Hormone Balancing Smoothie for Women

Hormone Balancing Smoothie – This brain fog busting, hormone balancing smoothie has helped me so much that I couldn’t resist sharing it.  

If you are a woman in your mid-30’s to 40’s who is not feeling energetic, calm and clear-headed, chances are you could use a “hormonal tune up.” This smoothie might just be what you need.

hormone balancing smoothie

TABLE OF CONTENTS: What you can expect to see in this Hormone Balancing Smoothie post:

  • Introduction to The Hormone Cure by Sarah Gottfried, MD
  • Hormones and Birth Control
  • Top Benefits of the Hormone Balancing Smoothie
  • Hormone Smoothie Ingredients and Scientific Evidence
  • Hormone Balancing Smoothie Recipe

This recipe is a follow up to my DIM, the estrogen balancing supplement for women. If you are in perimenopause or going through menopause now , then your hormones ARE changing. Some women are more sensitive to hormonal changes than others, and I think I am one of them.

Introduction to The Hormone Cure by Sarah Gottfried, MD

As my new favorite hormone expert, the Harvard educated Sarah Gottfried, M.D., explains in her must-read book The Hormone Cure , the hormonal chaos can typically be traced back to three hormones she calls your “Charlies Angels”: estrogen, cortisol and thyroid.

the hormone cure book

But don’t worry, it’s not all downhill after 40. The good news is, there’s a lot you can do to balance things out.

Hormones and Birth Control

Before going further, I feel I should also point out that I do not currently take birth control pills. I only took birth control pills for a 2 month period in 1998 in my early twenties, but I stopped as soon as I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

For what it is worth, twenty years ago I did not know what I know about birth control pills today. However, my gut instinct told me that any medication that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal cycle could potentially cause serious side effects. Little did I know how very detrimental birth control pills can be to a woman’s body–and mind!

hormone balancing smoothie

The Perfect Hormone Balancing Smoothie

There are so many benefits and overall life improvements since I started adding in this hormone balancing smoothie every day. I selected adaptogens and superfoods that are scientifically backed to create the biggest impact. As living proof, that scientifically backed evidence is working because it’s been balancing my hormones for years without any other supplements or activities.

Top Benefits to the Hormone Balancing Smoothie

In addition, there are incredible benefits to drinking this Hormone Balancing Smoothie but these are the top 2.

#1 Benefit — No More Sugar Cravings

Every single friend who has tried the hormone balancing smoothie says the same thing. They are not hungry for hours after drinking their smoothie and it totally shuts down their sugar cravings. Although thankfully I have not had to battle sugar cravings in a while, this was what I did to finally stop them.

As for me, I have been drinking the hormone balancing smoothie recipe consistently for almost 3 months now and have noticed a very real difference in my energy as well as my ability to handle stress. I’ve stopped feeling so overwhelmed at each and every little thing. If I run out of toothpaste it’s not such a big deal. That wasn’t the case just a few weeks ago.

#2 Benefit — Brain Fog Be Gone! 

And, the brain fog is gone. The funny thing is, I didn’t even think I was having brain fog. I just thought I wasn’t handling stress as well as I once did. Now that my brain is clearly working better, I noticed that I was feeling stress because I wasn’t able to get my to do list done as quickly or efficiently.

Before making myself drink this hormone balancing smoothie, I might have worked for 2 hours straight editing new posts for Clean Cuisine, but only accomplished an hour of quality work. Thankfully, I am definitely getting more done and more efficiently since I’ve started the smoothie.

hormone balancing smoothie

This Hormone Balancing Smoothie Gets the Job Done

I do have to be 100% honest, this hormone balancing smoothie is probably not going to win the “Best Tasting Smoothie of the Year” award. But, it’s certainly not downright terrible either. This is more of a “get the job done” recipe.

In fact, I created the recipe for myself and never even intended to share it here on the blog. But it is making too big of a difference in how I feel not to share. That’s because from day 1 you will notice a difference.

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Shop Local for Ingredients

Down below, I share a breakdown of all the ingredients in my hormone balancing smoothie. Many of the ingredients in the smoothie recipe can be found in a well-stocked natural foods store.

navitas naturals

However, in case you have difficulty finding them I have included a link to brands you can purchase online next to each ingredient. For online convenience, we use and trust VitaCost.com – they are an amazing health food store online and carry everything you need for this hormone balancing smoothie at a discount.

hormone balancing smoothie

How the Hormone Balancing Smoothie Works

The brain fog busting, hormone balancing smoothie is full of superfoods and adaptogens. These supplements are proven to increase mental flow, boost energy, support healthy estrogen & progesterone levels, boost mood & curb sugar cravings.

