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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PrintHormone 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: 20–24 oz single serving 1x
- Category: Smoothies
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen cauliflower florets
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries OR 1 package frozen acai
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons flaxseeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 2 tablespoons collagen powder
- 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon maca powder
- 1 teaspoon camu camu powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ashwagandha
- 1 1/2 cups filtered cold water
- Optional: 3 or 4 organic pitted dates
- Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- 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.
- Process on high for at least 1 minute until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Want a sweeter hormone balancing smoothie? Add the dates and vanilla and process until smooth and creamy.
- Drink cold.
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.
Keywords: Hormone Balancing Smoothie
Listen to Ivy talk about the smoothie on WPTV
Marissa dobbs says
Hi Ivy,
I have pretty bad osteo arthritis. I found this recovery drink and wanted to know if you thought adding the ingredients to your hormone balancing smoothie would work ok and not hamper it. Appreciate your feedback.
1/2 of a frozen banana
1/2 of a ripe avocado
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1 teaspoon dried turmeric or a 1-inch knob of fresh turmeric (outside removed)
1/8 teaspoon fresh black pepper
1/2 cup pineapple, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup pea protein powder, optional
1/2 cup ice
1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk or coconut water
Thanks
Marissa dobbs
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Marissa! I am so sorry to hear about your osteoarthritis. I know that can be incredibly painful =( But I know for sure if you can get the inflammation down it should help with the pain. Also, I’m not sure where in your body you have the pain, but I had terrible arthritis in my hip due to a congenital hip disorder called femoral retroversion and I found GREAT relief from the Egoscue Method. If you google it you’ll see the book and tons of videos on YouTube that might help.
Anyway, as for the Recovery Smoothie you just shared I think it’s GREAT!!! It’s loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients that all work synergistically and complementary to the Hormone Smoothie. I think if you could do both daily it could really help.
Two additional things that could also help are celery juice (google Anthony Williams Celery Juice to learn more) and also 3,000 mg of pharmaceutical grade fish oil (Nordic Naturals is my favorite)
Please do keep me posted and let me know how it all goes. I sure hope these tips help.
Warmly,
ivy
JULIE TANNEHILL says
I started drinking this in March and noticed immediately the difference with my restless LEgs. I could not believe it. I could watch tv at night and not jump out of my skin. I also loved how it made me full through out the day. I have been taking religiously every day except one week in April while on vacation. NOW I am getting RLS every night and night sweats. Not sure what to do. Open to any suggestions.
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Julie! I am so sorry for the delay responding to you. I am so glad to hear the smoothie was helping so much at the beginning, but I am honestly not sure what to say about the night sweats. I’m not sure how old you are so my thoughts on what are happening are mixed a bit, but the first thing that comes to mind is that if you are in the age frame I am in (I am 43), your body could naturally still be changing (and of course unfortunately our bodies WILL continue to change and age, with or without the smoothie), so it could just be coincidence. However, whether it’s coincidence or not I am sure it is very frustrating to have those symptoms. My advice would be to go get a complete bloodwork exam by a doctor who specializes in hormones (anti-aging and functional medicine doctors can usually do this) Once you get the results I can tell you some additional (natural!!) things you can do, but I don’t want to recommend adding anything new until I saw what your hormone levels are (also, of course I am not a doctor either, so I certainly don’t want to play one! However, I am married to a surgeon and I know he can help interpret the tests if you have them done.) I hope this makes sense and hopefully it helps? One other thing to look into since you specifically mention night sweats is chasteberry (here is a linkhere is a linkhere is a link with more info!) Please keep me posted!
Marissa dobbs says
Hello Ivy!!
Is there something I could substitute for the hemp seeds? I’ve been trying to find plain ground hemp seems but can’t seen to come up with anything.
Did anyone else substitute for the hemp seeds?
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Marissa! I am SO sorry for not getting back to you sooner, but as for substituting hemp seeds you could always try using chia seeds. Please note you do not need to use ground hemp seeds for this particular recipe as the blender should do a good job of grinding them. However, if your blender is not a high-speed one you can try this hemp powder. try this hemp powder. try this hemp powder. I hope this helps? Please keep me posted!!
