10 Smoothies To Help You Detox After Your Turkey Day Binge
10 Smoothies to Help You Detox After Your Turkey Day Binge
For some, Thanksgiving is more than just a day of giving thanks. It's a one-day hunting license signaling open season on every kind of carb, fatty dish, or decadent dessert. Your conscience tells you a second or third helping of creamy, buttery mashed potatoes will clog your arteries like mortar, but you tell yourself, "It's OK to indulge today, Thanksgiving only comes once a year."
The next morning, when you're bloated and suffering from a food-induced hangover, an inevitable pang of guilt sets in as you realize there is some truth to that tacky cliché, "A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips." Not to worry. A dose of some detox smoothies can put your health regimen back on track.
We've selected 10 tasty, flavor-packed smoothies that can help boost energy levels, remove toxins, and provide nutrient rich antioxidants. You may not be able to magically shed extra pounds, but your body will get a much needed nutritional nudge in the right direction.
Here are 10 Smoothies that will help you detox after your Turkey Day binge.
All-About-the-Berries Smoothie
This smoothie is berry good for your health, as it's packed with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and polyphenols found in raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. These properties help fight cancer, can help manage obesity, and benefit memory, brain health, and the nervous system.
Cactus Pear Smoothie
This one-of-a-kind drink is just what you need if you want to remove toxins from your body. To expel these toxins, your kidneys and liver need to be in good shape. In order for your kidneys and liver to function well, your body needs phosphorus. Luckily, the cactus pear packs a wallop of that mineral, which helps the kidneys remove waste, keeps your pH levels balanced, and regulates nerve and muscle function.
Coco Carrot Mango Smoothie
Want your kids to eat more vegetables once the holidays are over? Try this carrot mango smoothie. The sweet tang of mango makes vitamin A-rich carrots (which are good for hair, eyes, and skin) more palatable for squeamish veggie-phobes.
Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie
This smoothie is your heart's and brain's best friend. The monounsaturated fats in almonds help lower the risk of heart disease, while chocolate contains anti-oxidant flavonoids that can help prevent strokes. In addition, cocoa contains pentameric procyanidin, a compound which disrupts cancer cells' ability to spread.
Green Bliss Power Smoothie
Avocados have higher levels of potassium than bananas and contain high amounts of oleic fatty acid. This is the same heart-healthy, monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil. This smoothie features ingredients like avocado, almond milk, spinach, and coconut water.
Hale to the Kale Smoothie
This smoothie can help you shed some belly fat and make it easier to zip up that favorite pair of blue jeans once your Thanksgiving meal is over. Consuming monounsaturated fatty acids like those found in nuts, olive oil, and avocados can help your body burn belly fat and can help increase your basal metabolic rate to burn fat more efficiently. This recipe calls for kale, avocados, and other ingredients that will do just that.
Milk and Honey Banana Smoothie
Bananas are a rich natural source for potassium, which helps blood flow, lowers cholesterol levels, and decreases your chance of developing heart disease. In the days following Thanksgiving, swap out your dessert with this rich and creamy smoothie.
Orange Dream Creamsicle Smoothie
This is not the high-calorie dreamsicle of your childhood, but a rich, yogurt substitute that will help boost your immune system and add lean protein to your diet. The "good bacteria" in this kind of yogurt can help your gut health, while the flavors in the smoothie will make you feel like a kid again.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
For those still craving a slice of pumpkin pie, this potassium- and magnesium-rich smoothie will satisfy your cravings. It will also provide plenty of fiber and alpha-carotene to give your immune system a boost as we head into flu season.
Topical Smoothie
This smoothie tastes more like a tropical cocktail than a health drink. The high levels of magnesium and vitamin C from mango, coconut, pineapple, and lime bring health benefits that include protection against cardiovascular disease, immune system deficiencies, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even wrinkles. Get out the mini drink umbrellas — it's time to celebrate! (And detox, of course.)