Again, even from day 1, you should notice feeling more energized, calm and clear-headed. Here are the ingredients:

Maca Powder is Hormone Balancing

MACA POWDER: This is a good brand of Organic Maca Powder.

I’ve been talking about the benefits of maca for years now. However, I’ll be honest and tell you that I have not been consistently taking it until now. Maca can help with insomnia to low energy, hot flashes to vaginal dryness and low libido, and even anxiety and depression.

boost immune system

Maca has consistently been shown to help women (and men!) with an array of bothersome hormonal symptoms. Dr. Gottfried explains in more detail why mood-boosting maca is a girls best friend in on her website here.  

Ashwagandha Powder Helps to Lower Cortisol

ASHWAGANDHA POWDER: This is a good organic brand for Ashwagandha Powder.

Thanks to hormonal changes, many women over 40 may start to notice anxiety for the first time in their lives. Or if they have had anxiety in the past, they may notice it all of a sudden getting worse with age. Ashwagandha is an adaptagen that works by lowering cortisol levels and mimicking the “calming” neurotransmitter GABA.

An effective, evidence-based remedy for anxiety, stress, and insomnia, ashwagandha also has anti-inflammatory properties. FYI: It is best to take ashwagandha in the root form (as a powder) rather than the leaf form.

Flaxseeds are an Omega-3 Superfood

WHOLE FLAXSEEDS: This a good brand of organic flaxseeds.

We recommend that you get a serving of omega-3 and lignan-rich flaxseeds every day. Flaxseeds are good for men and women because they support hormonal health, provide extra fiber and have anti-inflammatory benefits. They are also one of nature’s richest food sources of lignans, potent antioxidants that fight free radical damage and act as phytoestrogens.

estrogen dominance

Flaxseeds are also rich in fiber and fiber helps flush out “bad” estrogen. All in all, flaxseeds are potent anti-cancer and hormonal-health superfoods.

For years I made it a point to eat 2 or 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds everyday, but you know how life goes. Somehow I got out of the flaxseed habit, but now I’m back. When it comes to hormonal health, the lignans in ground flaxseed can make a BIG difference.

Flaxseed Study Showed Reduced Hot Flashes

One study showed that eating just 2 tablespoons of flaxseeds twice a day for 6 weeks reduces hot flashes. This is a key symptom to hormone imbalance and half of the study showed the hot flash intensity diminished by 57 percent.

Lignans and a few other naturally occurring phytoestrogens have been shown to provide protection against hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast cancer (1), ovarian cancer, uterine cancer (2), prostate cancer (3) and even colon cancer. F And I am back to eating them every single day. 

Hemp Seeds Contain Omega-6 GLA’s

HEMP SEEDS: Manitoba is favorite brand of organic hemp seeds and used in many Clean Cuisine recipes.

Just like flaxseeds, I’ve been talking about the health benefits of hemp seeds for years now. This is an incredible plant based source of biologically available and easily digested protein. Hemp seeds also contain a healthy anti-inflammatory 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fat. In addition, hemp seeds contain an especially beneficial type of omega-6 fat called GLA (gamma linolenic acid). GLA is a direct building block of good anti-inflammatory hormones.

Unfortunately, this special omega-6 fat is not typically found in foods. Hemp seeds are just about the only edible food source of GLA. While it’s true your body can convert the typical food version of unprocessed omega-6 called linoleic acid (LA) into the “useable” GLA form your body needs, the conversion process can be thwarted by many internal and external factors.

Hemp Seeds are a Powerful Inhibitor of DHT

For example, the older you get the less efficient the enzymes your body uses to convert LA into GLA become. Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, infections, and even stress can reduce your body’s ability to convert dietary LA into GLA. And, if you also happen to be experiencing hormonal hair loss or hair thinning, it’s good to know GLA is a powerful inhibitor of DHT (dihydrotestosterone). This is a derivative of the male hormone testosterone. Whether you are a male or female, DHT is the enemy for your hair. Simply put, GLA blocks DHT and that means less hormonal hair loss.

Raw Cacao Powder is a Source of Iron and Magnesium

RAW CACAO POWDER: This is a good brand of organic raw cacao powder.