Vicky says
My husband is interested in this smoothie since I have been having good results. What ingredients would you suggest changing to make it suitable for a male 60 years old?
Ivy Larson says
Hi Vicky, I apologize for the lengthy delay getting back to you, but as for your 60 year old husband, I would not suggest making any changes to the basic smoothie just starting out. I say that because the basic ingredients are safe and healthy for everyone. Having said that, if he wants to get bloodwork and test his nutrient profile and hormones then we could suggest making additional changes specific to him. I hope this makes sense? Please keep me posted if he tries it—he should definitely notice a difference after a week!
Reggie says
I just tried the smoothie for the first time this morning it is very filling but I love it I am trying to wean myself off of bio identical hormones do you think this will help. II bought your book when it first came out and I love it love all the information since I have recently gone back to plant-based diet.
Ivy Larson says
Hi Reggie! I am so sorry for the delay getting back to you, but YES!! I absolutely think the smoothie will help you wean off the bioidentical hormones. I keep fluctuating back and forth on my opinion on them because I know a lot of people swear by them. But you can’t go wrong trying the smoothie—it’s basically just nutrient-dense foods plus adaptagens to help your body handle stress better. Please keep me posted on how it works for you!
Tracy says
Please provide the calorie content for this smoothie. thanks!
Ivy Larson says
Hi Tracy, You might be new to Clean Cuisine and if so I just wanted to share with you this blog post ( https://cleancuisine.com/calorie-counting-is-not-helpful-all-calories-are-not-equal/ ) explaining why I intentionally do not include the calorie content on any of our recipes. I realize if you are accustomed to counting calories that it can be difficult not to do so, but I strongly encourage you to start to listen to your body instead of counting calories. By the way, a big part of listening to your body is to only eat when you are hungry.
Speaking of only eating when you are hungry, I know so many diets recommend eating every 3 hours, but we are very much against that advice (unless of course you were actually hungry!) Here is another blog post I did on intermittent fasting that you might find helpful: https://cleancuisine.com/12-hour-intermittent-fasting/
And finally, I wanted to be sure to share with you the #1 diet mistake people make in this blog post ( https://cleancuisine.com/the-1-biggest-diet-mistake-people-make/ ), if you address just this one thing you really won’t have to worry about counting calories ever again.
I know this is probably not the answer you wanted to hear from me, but I hope it gives you something to think about. And I sincerely hope you will consider moving away from calorie counting 😉 Please do let me know if you have any more questions.
Lori Andrade says
HellO! Is there a vegan replacement for the collagen in the hormone busting smoothie? Do you think it will work without this ingredient?
Thank you!
Ivy Larson says
Hi Lori, This is a great plant-based collagen you could try: https://moonjuice.com/products/beauty-shroom-vegan-collagen-protection =)
Michele m. says
I have been drinking this shake for about one week now. I have so much more energy. My libido is coming back. I am sleeping better. I am not craving sweets as much. I live in a smaller town and frozen açaí is not really available in my area. So i ordered powdered açaí on Amazon. I use 1 Tbsp of the powdered açaí. When our local news aired the video about this smoothie, they added at the end that there was an omission of AMLA powder. I bought it as well. I searched for AMLA on your website but could not find it. I use 2 tsp per smoothie. Is this okay to add to the smoothie? I also add agave as my sweetener. What are your thoughts about agave? All in all, i am hooked!!! Thank you for this recipe!
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Michele! YAY! I am so happy to hear you are having such great results =) I so appreciate you taking the time to write in too!
As for the AMLA, you can definitely add that, but you really only need about 1 teaspoon a day.
I would love to hear back from you in a few weeks to see how it is working. My mom has been doing it for over a month now and lost 10 pounds. She has been fighting those 10 pounds ever since her hysterectomy and this is the first thing that has really made a major difference for her. I am just so thrilled to know it is working for you too!! Thank you again for writing in.
allana fox says
This shake has done wonders for me!!! I am 44 years old and premenopausal. I was having hot flashes constantly, sleep deprived and gaining upper body weight (which I never had). I also hadn’t had a period since July of 2018. I started the shake 2 weeks ago and I have so much energy. I sleep better and wake up better. I have also lost close to 10 pounds and This morning I woke up and noticed I had my period!!!! My friend are laughing at me because I was so excited that I had gotten it. Its amazing!!!
