Smoothie Guide for Balanced Hormones and Healthy Gut 

Smoothies!

So what’s the deal with smoothies?

Are they healthy and good for you?

Smoothies are:

• Chock full of minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. 
• Easy to digest, which indicates optimal assimilation of nutrients.
• Fantastic for stabilizing blood sugar (you will see that each smoothie here contains healthy fat, vital for blood sugar stabilization).
• A terrific way to devour various fruits or vegetables at one time.
• Excellent for cleansing the body of toxins. 
• An effortless way to add fiber to your diet for optimal gut function.

Is blending your fruits and veggies beneficial?

Optimal digestion means a healthy body, and blending your foods support digestion. Your body doesn’t have to work so hard to break down the protein, nutrients, and fiber as they’re already in a pre-digested state.

Did you know that 85% of your energy is spent digesting and assimilating your nutrients? Yes! And I like to support the body to do less work and have more energy.

Instead of preparing and eating cup after cup of fruits and healthy greens you are packing them into one nutrient-dense smoothie.

How to choose your blender:

Vitamix (my absolute favorite) is a super powerful blender with a powerful motor that can blend smoothies and make soups and even nut butter. It is an investment, however, and cost around $499 (so worth it!).

Blendtec: similar to Vitamix and costs about $350.

Nutribullet is a good alternative as well, as it costs only $99.

A blender at Target, Costco, or Wal-Mart will typically cost you around $20, but they are not as powerful, and they don’t make smoothies very smooth and creamy.

Making the Ultimate Smoothie for Balanced Hormones:

Choose the liquid – water, vegetable juice, coconut water, or dairy-free milk.

Choose your greens – spinach, cilantro, kale, parsley, romaine, Swiss chard, collards, or lettuce.

Choose your fruit – berries, passion fruit, mango, or leave out the fruit

Choose your fat/protein – sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, hemp protein, avocado, goat yogurt, nut butter, coconut oil, flax, or chia seeds.

Add a superfood – maca, pomegranate powder, raw cacao, alma powder, bee pollen, camu camu, shredded coconut, goji berries, or any other of your choosing.

The Basics of smoothie making

Step #1 – Design your shopping list.

Step #2 – Choose the smoothie you want to make and decide if you’re going to any superfood or protein powder.

Step #3 – Feeling chilly that morning, add warming spices such as cinnamon, anise, ginger, or cayenne.

Step #4 – Make your smoothies less sweet to help you balance your blood sugar and exchange the banana for berries. You can omit the fruit and sweeten it with stevia or monk fruit powder.

Step #5 – Blend and consume.

Respect Bio-Individuality

Bio-individuality is the idea that we are all different and that no two people are alike. This is why some people thrive on a paleo diet while others are vegetarian. Some people enjoy 100% raw food, while others need cooked food and meals to attain and maintain optimal health and nutrition. Taking into consideration where you live is also important. Most people have a hard time eating 100% raw food when it is cold, and it is hard always to eat warm, cooked food when you live in the tropics.

Also, suppose you are a cool-bodied person by nature. In that case, you can add warming spices to your smoothie to improve digestion and nutrient assimilation. Try using turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, or cayenne to help you stay warm. I suggest starting with a dash and then increasing to 1/2 teaspoon.

If you are naturally warm-bodied, you can add cooling spices, such as cilantro, cardamon, or mint.

Making it work

If you bloat when you consume a smoothie, don’t throw everything but the kitchen sink in there. People have initial trouble digesting smoothies because there are too many elements to assimilate.

Simple recipes like those below have helped my clients reduce bloating and improve digestion. I recommend making a smoothie with just one fiber-rich food for my clients who have allergies, hindered digestion, and difficulty digesting fiber.

Other Delicious Smoothies:

Berry Smoothie

Pineapple and Nettle Smoothie

Yum