Thanks to life stress compounded with hormonal changes that make it more difficult to manage stress, many women over the age of 40 struggle with a constant cortisol surge. Not only does the cortisol surge make them feel miserable, but it restricts blood flow to the brain. Thus, impairing cognitive function and memory, which inevitably leads to more stress and more cortisol! It’s a viscous cycle. 

In what might be the most popular study ever performed on cortisol, cacao-rich dark chocolate was shown to lower cortisol. It has also been shown to increase serotonin levels and stabilize blood sugar levels.  But you do NOT want to just grab a sugar-loaded Hershey’s bar and call it a day.

Raw Cacao is a True Superfood

Cacao is the active health-promoting ingredient in chocolate. Raw cacao is a true superfood. This superfood powder has one of the highest plant-based sources of iron and magnesium. In addition, it has over 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries and more calcium than cow’s milk. By the way, here are 10 reasons why milk does not do a body good.

Vitamin C Rich Camu Camu Powder

CAMU CAMU POWDER: This is a good brand of organic camu camu powder.

Another superfood, vitamin-C rich camu is another one I have talked extensively about on the blog in the past. Here’s the deal, the camu berry is a Peruvian superfood and one of the world’s most abundant sources of vitamin C. It contains as much as 60 times more C per serving than an orange! But unlike vitamin C supplements, camu powder is a whole food. Unlike vitamin C supplements, camu contains a full spectrum of the naturally occurring bioflavonoids your body needs in order to properly utilize and metabolize vitamin C.

natural cold remedies

Vitamin C Treats Low Progesterone

And if you are a woman over 40 years old, you need to make certain you are getting plenty of vitamin C. One of the hormonal changes that occur in middle age with women is that they start to make less progesterone. This contributes to the dreaded (but very prevalent) estrogen dominance problem. 

Vitamin C is the only over-the-counter nutraceutical treatment for low progesterone that is proven to be both safe and effective. In addition to balancing estrogen, progesterone plays a critical role in optimizing your thyroid health and if you are over the age of 40 you are at risk for thyroid dysfunction. The vitamin C in camu is also critical for your adrenals to function properly. 

Camu Supports Over 300 Different Body Functions

The more stress your body is under, the more vitamin C your body needs. And your body doesn’t just need vitamin C to lower cortisol and fight stress. This critical antioxidant is essential for more than 300 different functions in your body. Vitamin C even plays a critical role in the creation of key feel-good neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. And there is no better way to get your vitamin C than from a whole food, which is exactly what camu is.

Collagen Powder Helps Our Bodies Build and Restore

COLLAGEN POWDER: This is a good brand of unflavored collagen powder.

For the hormone balancing smoothie, I used the Collagen 1 + 2 that is unflavored. Collagen is in every tissue of the body and is the connective tissue in structures such as skin, hair, nails, bones, lungs, heart and liver. It is often referred to as the glue that holds the body together. Adequate intake is necessary to produce our own collagen as well as maintain healthy metabolism.

Traditionally, collagen used to make its way into peoples’ diets through foods like bone broths, slow-cooked organ meats, kidney pies, baked beef hearts, whole crustaceans, and whole-fish soups and stews. If you are not routinely eating these types of foods, then chances are your body is not getting the naturally occurring collagen protein it needs. Your body needs collagen to help restore and rebuild itself, which indirectly can negatively impact symptoms related to hormonal health.

Collagen Contains Amino Acids and L-Lysine

Collagen powder contains numerous amino acids and is rich in l-lysine and l-arginine, both amino acids.  Several studies, one randomized, of more than one hundred subjects who supplemented with the amino acids L-lysine combined with L-arginine showed that the combination reduced salivary cortisol levels as well as anxiety.

In another study, 90 percent of women with thinning hair, were deficient in the amino acid l-lysine as well as iron. The point is, if you do not give your body the building blocks it needs to repair itself then you can’t possibly expect to perform at peak performance. Adding collagen powder to your hormone balancing smoothie recipe simply fills in any missing nutrition gaps.  

Acai or Wild Blueberries Pack a Huge Antioxidant Punch

Both Acai and Wyman’s Frozen Wild Blueberries are available in the frozen section of most supermarkets.

Both Acai and wild blueberries are packed with vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, fiber, anti-inflammatory antioxidants and phytonutrients. They all work indirectly to boost energy and stamina, curb appetite hormones and support a healthy metabolism.

