Veggies in Smoothies

The sweet component of a smoothie needn't always be fruit - sweet veg work well too such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and beetroot. Carrots and beets work raw or cooked but pumpkin and sweet potato should be cooked. Cooked veg are cooled before use. The yellow/orange veg are great sources of betacarotene (which is converted to vitamin A in the body to top up if not enough preformed Vitamin A is consumed in the diet from animal based foods). The colour pigments in beets are called betalain and both types of pigments are important antioxidants for the liver. A healthy liver is important for everyone - for women's health specifically, the liver is very important for hormone balance, particularly for clearing the body of unwanted oestrogen. Other liver friendly smoothie ingredients include citrus (especially lemons), ginger, turmeric, and leafy greens, particularly brassicas such as kale and bok choy.

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