Detox Smoothie
Everyone these days is at least somewhat familiar with the benefits of a well-made smoothie. Jack Lalane was preaching about juicing even the inedible before my parents were born, and I came of age about the time that Smoothie King was popping up in every strip mall in America. However, it wasn’t until fairly recently that I began to make the fruit/vegetable puree a consistent part of my diet.
In my line of work, it is often easy to overindulge in whatever deliciousness might be sitting in front of me at any given moment. However, I have found that starting the day with a smoothie like the one below can work as a preventive measure, while also being a useful detoxification tool after a day or night of excess. Not only do I find that this concoction keeps me feeling full and somewhat uninterested in eating much for most of the day, but I have also found it to be a great aid (if not a cure) for a number of ailments, including upset stomach, constipation, dehydration, lethargy, and sore joints.
The different fruit and vegetable combos are limitless, but I like the balance of this recipe for its mild flavor but intense nutritional benefit. One large batch can be split up between four to six friends, or one person can drink on it all day and consistently consume a portion of the day’s calories, while also getting most of the day’s nutrients.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped kale leaves (packed), center stalk and stem removed
- Juice of 1 orange
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 cup flaxseed
- 1/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey or agave
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon tumeric
- 1-2 cups water (depending on how thick or thin you prefer it)
Preparation:
Simply combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Stop and scrape the blender as needed.
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 108 / Fat: 6 / Saturated Fat: .5 / Carbohydrates: 15 / Fiber: 4 / Protein: 3
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Brandon McDearis is a personal chef working in the Charlotte area. He owns and operates Your Way Cuisine, www.yourwaycuisine.com. In addition to his culinary training, Brandon also holds a bachelor of science degree in foods and nutrition, with a concentration in dietetics. He primarily focuses on healthy cooking and addressing specific dietary needs of everyone from professional and amateur athletes to busy families and elderly people.
Brandon is also one of the board of directors for Wellspring International Outreach (www.wellspring-outreach.org) and works with a group of others to raise money for the abandoned children of Peru.
