HEALTHIER DAYS AHEAD

Who doesn't love a green smoothie recipe!? I have been trying to perfect my go-to green smoothie in the mornings, and I finally cracked the code! To make this have the most gut-beneficial ingredients, I am combining nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory ingredients that will help with gut motility first thing in the morning. The best part it, it takes less than 5 minutes!

And the key to all of this? Aloe Vera Juice.

Aloe vera juice was recommended to me by my naturopath to help with gut motility and constipation. It has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe and calm the gut lining. Just like how aloe vera juice can calm a burn when applied topically, it can reduce internal irritation and ease discomfort caused by digestive disturbances.

The only problem with aloe vera juice for me is the texture. I cannot stand drinking anything that has pulp and bits in it. And aloe vera juice is no exception! While I was recommended to drink about a cup a day, I could not bring myself to swallow the thick, chunky, pulps of aloe vera that came along with the juice. yucckkk.

So, the solution I had was to add it to my morning smoothies! I typically make my smoothies with almond milk, but I one day I tried swapping it out with aloe vera juice instead. It worked like a charm! Blending aloe vera juice broke up the pulps that were so dreadful to drink before, and it made no difference to the taste of my smoothie. In fact, I think it made them sweeter!

Additionally, I love packing these smoothies with lots of fibrous greens, antioxidant-rich fruit, and protein to keep me full throughout the morning. Smoothies in general are a lot easier to digest, since the blending of the fruits and veggies helps break down the fiber. It's great for those who are sensitive to fiber (like me!) yet still allows you to get a full serving of greens.

If you find that you have trouble going to the bathroom in the mornings, or need bulkier stool, opt for adding in additional fiber, like a sprinkle of chia seeds, hemp seeds or cocoa nibs to finish off your smoothie.

It's super easy to customize this smoothie to your own liking! Some days, I only use aloe vera juice, other days, I split it with almond milk for creaminess or coconut water for added electrolytes. You can use any type of greens - spinach, kale, chard, arugula, collard greens - and any frozen fruit. Although, I think frozen mango or pineapple fit the vibe. You can also make it less sweet by substituting ice cubes instead of frozen fruit or make it sweeter by adding a full banana and some honey.

Really, have fun making this smoothie recipe, experimenting with the ingredients. The one thing I would stick to adding is the aloe vera juice ;) Customize it to fit your taste buds and gut microbiome🥬