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Allana! I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I have just been swamped ever since the book launch and I am only just now catching up on comments from weeks ago (sigh…) Anyway, I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear about your great results!! I was just telling Michele (in the comments above) that my mom has been doing it for over a month now and lost 10 pounds too!! She has been fighting those 10 pounds ever since her hysterectomy and this is the first thing that has really made a major difference for her.
I would LOVE to hear back from you in another month to hear how things are going. I’m just SO excited it is working for so many people =)
Stefanie R Hudspeth says
i’ll be honest–i was skeptical when i first read this recipe as I’ve been so frustrated with other smoothies/supplements i’ve tried in the past.
well, I’ve been drinking the shake for almost 2 weeks and can already feel the difference. I have reflux so would feel bloated from mid morning bed time nearly everyday, but not anymore–AMAZING!. i need more calcuim so i do add a 6oz of yogurt to the smoothie. i’ve not noticed any of the mental aspects so have decided to try the amare mentabiotics product–altho its pretty pricey. All in all, loving this smoothie.
ps i actually like the taste as I’m tired of all the ‘healthy’ snacks being overly sweet.
★★★★★
Libby says
I added 2tblsp chia seeds and strawberry kefir smoothie. ade a world of difference in the flavor. Keeps me full until late afternoon
★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Libby! I am so sorry for the lengthy delay getting back to you, I have just been completely swamped and do not have the staff to keep up with everything these days. But thank you so much for taking the time to write in! I am thrilled to know it keeps you so full—me too 😉
Ivy Larson says
Hi Stefanie!
I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you, I have just been totally swamped and only just now catching up on comments. But I am SO excited to read about your results!! YAY!!! I have to be honest, even I am amazed at how many people are having such great results. My mom even lost 10 pounds (she has been fighting the 10 pounds ever since her hysterectomy). I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to write in and share your results. I would love to hear back from you in a few weeks to hear how it’s all going. Thank you again =)
Marissa Dobbs says
I just started this morning. I’ll give it a week and check back in.
Sf says
I’m 53 and been in menapause for 4 yrs. I have hot flashes at least 4-5 during the day and the same at night. IVe been taking this shake for a week and have not had any relief as of yet from them but I have noticed a slight improvement with the “brain fog” and energy levels being up some. Theres been mild relief in the stress/anxiety departments. Im going to stick with it until the ingredients are gone and hope the hot flashes go away or at least become less severe as time goes on.
SHOULD I increase any of the ingredients? Bloating is an issue due to flaxseed i guess so really don’t want to increase that lol!
★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi! I apologize for just now getting back to you. But since it has been several weeks at this point I would LOVE to hear how things are going?
Also, what are the primary hormone symptoms you are looking to relieve? It might also be worth considering getting a blood test to get a baseline on your hormones, nutrient profile (SpectraCell does a great micronutrient test), thyroid, etc. after you have been taking the smoothie for at least a month. Sometimes it can be tricky to pinpoint the cause of each symptom, but some symptoms that seem hormone related can actually be due to a vitamin deficiency (a vitamin D deficiency is particularly common these days and I know from personal experience that a Vitamin D deficiency can have very real symptoms. You can read more about my personal experience with a vitamin D deficiency here: https://cleancuisine.com/my-vitamin-d-deficiency-story-it-happened-even-though-i-was-supplementing-2/ )
Anyway, I know this is a lot to think about, but I do think it is important to get a complete workup from your doctor if you are not feeling tip top. And I especially encourage you to check your vitamin D levels if you have not already.
I hope this helps? Please do keep me posted on how things go…
Warmly,
ivy
Marlene Sloley says
I just purchased my ingredients thank you for the recipe pray it will help with my thyroid
Valerie says
after reading the benefits and side effects of each of the ingredients of this recipe I will not include maca. One of the side effects is that it worsens symptoms of thyroid disease. Do your research on each ingredient.
