Every now and then, your body just needs a break. Maybe you’ve over-indulged in rich foods or you just feel bloated or nauseous. That’s a good time to whip up a detox green smoothie using ingredients that are easy on the stomach and that help your body eliminate toxins.
This pineapple detox green smoothie is a good choice. It’s mild and fresh-tasting and packed with healthy fruits and vegetables. It also contains a grating of fresh ginger, which is a rich source of antioxidants. Ginger has been used for many years to treat stomach upset and even chemotherapy-induced nausea. You can buy fresh ginger root at almost any grocery store and it keeps for a long time in the freezer. Just pop the whole unpeeled ginger root into a freezer bag and pull it out when needed. It actually grates well from the frozen state and I don’t even bother to peel it.
This smoothie also contains pineapples, a good source of vitamins C and B6, manganese and copper. Pineapples also contain bromelain, a group of digestive enzymes that have anti-inflammatory properties.
If you like your smoothies on the sweeter side, you can add a teaspoon of raw honey. Raw honey is just honey that hasn’t been pasteurized or processed and it still contains its natural enzymes and other nutrients. I found my jar of raw honey at my local TJ Maxx location, but any health food store should have it. As always, I recommend buying organic whenever you can.
Ingredients:
1 cup pineapple (fresh or frozen)
Grating of fresh ginger
Several leaves of romaine lettuce
1 banana (fresh or frozen)
2 inches cucumber
1-2 inches celery
1 TSP raw honey (optional)
Water (1-2 cups)
Ice
Directions:
Add all ingredients into a high speed blender, ending with the frozen ingredients. Mix thoroughly until you reach the consistency you desire.
Enjoy!