I recently pulled out the mother of all beets from my garden!! It was a #proudmum moment for me (the beet had been cooking for about a year in our back garden, unintentionally, I kind of forgot about it till recently).

After picking the biggest beetroot known to man out of my garden I had the sudden inspiration to make some liver cleansing beetroot smoothies out of it! (It’s so big I only needed one beet to make 3 smoothies). Beets are fantastic nutritional powerhouses, especially the greens, which are rich in calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. The beets themselves contain a group of phytonutrients called betalains that support detoxification through an important Phase II detoxification step in the liver. What is Phase II liver detoxification? Great question. Basically, fat-soluble toxins are harder to be eliminated than water-soluble toxins. When your liver comes across a fat-soluble toxin, it puts it through Phase I detoxification. This is necessary before it can be made water-soluble in Phase II. In Phase II liver detoxification, the by-products of Phase I liver detoxification and other remaining toxins are neutralised. This is done by making the toxins water-soluble. That way they can be eliminated from the body. SO, going back to my original point, betalains found in beets can help with this detox process of turning fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble ones! Making them easier to excrete from the body.

^{The 3 different beet smoothies I’ll be sharing today!!}

When your liver is able to detoxify chemicals and toxins more effectively, then your body is better able to balance hormones, cholesterol and energy levels, and the gut and stomach work much more efficiently.

Here are a few different beetroot smoothie recipes to help aid liver detoxification and promote a healthy bod!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment below, and if you post it up, tag me #simplynaturalnessa on Instagram! I would absolutely love, love, LOVE to see them!

Liver Cleansing Smoothies

This first recipe I found is originally by Minimalist Baker, and is a beet and berry smoothie!

Beet & Berry Detoxifying Smoothie Recipe

This recipe can be enjoyed just as a smoothie, or frozen into popsicles for a refreshing afternoon snack!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup peeled and chopped raw beetroot (organic preferably)
• 1 1/3 cup frozen strawberries (or if using fresh, add ice – organic preferably)
• 1/4 ripe frozen banana, peeled and sliced (optional)
• 2/3 cup fresh apple juice (homemade using organic apples, preferably) OR can use fresh, chopped apple (again, best if organic)
• Fresh mint or shredded coconut (for garnish – optional)

To make:

1. Add beetroot, strawberries, banana (is using) and apple juice (or chopped apple) to a blender and blitz on high until creamy and smooth.
2. Divide between two serving glasses and enjoy! Can garnish with banana slices, fresh mint, or shredded coconut! Best to enjoy when fresh, but if you have any leftovers, it will keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Otherwise freeze leftovers in ice cube trays or popsicle moulds for an afternoon snack!

Apple Ginger Beetroot Smoothie

This recipe is originally by The Kitchen Girl, and is made with beets, carrots, ginger, apple, and leafy greens! It’s a delicious and healthy way to cleanse your body with NO added sugar or dairy. It’s a great way to kick-start the day!

Ingredients:

• 1 beet, washed and quartered (organic preferably)
• 1 apple, washed and roughly chopped (organic preferably)
• 1/4 cup carrots, washed and roughly chopped (organic if possible)
• 1/2 cup kale, rinsed and roughly chopped (organic preferably)
• 1 tbsp ginger, peeled (organic if possible)
• 1/2 cup ice cubes (use filtered water if possible)
• water (as needed, to change consistency)

To make:

1. In a high-speed blender, add beet, apple, carrots, kale, ginger, ice, and enough water to reach surface of produce and ice (or less if you want the smoothie thicker).
2. Blend on high until smooth (around 15-30 seconds); don’t overblend though (friction causes it to “cook”).
3. Serve immediately or store in freezer and thaw up to one hour before drinking. You can make it into ice blocks or ice cubes as a healthy snack later down the track too!
4. Side note: feel free to add a sweetener of choice to the smoothie (like coconut sugar, raw honey, maple syrup, stevia, etc) to give it more flavour, as it can be quite bland (and it can take a while to get used to the flavour, especially when starting out).

Beet & Spinach Power Smoothie

This recipe is originally by Foodness Gracious. Just add everything to a blender and 20 seconds later you have this spectacular bright pink smoothie!! #onwednesdayswewearpink 😉

Ingredients:

• 1/2-1 beet, washed and quartered (organic preferably)
• 1 cup spinach (organic if possible)
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries (or if using fresh, add ice – organic preferably)
• 1 frozen banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 small red apple, chopped (again, best if organic)
• 170 g unsweetened coconut yoghurt
• 1 cup coconut milk (can make your own!)

To make:

1. Place all the ingredients into your blender and blend on high for about 20-30 seconds, or until the consistency is smooth.
2. Pour into two tall glasses and enjoy right away (or freeze into ice cube trays or popsicles for a refreshing snack!).

Beet smoothie recipes

What are your favourite cleansing drinks to enjoy? Do you use beets or other cleansing veggies?? Share your favourite recipe below! We love getting your suggestions on recipes to try!

Lots of love,

🖤 Vanessa

Sources:

Daniluk, Julie R.H.N. (Updated: January 2, 2014). The health benefits of beets: five ways they help you. Chatelaine. Retrieved from https://www.chatelaine.com/health/detox-health/want-to-detox-eat-more-beets/#:~:text=Beets%20contain%20a%20group%20of,hormones%2C%20cholesterol%20and%20energy%20levels.

The Two Phases of Liver Detoxification and Parasite Cleansing. (March 20, 2020). Beauty Ecology. Retrieved from http://beautyecology.com/blog/2020/3/the-two-phases-of-liver-detoxification-and-parasite-cleansing

Liver Detoxification Pathways. Ask the Scientists. Retrieved from https://askthescientists.com/qa/liver-detoxification-pathways/