Ivy Larson says
Hi Valerie, Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation when it comes to thyroid health and food. I hope this article helps you understand maca a bit better: https://www.healthcentral.com/article/maca-for-hypothyroidism
Ivy Larson says
Hi Marlene, I truly am so sorry for just now getting back to you, but I would love to hear how everything is going?
Gayle Baker says
I have 2 questions about this recipe. First, would it be okay to drink if you are currently on any artificial hormones? I just got put on progesterone for 20 days. I was also wondering, since this helps balance hormones, could tweens drink this? I have a 13 year old boy, and 11 year old girl. I am looking forward to trying this soon!
Marlene says
I’m a senior with past history (2016) of Er/pr positive breast cancer. I’m taking tamoxifen at the moment and will be switching to an aromatase inhibitor very shortly.
Is the brain-fog busting/hormone balancing smoothie beneficial or detrimental to me?
Sarah says
Hi-wondering your thoughts on adding greens (spinach) and/or fats (MCT or coconut oil) to this smoothie?
Marissa dobbs says
I was also wondering about adding to this recipe like fruit. Has she responded to anyone lately?
MArissa dobbs says
Did you get any kind of reply on your question?
Ivy Larson says
Hi Sarah! I am so sorry for the lengthy delay getting back to you. But yes! You can absolutely add spinach in substitute of the cauliflower (adding both might be a bit much) But I think the smoothie has enough fat, I wouldn’t necessarily add more. I would use the MCT’s for cooking instead. I know everyone is hopping on the MCT train right now, but more oil is not always best 😉
Sarah says
Help! For maca, do we buy the gelatinized or raw? There’s a comment on Amazon from someone saying “You need 4 tbsps of this to equate to 1 Tbsp of 4:1 ratioed gelatinized maca compartively so. That is why this is so cheap.” what’s your opinion on this?
Ivy Larson says
Hi Sarah, I am so sorry for the lengthy delay getting back to you. But as for the maca, I recommend the gelatinized form (it is easier to digest) —you only need 1 teaspoon of gelatinized 😉 I hope this helps answer your question? Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any more questions. I will do my best to respond in a more timely manner!
Yanick Medor says
is it safe to consume this smoothie with past history of breast cancer?
Ivy Larson says
Hi Yanick, I am sorry for the lengthy delay getting back to you, but I just checked with my husband (he is a surgeon who does breast cancer surgery) and he says not only is it safe, it would also be very helpful for you.
Marlene sloley says
I will be getting your book thanks so much where can I shop for the ingridents
Ivy Larson says
Hi Marlene! I apologize for the lengthy delay getting back to you and I so appreciate the support. You can get buy all ingredients online on Amazon. If you have any questions or concerns please email cherie@cleancuisine.com and she can help you =)
Meghan t says
I notice that the recipe above and benefits are primarily directed at those over 40 – I am 30 and have recently found that I have extremely low progesterone levels. I would love to resolve by modifying my diet. Would you recommend this same recipe to balance out progesterone and estrodiol, or would there be certain tweaks that would make it more beneficial for addressing those levels?
Ivy Larson says
Hi Meghan, I sincerely apologize for the lengthy delay getting back to you, but yes! You can absolutely start the smoothie at your age. It should help to naturally boost your progesterone and lower your “bad” estrogen and balance out your “good”. I wouldn’t recommend any changes to the original recipe. And I completely agree, it is definitely worth trying a natural approach first. Please do keep me posted and let me know how it goes!
Moe says
What is the calorie count foe this drink?
Ivy Larson says
Hi Moe, I apologize for the lengthy delay in getting back to you, but I am cutting and pasting my response to Tracy regarding why we do not include the calorie count on any of our recipes below—I hope this helps?