Whether you choose acai or wild blueberries, both “superfruits” reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. These two are major underlying causes of cognitive problems, including loss of memory and “brain fog”, that can occur with hormonal changes in women over 40.

wymans-wild-blueberries

If you are going to go with blueberries, you definitely want to choose wild blueberries because they pack a much more powerful antioxidant and nutritional punch than conventional blueberries. 

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Frozen Cauliflower Provides Magical Detoxification

I know green smoothies are still all the rage. However, when it comes to reducing estrogen dominance then cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower (as well as cabbage, broccoli and brussels sprouts) are better than leafy greens. For what it is worth, cauliflower works it’s hormone balancing magic through through phase 1 and phase 2 detoxifcation. 

Keep Eating Your Greens… Just Not in This Smoothie

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should not eat your greens. If you have our Clean Cuisine nutrition book or are familiar with our anti-inflammatory food pyramid, you know eating a large serving of nutrient-dense dark leafy greens every day plays a very important role in our overall nutrition recommendations in the past and it still does.

However, when it comes to the practicalities of daily life, I find it so much more convenient to eat a salad than I do to make cauliflower (or any other cruciferous vegetable) on a consistent basis. 

Frozen Cauliflower Blends Beautifully

Frozen cauliflower is the one that blends most easily and without any funky aftertaste into a smoothie. I simply prefer to get my daily cruciferous vegetable in my smoothie recipe and eat my greens in a salad. Of course you can always substitute kale or spinach for cauliflower if you wish, but I don’t recommend it.

Find frozen cauliflower in the frozen section of your grocery store. You definitely want to use frozen cauliflower rather than fresh as frozen has already been pre-blanched.

hormone balancing smoothie

Optional Hormone Balancing Smoothie Ingredients

Pitted dates and pure vanilla extract are completely optional. If you need a boost of sweetness, then consider one of these additional ingredients to add to the hormone balancing smoothie. Also, feel free to omit if you do not want your smoothie to be sweet.

Doing Everything Right, but Not Losing Weight?

If you feel that you are doing everything right but not losing weight, you might want to look into 12-hour intermittent fasting. I highly recommend that you check out the 4 BIG Benefits of Intermittent Fasting article.

Hormone Balancing Smoothie for Women

Hormone Balancing Smoothie for Women – If you want to feel energized, calm & clear-headed, then try this brain fog busting smoothie. This smoothie is full of superfoods that increase mental flow, boost energy, support healthy hormones, boost mood & curb sugar cravings.

  • Prep Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 7 minutes
  • Yield: 2024 oz single serving 1x

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a high speed blender, add the cauliflower, banana, wild blueberries or acai, ice cubes followed by all of the supplements listed above: flaxseeds, hemp seeds, collagen*, cacao powder, maca, camu camu and ashwagandha. Then, add the cold filtered water.
  2. Process on high for at least 1 minute until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  3. Want a sweeter hormone balancing smoothie? Add the dates and vanilla and process until smooth and creamy.
  4. Drink cold.

Last Step!If you loved our recipe, leave us a review below. This helps future recipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!

Notes

  • The hormone balancing smoothie recipe can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in a covered container (such as a thermos) in the refrigerator.
  • Feel free to pre-measure all dried supplements into 7 small glass containers for a week of supplements measured ahead of time cutting down the prep time for this smoothie.
  • If vegan, do not include the collagen in this smoothie.

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Listen to Ivy talk about the smoothie on WPTV

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101 Comments

  1. I absolutely love this smoothie! I’ve made some changes along the way, based on ingredients I can get and my body responds so well. It’s been part of my diet for a few years now and I make it when I feel I really need it. I turned 50 last year and it’s been a very valued part of my menopause journey. Thank you 🙏

    1. Madison Suttles says:

      Hi Ann,

      We love hearing stories like this. We’re so happy you’ve benefitted so greatly!

      Thanks for sharing,
      Madison

  2. Love the look of this but worry about the potential for the cauliflower to overpower the flavour. Thoughts? Are there enough other ingredients that mask the favour?

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      Believe it or not, frozen cauliflower has almost no flavor at all and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how delicious this chocolate-y smoothie is. Give it a try and let me know!

  3. Hello! I see that a different collagen powder is recommended now. Originally you were recommending Bullet Proof collagen. Do you no longer recommend this and if so why? I just made a new purchase of it.

    1. Looks like you forgot about my question though sent July 1, 2021. I’d just like to know since I’m going to purchase again. Thank you.

