Detoxifying Green Smoothie

The New Year is here and that means that it's time to get back on track! Whether you believe in New Year's resolutions or not, this time of year typically has people rethinking their habits and wanting a bit of a fresh start. Plus, after the indulgences of the holidays, I'm sure I'm not the only one craving some fresh veggies and a bit of a health reboot . 

Now, that said I'm not big on juice cleanses or fad diets. In fact, I'm not a big fan of juices altogether, even those green juices sold at all the trendy coffee shops. Why? Many of them are overloaded with fruit and can skyrocket your blood sugar in no time. Add to that, the fruits and veggies are put through a juicer which removes all the fibre. That fibre is super important and it's all going to waste! Of course it's beneficial for the digestive system but it also slows down the absorption of those fruit sugars and therefore will not spike your blood sugar. However, there is a time and a place for cold pressed juices, just make sure they you are indeed buying them FRESH (should be consumed as soon as possible, or better yet make them yourself. Also ensure that fruit is not the first ingredient and look for juices that have lower glycemic fruits like apples, lemon, pears etc, and not fruits like pineapple, grapes, or mangos. 

The easiest solution to all of this is to BLEND it into a smoothie rather than juice. You will retain all the fibre and nutrients of your fruits and veggies and avoid those nasty sugar spikes. Any high speed blender will do the trick. You may end up having to stir or shake your drink more than a store bought juice but you'll ensure that you get all those amazing benefits. 

What's so great about this smoothie is that it includes foods that are super supportive to your liver, like dandelion greens, lemon and spirulina. These will help your liver to detoxify naturally. As well as hydrating foods like celery and cucumber. Add ginger which is total powerhouse when is comes to reducing inflammation, aiding in digestion and balancing blood sugar levels. All in all, this smoothie is sure to kick detoxification into high gear and get you on the right track! 

Ingredients

• 1 cup dandelion greens
• 1/4 inch piece of ginger, peeled
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup sliced cucumber
• 1/2 cup celery, or one large stalk
• 1/4 of a large apple
• 1/2 tsp spirulina 
• 2 cups water

Method
Add all ingredients into a high speed blender and blend on high until fully combined and smooth. Pour and enjoy!