You might be new to Clean Cuisine and if so I just wanted to share with you this blog post ( https://cleancuisine.com/calorie-counting-is-not-helpful-all-calories-are-not-equal/ ) explaining why I intentionally do not include the calorie content on any of our recipes. I realize if you are accustomed to counting calories that it can be difficult not to do so, but I strongly encourage you to start to listen to your body instead of counting calories. By the way, a big part of listening to your body is to only eat when you are hungry.
Speaking of only eating when you are hungry, I know so many diets recommend eating every 3 hours, but we are very much against that advice (unless of course you were actually hungry!) Here is another blog post I did on intermittent fasting that you might find helpful: https://cleancuisine.com/12-hour-intermittent-fasting/
And finally, I wanted to be sure to share with you the #1 diet mistake people make in this blog post ( https://cleancuisine.com/the-1-biggest-diet-mistake-people-make/ ), if you address just this one thing you really won’t have to worry about counting calories ever again.
I know this is probably not the answer you wanted to hear from me, but I hope it gives you something to think about. And I sincerely hope you will consider moving away from calorie counting ? Please do let me know if you have any more questions.
Tracy Klinkroth says
I’d like to try this, but how many servings does this make? Just one or ??? thanks
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Tracy! I can’t apologize enough for the lengthy delay getting back to you, but this makes 1 serving (you will definitely be full for a while!!) Please keep me posted and let me know how it works out for you…
Christie Pasman says
This recipe has been working for me and I love it very much. I have made two comments already relating to how well it’s working for me. I do have a couple additional questions. 1. I try to follow weight watchers but this smoothie is very high in points, about 12. That is half my daily points. I have gained a few pounds since starting this smoothie, but it was also Christmas time. haha The hemp seed is high in points and the blended fruit is high in points. Any options for me? Also, how long should i continue to drink this shake? The rest of my life?
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Christie! I am SO sorry for just getting back to you. I have been super behind on everything ever since the book launch but for some reason your comment got completely lost in the shuffle and I am only just now seeing it. A few other readers have asked the same question about the calories so I wanted to share with you what I wrote them (please see below) You absolutely should not be gaining weight on the smoothie, so if that happened it most likely was due to the holidays. But please do this, please read my response below and then let me know if it makes sense or if you have any additional questions. My wish is that you can learn to listen to your body and focus on fueling it with the nutrients it needs rather than worrying about the calories. Once you start to give your body the nutrients it needs your food cravings will diminish and your metabolism will start to kick in. I so hope you can learn to trust your body. But please do let me know if you have any questions after reading my response to the other readers….
This was my response to 2 other readers who asked about the calories:
You might be new to Clean Cuisine and if so I just wanted to share with you this blog post ( https://cleancuisine.com/calorie-counting-is-not-helpful-all-calories-are-not-equal/ ) explaining why I intentionally do not include the calorie content on any of our recipes. I realize if you are accustomed to counting calories that it can be difficult not to do so, but I strongly encourage you to start to listen to your body instead of counting calories. By the way, a big part of listening to your body is to only eat when you are hungry.
Speaking of only eating when you are hungry, I know so many diets recommend eating every 3 hours, but we are very much against that advice (unless of course you were actually hungry!) Here is another blog post I did on intermittent fasting that you might find helpful: https://cleancuisine.com/12-hour-intermittent-fasting/
And finally, I wanted to be sure to share with you the #1 diet mistake people make in this blog post ( https://cleancuisine.com/the-1-biggest-diet-mistake-people-make/ ), if you address just this one thing you really won’t have to worry about counting calories ever again.
I know this is probably not the answer you wanted to hear from me, but I hope it gives you something to think about. And I sincerely hope you will consider moving away from calorie counting ? Please do let me know if you have any more questions.
Bobbi Fosburg says
What works for me is to split the smoothie in two and drink the first mason jar-full as breakfast and then have the second jar for a mid afternoon snack. I definitely make it the night before so I can grab it and go in the morning. I noticed some gum irritation and wondered if this might be related to the high contents of vitamins c? Any thoughts? Also I found adding my clean homemade granola on top just delayed my need to gulp the thing down. I do fine just downing it quickly. As far as taste it’s not too bad and improves with dates.
