doing all he could to help.
Sam had seen me talking in our Better Health Group about this all natural juice and how much it gave me the energy to get through my day and thought “What have I got to lose!!” And I tell you what, she has never looked back!
Immediately she noticed something different. In fact, the very first day she messaged me in tears saying she felt like this was an answered prayer. I wholeheartedly believe that too.
The Result
7 days in and she was waking up without the usual brain fog and noticed that she didn’t need to reach for that afternoon sweet snack or cup of coffee like she used to. Her mood had improved, she was feeling more connected to her hubby and overall life was great.
Oh and let’s not forget!.. she’s now experienced firsthand how the immune boosting qualities of this incredible product have improved her family’s health. But that’s a WHOLE other story for a whole other day.
Sam says that she is super excited to continue on with her superfood juice and is even now looking into the benefits of our 21 Day Wellness program to lose weight, get fit and detox from all the gunk that is so prevalent in today’s modern world.
If you’re sitting there thinking, “OMG that is me too!”, then comment below, email me, FB stalk me.. whatever you have to do to get my attention. I promise you, THIS is what you have been waiting for.