      1. Madison Suttles says:

        Hi Angela,

        We apologize for having missed your comment. Based upon personal experience, as long as the collagen comes from grass fed cows and does not have any additional ingredients, the quality and effects on the body are pretty much the same between brands! We simply switch based upon what is currently most affordable and most easily available to us.

        I hope this helps,
        Madison

  4. Kim Tavaglione says:

    Would this benefit a woman that is post menopause and experiencing terrible weight gain?

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      Kim, I don’t want you to think I forgot about you — I am checking with Ivy Larson, the creator of this Hormone Smoothie and will reply back as soon as I can!

    2. Hello! Just curious if there was a response as to whether this smoothie would benefit someone who is post menopausal.

      1. Aimee Niedosik says:

        Neither of us are post-menopausal, so we don’t have first hand experience. If you use the smoothie and notice an improvement, please leave a reply. I know we have other readers that would love to know!

  5. Paula Duggins says:

    Hi, can you tell me how many calories are in this smoothie and other nutritional values?

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      Hi Paula, Thank you so much for reaching out on this post as well — you can find the information about why we don’t include calories here. https://cleancuisine.com/calorie-counting-is-not-helpful-all-calories-are-not-equal/. For this recipe, if you’re wanting the caloric value, just grab the ingredients you’ll use plus the optional items and determine based on the serving size what the nutrional value is. What we do know, is that this is a very healthy and hormonally supportive smoothie that you’re going to love!

      1. Hi Ivy,
        I am 23 years old but have PCOS (hormone imbalance, brain fog, bloating, lack of energy, etc. are all things I’m very familiar with experiencing) — would this still be a beneficial smoothie for myself or is it just for women over 40 experiencing these symptoms? Thanks!

        1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

          Hi Gina, Sorry to hear about the issues you’re experiencing — you ABSOLUTELY can use this smoothie regardless of age. It’s mostly common for women to experience this in their 40’s — but like you and me, it was much sooner!

  6. Doctor Giannini says:

    Most women stuck using Premarin 2mg5 find out side effects are part of ‘that’ and learn that the Rx is not the answer. All of the info regarding HORMONES for women over 40 depicted in this article is undoubtedly found through painstaking experience and hours upon hours of grueling research, but completely done right. My hat is off to Ivy for producing a great article paired with an excellent recipe that works. Amazing job Ivy!

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      Thank you Dr. Giannini — Ivy did a tremendous job on this and thankful for your support and review.

  7. Could I combine the dry ingredients into individual portions for several days ahead to help with morning prep?

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      Yes, that’s actually what I do! I just make pre-measured portions in small containers and dump it into the blender each day!

  8. Hayley Richardson says:

    Hello! Thank you for posting this recipe. I’ve been using this shake with a few modifications every day and definitely notice a difference. I am curious whether this is still OK if you are pregnant? I’m in my second trimester now and haven’t taken the shake for a while because of this, but thought you might know. Thanks again!

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      Hayley, I would definitely recommend taking this recipe along with your modifications and ask your primary doctor on what they suggest! So glad you noticed a difference while making it.

  9. Jane Wood says:

    Hello,

    I am trying the smoothie for the first time. It took me a while to gather the ingredients. I have a couple of questions: 1) For how long do you continue to use the smoothie–every day, forever? Every day at first and then periodically? A few times a week?

    2) Is is necessary to have the full amount each time?

    Thank you and kind regards.

    Jane

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      Jane, This smoothie recipe is truly just a guideline to making a smoothie. We actually recommend using different healthy, nutrient-dense smoothies and a variety of fruits and vegetables. If you are experiencing a lot of similar symptoms as outlined in the post, you’ll want to use this smoothie until you start seeing a big difference; which shouldn’t long. I vary how much of the smoothie I drink based on how my body is feeling. Sometimes I drink the whole smoothie and sometimes I drink half.

  10. Lucy monfort says:

    Hi Ivy, I desperately want to try your smoothie. I live in Australia so some of
    The ingredients are hard for me to get, not to mention expensive due to the shipping.
    I bought a collagen powder but it says type 1 & 111. Will I still get the same results?

    Thank you

    1. Aimee Harris Niedosik says:

      I would suggest making the smoothie with what you have – you are going to benefit from it no matter what! For collagen, just go ahead and compare the brand you purchased with the brand we linked in the post!!