Anne papa says
is there a marine collagen that you would recommend? I have a mammal meat allergy and am afraid I might have an adverse reaction to the bulletproof collagen.
Ivy Larson says
Hi Anne, yes, I would definitely avoid the beef-based collagen protein if you have an allergy. But you can absolutely do a marine collagen instead. I especially love Vital Proteins brand. Hope this helps?!
ANGELA says
iS THERE A PLANT-BASED OPTION FOR COLLAGEN PROTEIN?
Christie pasman says
I just have to tell you all about the success this smoothie is creating in my life. I am turning 54 this week.
1. No more hot flashes, at all. Yes, it’s true.
2. I now sleep like I did when i was in my 40s. when my head hits the pillow, I sleep just getting up once to use the restroom.
3. I have substantial bowel movements on a daily basis.
4. I had a very stressful Thanksgiving holiday. My son had to have emergency surgery and I handled the stress rather well, I think. I owe this to the smoothie.
5. libido improving.
Thank you.
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Christie! Oh WOW! I can’t tell you how happy I am to read this. It has seriously made the biggest difference for me too! I know it’s not the tastiest thing on earth, but for me, it is SO WORTH it to not have the hormonal symptoms that were making me miserable. I’m just so glad it is helping others too! This getting older stuff is not easy—we need all the help we can get 😉
Tracy says
You weren’t kidding! Day 1 and I felt an immediate difference — more energy, brain fog is GONE, libido is awakening. Thank you so much for this recipe – it’s a game changer for me!!
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Tracy! I am SO happy to hear you are noticing the difference too. I know it’s not exactly my tastiest recipe creation on the planet, but it really does WONDERS for me too! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know it’s working for you 😉 So happy for you!!
Christie pasman says
I just made this recipe and it makes so much. Do you eat it all in one sitting or throughout the day? I made it at night, but I am afraid to drink it too late because I don’t want too much energy. i cannot wait to read more comments. So sorry about the punctuation. My computer wouldn’t all me to capitalize anything on this comment board.
Ivy Larson says
Hi Christie, yes, it definitely makes A LOT. It takes me a while to drink it down and it should definitely keep you feeling full for a long time. Good idea not to have it close to bedtime though because yes, it does give you energy! Please let me know how you feel once you drink it. You should notice a difference from day 1–but DEFINITELY after a week!
Elizabeth heilpern says
I feel so much better! I’ve been drinking this smoothie for a little over a week and it’s making a tremendous difference. I feel calmer, happier, I have more patience with my kids, I’m sleeping better and I’m thinking more clearly. Thank you thank you thank you
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know it is working for you too =) It has definitely made a major difference for me! I’m so glad to know it is helping you too.
Diane T says
I’m interested in knowing if i could pre-mix a larger amount of the dry ingredients and then just scoop out the amount I need for one at a time. Any thoughts on this? I just know that it would make it more likely to happen for me daily.
Ivy Larson says
Hi Diane,
That is a great idea! I have thought about doing that myself actually. You would just need to measure say 7 days worth of ingredients, mix it all up and then just divide the mixture into 7 equal portions. The other option is to just put all of the non-frozen ingredients (the hemp seeds, flaxseeds, etc.) in a big box and set it aside (I put it in the laundry room!) and then bring the box out each morning when you are ready to make the smoothie. So far that method has worked best for me because I have every ingredient (except for the frozen items) in one spot. I hope this helps? Please keep me posted on what you end up doing 😉
Christie Pasman says
Every Sunday I measure out the dry ingredients into six small, Ball jars. Each day I just dump the jar into my blender. It makes the whole process so much easier.
★★★★★
Ivy Larson says
Oh good! SO glad to know you found an easy way to do it. I definitely think making it easy and convenient is the only way you will do it everyday, you know? So, just curious, how long have you been doing it now? And, do you notice a difference?
Christie pasman says
I have been drinking this shake for almost a year now. I am a teacher and I didn’t get a cold, flu, or even the sniffles all winter. I stopped taking it in the summer, but I continued the collagen. Collagen is a life changer. This shake helped me with sleep, emotions, skin, antioxidants. I love it.
★★★★★