Simple Green Smoothie

Smoothies are a staple in our home. They have been for many, many years.

I love smoothies first thing in the morning. I love the ritual of making them, recounting the nutritional benefits of each ingredient as I toss them into the blender and thank them (yes, I speak to my food) for everything they're about to do to help my body.

I have a deep appreciation and respect for food. It is one of the most complex, magical and mind blowing things to me. Understanding the chemical process that happens as they grow, the symbiotic relationship between the roots of the plant and the bacteria and fungi in the ground.

Learning that lightning is what delivers nitrogen into the soil to help nourish what grows within it is such a powerful process that makes me feel so small in the grand scheme of things (in a good way!)

When I toss greens, herbs, nuts and milks into my blender to create a nutrient dense and pre-digested meal for me and my love ones, I feel a sense of symbiotic energy between me, the ingredients and my family. The process doesn't end when the food is picked... the complex nature of food, microbes and nutrients continue to unfold as we prep, eat and process our meals.

The process itself of preparing our food begins to stimulate digestion. Washing, chopping and smelling your food signals to the brain and gut that it's time to start producing and secreting
enzymes to break down and absorb our nutrients.

If we aren't stressed while doing so, we will be in our parasympathetic state and able to properly digest and move food through the gut in a timely fashion. This is an integral part of avoiding IBS symptoms and recovering from gut illness. Stress
management, taking our time to eat and actually enjoying and tasting our food can be simple yet BIG steps toward healing our bodies and nervous systems.

This simple green smoothie recipe is rich in soluble and insoluble fibre, is pH balancing and supports liver detoxification. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a delicious and
healthy breakfast option that will give you energy, will be easy to digest and aid in reducing inflammation with beautiful herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, parsley and cilantro.

Simple Green Smoothie Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water (or coconut water)
• I/2 head romaine lettuce
• 4-5 stalks of celery
• 1/2 cup parsley
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 handful of walnuts (sub for macadamia nuts if on low FDMAP diet)
• 1 pear, seeded (eliminate if on low FODMAP diet)
• 1 banana
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• pinch of ground ginger
• pinch of ground turmeric
• pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend on low to start, then increase to high after about 10 seconds. Blend for about 90 seconds or until smooth and creamy.

Notes:
You may need to blend half of the ingredients together and then add the rest to get everything in the blender. This is a big one guys! Store leftovers in glass containers up to 4 days.

Cassandra Hope, RHN