Liver Detox Supportive Smoothie

Detox…this is a hot term right now and in my opinion used far too loosely. SO I would like to first break this down…WHAT IS DETOX?

Well detoxing is they body’s way of protecting itself by removing toxins. We have four detoxification pathways-

1. skin (sweating)
2. urine
3. stool (pooping)
4. lungs (exhaling)

Detoxing also involves the liver. The liver has two stages of detox to eliminate toxins and both are important! Here’s why: stage one is responsible for making toxins water soluble so they can be easily excreted. Yes toxins are fat soluble. This is one reason why eating conventional and stressed out animal protein is so so detrimental to health- but that’s another topic I won’t go into at the moment. In this process of making toxins water soluble, they are actually made extremely more toxic. Therefore, if stage one of liver detox is working well but stage two is not, these now even more toxic toxins are going to hang out longer and be reabsorbed into the body.

WE NEED NUTRIENTS AND PRACTICES TO SUPPORT ALL ASPECTS OF DETOX.

Here are some specific nutrients to support liver detox:

• sulfurous foods, ex: eggs, broccoli, kale, swiss chard, asparagus, brussel sprouts
• amino acids: grass fed meat, pasture raised/organic chicken, wild-caught fish, eggs
• b vitamins- green leafy veggies, animal protein, and other fruits and veggies
• vitamin C- strawberries, citrus, peppers
• glutathione- this is an antioxidant made in the body. You can eat foods that support the making and utilization of glutathione like avocados (contain glutathione peroxidase), 1-3 brazil nuts (selenium), sulfurous veggies, plenty of foods high in vitamin C and E to recycle glutathione
• limonene containing foods- lemon, lime, and orange peel
• caraway and dill seeds
• turmeric
• betaine (beets)
• antioxidants to help offset the toxic load of phase one liver detox- dark colored berries and other fruits and veggies deep in color
• cholesterol- a major component of bile- animal protein and pasture raised eggs
• vitamin A- deep green vegetables and sea vegetables, yams, carrots, and other orange veggies
• clean water (filtered with minerals added back in)- to help flush out toxins
• plenty of fiber- soluble and insoluble
• more but this is a great start 🙂

Smoothies are often overrated in my opinion due to the high sugar content. I love this recipe because it is low sugar and high in detox supportive nutrients! I hope you enjoy and learn something!

ACAI- viewed as a superfood for its high amount of antioxidants

STRAWBERRIES- high in vitamin C and other antioxidants/vitamins as well as fiber.

LEMON- adds sweetness without sugar. The zest is high in limonene very supportive of phase one of liver detox.

CINNAMON- adds flavor. This is a carminative herb helping to prevent gas and bloating and supporting digestion of food. It is also though to support blood sugar as well as boost brain activity. Additionally cinnamon has antimicrobial properties which supports healthy colon bacteria. ¹ All of these benefits of cinnamon indirectly take stress off the liver so it can do its job!

GINGER- also adds flavor. Like cinnamon ginger is carminative and antimicrobial. Ginger also contains antioxidants and is anti-inflammatory. ²

CHLORELLA & SPIRULINA- these are two types of seaweed highly valued for their potential to excort heavy metals and other toxins (like mycotoxins) from the body. Additionally the rich dark color is evidence of quality beta carotene (an active form of vitamin A)

COLLAGEN- High in gut supportive amino acids glutamine, proline, and glycine. These amino acids support wound healing and also glutamine is the main amino acid present in the gut. Vitamin C works in conjunction with these nutrients to optimize absorption and utilization. Additionally having amino acids readily available support phase 2 of liver detox. Additionally, protein helps us make digestive enzymes to break down food.

FLAXSEED- high in fiber and also phytoestrogens. This seed’s phytoestrogenic activity is supportive of the first phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle (days 1-14). The high fiber content helps bind up toxins and move them out through feces.

SUNBUTTER- sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E which helps us recycle glutathione

DETOX SUPPORTIVE SMOOTHIE

print this recipe

Ingredients:

• (1) 3.5 oz packet of frozen organic acai (no sugar added)- I like the Sambazon brand
• 5 ish frozen strawberries or handful of other berries of choice
• zest and juice of half a lemon
• 1/2 tsp organic cinnamon powder
• 1/4-1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger grated
• pinch of organic clove powder, optional
• 2 tsp- 1 T chlorella or spirulina
• 2 scoops of collagen (I like Perfect Supplements) use code ABBY10 for 10% off!
• coconut milk to blend (or any plant milk) or yogurt
• flaxseed, optional
• sunbutter or other nut butter to top, optional
• paleo granola, optional

In a blender combine acai, berries, zest and juice of lemon, cinnamon, ginger, cloves if using, chlorella or spirulina, collagen, milk, and flax seed if using. Blend until smooth adding more milk as needed.

Top with nut or seed butter plus other fun toppings like paleo granola, flaked coconut, chia seeds, hemp hearts, etc as you wish.

Healthy wishes!

Abigail

References: ¹ , ²

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