New Year’s Smoothie Detox Day

HAPPY 2018!!!

Before I say anything else, I want to wish each and every person reading this a happy and healthy new year. You know, 2017 seemed like it was a pretty interesting year for the world across the board. I know that for me, 2017 was the most difficult year of my life. But I look back on all of those challenges now, and I’m so grateful that they’ve brought me to where I am today. I feel so lucky to have my wonderful boyfriend, our beautiful little home, and my supportive family and friends who have cheered us on. I’m also so grateful for this blog and all of you reading this, and I can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store for us!!

Onto the recipe… Every year, in the New Year, I like to post a detox or cleanse recipe. In 2016 I posted this Super Green Detox Salad, and in 2017 I posed this Kale Detox Salad (which has since become a fan favorite). 2018 is no different – but this time I’m bringing a full day’s worth of recipes, to help you restart and refresh for a healthy and productive new year.

Something else I say every year is that THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A DETOX, as the word is used colloquially. Hear me out. There’s no such thing as a detox because your body does it for you already. Drinking smoothies or eating salads will not actually remove toxins from your body – your liver, kidneys, and digestive system will. HOWEVER, you can definitely eat things that will help your body in its natural operations. Eating a diet full of healthy macronutrients, micronutrients, and antioxidants will absolutely benefit your physical and mental health! Plus, I think it’s worth mentioning the placebo effect… this is something that actually affects me personally. When I know I’m eating something healthy and nutritious, I really do feel better inside. Thus, I’m using the word “detox” in this recipe for the sake of clarity, and to help someone find the recipe online if they are looking to have a nutritious day full of delicious smoothies, to kickstart their new year in a healthy way.

But something I want to address is mindset. You should always approach any new eating habit with a healthy mindset based in self-love. Your self-worth is an unchangeable constant, and what you eat will never diminish that. I really can’t encourage you strongly enough to go into any new eating regimen with this positive mindset, also armed with the knowledge of what a diet or detox really entails. Remember, you don’t need to do ANYTHING to have worth and dignity as a human being. But if part of your self-love journey involves eating healthy and nutritious food, then go for it! I know mine sure does! Just know that you are always beautiful the way you are :)

So! This year, I crafted four smoothies to benefit different parts of your body. Here’s the breakdown:

Morning Fire Smoothie: This smoothie combines pineapple (a great source of the digestive enzyme bromelain), ginger (which is a rockstar natural remedy for digestion), anti-inflammatory turmeric, fiber-filled bananas, and hydrating coconut water. This smoothie will rev up your digestive system to prepare you for a day full of nutritious smoothies.

Herbal Green Smoothie: Basically, a salad in smoothie form. This smoothie combines avocado (a great source of healthy fats), mint (which helps calm the stomach), fiber-filled pear, antioxidant-rich spinach, and hydrating coconut water.

Healthy Brain Smoothie: This smoothie combines various sources of healthy fats (fun fact – the brain is almost 60% fat), including Omega-3 Fatty Acids (crucial for brain function) from the flax oil and hemp seeds. Add in beets (which have been shown in some studies to increase blood flow to the brain) and antioxidant-rich blueberries, and you’ve got one heck of a smoothie. One note, though – this smoothie tastes really beet-y. If beets aren’t your thing, try using a quarter of a beet instead of a half. Or, if you really don’t like them, just omit.

Calming Evening Smoothie: For when your day is winding down, this smoothie combines calming foods to help you reach that bedtime zen. Oats contain tryptophan, an amino acid that has been shown in some studies to reduce anxiety. The Omega-3 Fatty Acids in walnuts help keep the stress hormone cortisol at bay, and the Vitamin B6 in bananas helps the body create serotonin (a neurotransmitter that helps you sleep). Good night, sleep tight!

An important note – this cleanse is approximately 1700-1750 calories for the whole day. If this is not enough calories for you, feel free to supplement the day with raw almonds or cashews, or fruits and vegetables like carrots and apples.

AS ALWAYS, consult your doctor before making any dietary changes.

Enjoy!