According to Neka Pasquale, the nutritionist, acupuncturist, food-as-medicine brains behind Urban Remedy’s therapeutic juices, foods and supplements, choosing fresh foods that support your body’s natural cleansing functions is a great way to optimize the detoxifying workings of your kidneys, liver and gut. These smoothies, borrowed from her book Urban Remedy, The 4-Day Home Cleanse Retreat, push all the right detox buttons – including antioxidants. Countering the negative health effects of inflammation – including the slow-down of the body’s natural detox systems on a cellular, organ and whole body level, antioxidants play an important – and delicious – role in these easy-to-make blends.
- RASPBERRY SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE
1 cup Almond Milk
1 cup frozen raspberries
½ cup chia gel
1 tablespoon shelled hemp seeds
1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil
10 drops stevia or 2 tablespoons coconut palm sugar
½ cup spinach
In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and blend on high speed for 45 seconds. The smoothie should be smooth and thick. Pour into a tall glass.
Makes 1 serving.
- BLUEBERRY-GOJI-AÇAI SMOOTHIE
1 ½ cups almond milk
½ cup frozen blueberries
½ packet unsweetened açai puree
2 tablespoons dried goji berries
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and blend on high speed for 45 seconds. The smoothie should be smooth and thick. Pour into a tall glass.
Makes 1 serving.
- ANTIOXIDANT GREEN SMOOTHIE
1 cup Chia Gel (below)
½ cup frozen blueberries, preferably wild blueberries
½ cup frozen raspberries
Handful of spinach leaves
2 kale leaves, coarsely chopped
5-10 drops liquid stevia, to taste (optional)
In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and bland on high speed for 45 seconds. The mixture should be smooth and thick. Pour into a tall glass.
Makes 1 serving.
- CHIA GEL
3 tablespoons chia seeds
2 cups filtered water
In a small bowl, combine chia seeds and water and whisk until well mixed. Repeat the whisking every 30 seconds for 3 minutes to prevent clumping. Store the chia gel in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Makes a generous 2 cups.
Excerpted from Urban Remedy, The 4-Day Home Cleanse Retreat by Neka Pasquale (Welden Owen).
