As much as I wish the old “you are what you eat” saying wasn’t true (as I daydream about Levain cookies), there’s no doubt about it. The upside is that many everyday “ailments” can be cured by small dietary tweaks. To get an idea, I spoke with Alex Jay, Health Coach and Nutrition Expert at Juice Press, and asked her to share three smoothie ideas with us.
GLOWING SKIN SMOOTHIE
1/2 packet of frozen acai
1 ½ handfuls of blueberries
1 banana
1 tsp. of flax oil
1 tsp. of chia seeds
2 dates
1 oz. of e3 live or a handful of fresh greens
a few ice cubes
4 oz. of coconut water
4 oz. of almond milk
“Acai and blueberries are my go-to skin fruits because they are packed with antioxidants. Flax oil and chia seeds are an amazing vegan source of omega 3s and provide skin with nourishing essential fatty acids. I love e3 live, a blue-green algae that contains 65 minerals and vitamins; you can add it to a smoothie or take a shot in a Juice Press store. But, if you are making at home, you can buy it in the frozen section in your natural food store or Whole Foods. You can also swap out e3 live for dark leafy greens, kale or spinach. I like to do a mix of coconut water and almond milk – coconut water to hydrate and almond milk for Vitamin E (the skin vitamin).”
DIGESTION SMOOTHIE
1 banana
2 heaping handfuls of pineapple
1 cube (2 oz.) of frozen coconut meat
1 probiotic tablet (or if you are making at home, you can skip)
1 tbsp. of ginger meat or 1 oz. ginger juice
1 tsp. of mesquite
1 oz. of aloe
8 oz. of coconut water
“I love adding aloe to smoothies and it’s known to help with digestion. The superfood mesquite is packed with fiber. Probiotics provide healthy bacteria to aid with proper digestion.”
HANGOVER SMOOTHIE
2 handfuls of mango
½-1 cup of fresh greens
¼ avocado
1 tbsp. of ginger meat/fresh ginger or 1 oz. ginger juice
1 tsp. of maca
1 tsp. of bee pollen
1 tbsp. of coconut nectar
8 oz. coconut water
“Coconut water replaces electrolytes and hydrates. Bee pollen is a B12 boost and can provide a boost of energy. Maca, a Peruvian root, is a natural stimulant.”