  11. Hi Ivy! I’ve been checking your blog out lately and have been loving it. I got it from the guest post you did on Lisa’s 100 Days of Real Food blog. Loved the meat loaf recipe btw. I’m always very intrigued by the anti inflammatory aspect of your cooking. It’s something I’ve been wanting to get into for a while and I think your blog will help me! I have iritis (inflammation that affects the colored ring around your eye’s pupil) and have been taking Prednisolone Acetate eye drops off and on for about 20 years now. If I’m correct in my understanding/thinking…an anti inflammatory diet should most definitely help with this? Anyways…I know that’s far off from this recipe. I am 30 years old and have been under a TREMENDOUS amount of stress for…well…far too long now. And I’m sure my hormones are probably completely out of wack. I probably have more crying days than not (due to why I’ve been so stressed). My weight is at an all time high, I’m bloated almost every single day, my sleep is lacking, and I crave sweets like no body’s business(mostly soda and ice cream….I know, I know…an absolutely no no…I blame this on the stress and just total lack of motivation to do better. I eat through my stress and emotions). I know this isn’t going to be the cure all to everything I’m going through right now but would you recommend this in anyway to at least ease and improve anything that I’ve touched on? I went a little deeper than I meant so I apologize!

    1. Ivy Larson says:

      Hi Tiffany,

      I am so very sorry for just now getting back to you. We have been traveling a lot and also took our son to college and this is really the first time I have had a chance to sit and check comments in weeks. But my heart goes out to you with the iritis and the other issues, I am 43 years old now but I really think without a doubt that my late twenties and early thirties were the most stressful period in my life. I’m sure you know that stress exacerbates any underlying inflammatory condition, so if there is any possible way to try and get a handle on the stress that alone should indirectly help. I’m not sure if you live in a state where it is legal, but medical marijuana (especially a high dose ratio of CBD to THC) should help tremendously with inflammation and also anxiety/ stress. And finally, yes the anti-inflammatory diet should absolutely help as well. It takes about 4 to 5 weeks to start to really kick in, but if you follow the diet religiously you will absolutely reduce systemic inflammation (you can measure whole body inflammation with a blood test for CRP levels by the way.) I did just find this article on ASKDrWeil.com that should give you hope that the diet can in fact help with your particular condition: https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/disease-disorders/uveitis-treating-a-dangerous-eye-disease/ Please try not to be overwhelmed at the beginning as I know changing your diet can be a major stressor in and of itself. My best advice would be to start slowly. If there is just onw thing you do, the most important thing is to SIGNIFICANTLY increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Just doing this will help tremendously. I should be home and not traveling for a while now so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Wishing you the very best of luck.

      Warm hugs,
      ivy

  12. Michele Nowak says:

    Hi Ivy, HOw important is the banana to the benefits of this smoothie? I am allergic to bananas. Is there something with comparable benefits that I can replace the BANANA WITH? THANKS SO MUCH!

    1. Ivy Larson says:

      Hi Michele, Oh not to worry, you can absolutely replace the banana (it’s mostly for sweetness and creamy texture)–but how about try adding 5 medjool dates OR frozen mango (I’ve found frozen mango has the same sweetness and smooth consistency as frozen banana–just a slightly different flavor) Please do let me know if you give it a try!

      1. Thanks so much, Ivy! I tried it with frozen mango and it was very good. I used frozen strawberries today and that was great, too!

        1. Ivy Larson says:

          Hi Michele! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and I love the idea of using the frozen mango and strawberries too. I know it’s not exactly my “tastiest” recipe, but it does get the job done 😉 Please keep me posted after a few weeks. You should notice a difference in how you feel (it works different for everyone, but just about everyone notices a difference!)

  13. Please provide the total calories of the smoothie without the additional “optional” add ins.

    1. Ivy Larson says:

      Hi Tracy,

      I realize so many people really do like to know the calorie content of their food, but we really are against calorie counting on so many levels. We have refused to include the calories in any of our books starting with the first one published back in 2005 and we don’t include the calories on any of our blog posts. We talk about our philosophy of “making your food count” nutritionally instead of counting your food (in the form of calories, carbs, fat grams, etc.) extensively in our five books, but just in case you don’t have any of the books I think this blog post will help clarify why we are so against calorie counting: https://cleancuisine.com/calorie-counting-is-not-helpful-all-calories-are-not-equal/

      I realize this is probably not the answer you wanted to hear, but I truly believe if you focus on the nutrient content of your food rather than the calories it is so much healthier from both a physical and psychological standpoint.

      I hope the article helps clarify things a bit better. Please do let me know if you have any additional questions.