Memorial Day weekend is here, and kicking off the summer with a BBQ is as American as you can get. Who doesn’t love celebrating, but the uncomfortable, bloating feeling afterwards? No thanks. You can keep your “food baby,” as some people lovingly refer, to a stomach too big to be comfortable in those skinny jeans you wore. We’ve found seven ingredients to mix up your smoothie recipes, and help you feel like yourself again in no time.
1. Berries
Who doesn’t love blueberries, strawberries or raspberries? During the summer months, their gorgeous colors can be seen everywhere. Some other great things about berries are their high water content. Did you know they are 85 to 95 percent water? They are also high in fiber, which can help food move through the intestines more quickly and decrease abdominal pressure and bloating. Berries also add bulk to your meal and can help relieve conditions like constipation, which are sometimes the cause of bloating.
Summer also means enjoying some hot weather fruits you’d find while frolicking in Hawaii. Like berries, pineapples are made up of 85 percent water. Pineapples also contain an enzyme called bromelain which can help decrease bloating by encouraging proper digestion and breaking down proteins in the body. While we can’t be in the tropics everyday, the frozen foods section makes grabbing a bag of ready to go pineapple a breeze.
3. Mint
Whether you’re having peppermint, spearmint or basil, you’ll be helping your body fight the bloat. The mint family is great for soothing the digestive tract and dissolving large gas pockets. Who knew such a tiny leaf could make such an impact on our internal organs, well being. Try not to chew all the mint leaves before you add them to your smoothie. If do though, you might be rewarded instead of punished.
4. Bananas.
Bananas are a source prebiotic fiber, which helps to feed good gut bacteria and improve digestion. A study in the journal Anaerobe found women who ate a banana twice daily as a pre-meal snack for 60 days experienced an increase in good bacteria levels and a 50 percent reduction in bloating. The potassium found in bananas counter sodium’s role. With so many grab and go foods, dining out, or having popcorn at the movies, good to know the banana can help us feel better after too much salt.
5. Ginger
Ginger is one of the oldest spices in the world. Although probably best known for its cold and flu treating powers, ginger is also well known for its ability to alleviate symptoms of gastrointestinal distress and is commonly used for eliminating intestinal gas and reducing bloating. It contains zingibain, a protein digestive enzyme, and is particularly effective at reducing bloating and gas caused by protein rich foods. Which comes in handy after a weekend of over indulging when you smell a mouth watering burger on the grill.
6. Aloe Vera
When we think of Aloe Vera we think of sunburnt skin after we didn’t reapply our sunscreen, but we can also think of it as an internal cleanser. The soothing effects of aloe and abundant vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients found in this plant, remove toxins and food buildup from the body. It helps your body realign itself after a few days of food cheating. The enzymes help breaking down undigested food, and get you back to feeling like yourself again.
7. Yogurt
We love greek yogurt for it’s high protein properties, but did you know the healthy or “good” bacteria found in yogurt can promote intestinal bacteria balance and reduce excess gas build up in your digestive system. Probiotics or “good bacteria” relieves GI symptoms, such as bloating. A basic in most packed lunches, should also become a basic in your smoothie routine.
Now what to do with these ingredients? Try any of these smoothie recipes whenever you need to feel like yourself again after a weekend of too much indulgence or really any time. Who doesn’t love feeling their best all the time!
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
8 mint leaves
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 ripe banana, sliced and frozen
1 cup rice milk
1 Tbsp flaxseed, freshly ground
Pineapple and Banana Smoothie
1 cup ripe bananas, coarsely chopped
1 cup fresh pineapple (flesh and stem), coarsely chopped
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup crushed ice
Green Tea and Pineapple Smoothie
2 cups fresh pineapple, peeled and chopped
1 cup green tea made from loose leaves
1 Tbsp honey
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 cup crushed ice
2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice
1 cup frozen pineapple
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger
1 lime peeled
3 cups of baby spinach
2 tablespoons of hemp seeds
1/2 cup of water
½ c chamomile or dandelion root tea, cooled
1 c strawberries
1 c pineapple chunks
½ c vanilla yogurt with live and active cultures
1 tsp honey or maple syrup
½ c ice cubes
3 ounces vanilla nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon almond butter
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1 cup kale
3/4 cup water
