My digestion has been a bit out of whack over the past few months. Actually, I’m feeling a bit out of whack as a whole. Maybe I was naïve, but I really didn’t anticipate the postpartum phase to be so challenging, on many different levels. The pregnancy seems to get the most attention while the period after having a baby seems to be all about getting back to your old self as soon as possible. At least in the media. I guess I expected that for myself too, but it’s not my personal reality nor is it for many other new moms I’ve talked to. We’re almost 5 months in and I still don’t feel like I have it together. I mostly blame the overnight waking hours and sugar cravings (the cravings result from lack of sleep – it’s a vicious cycle), but it’s everything really. Life has changed in so many weird and wonderful ways. I wonder if I ever will feel like my old self, or if I’d ever want to; what I have right now is great. I say it all the time but motherhood is amazing. I pinch myself so many times a day…like, do I actually get to witness this sweet baby discover the world? It’s the kind of thing that fills my heart with so much joy it keeps me up at night because I know that it could all be taken away in a second.
The intensity seems to be lifting as the months go on. We are laughing so much every day! I’m convinced Adriana is a 90 year old woman trapped in a baby’s body. Seriously…she does this lip-sucking in thing that makes her look like she forgot her dentures. I die every time. She is my number one priority and because of this I think I have let my own self fall to the wayside. It’s the cliché saying about motherhood, but it’s been so true. For me, this seemed necessary to get through the first months as a new parent, but I’m getting to that place now where I think I can find a balance for both of us. The fog is lifting. This is where a plant-based diet can help in so many great ways! I think I’ve done a good job of staying healthy this past year, but there are a few things I would like to improve upon.
The advice I often give to others is to make small changes when starting out, so that’s what I’ve been doing recently. Just a bunch of little tweaks that all contribute to the whole. Baby steps. Rather than having caffeine in the morning (which doesn’t seem to agree with my anxiety-prone nature), I’ve switched to a tea made with fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, and Rooibos tea. I drink it all day long. A few other things I’m doing (almost) everyday – green protein smoothie, exercise, probiotics (plus my other regular vitamin regime), and hitting the hay earlier. There’s nothing ground-breaking or gimmicky here, but they are things that just WORK time and time again. Sure there are days when none of these things happen, but for the most part it’s helping!
While this smoothie is different from my regular morning protein smoothie, it makes for a lovely afternoon snack. You could probably add some hemp hearts to this one if you wanted to boost the protein enough for a morning drink.
This smoothie combines the power of many digestion-friendly and immune-boosting foods:
// Pineapple // Digestive and anti-inflammatory benefits, immune support. One cup gives you 105% of your daily Vitamin C requirements. I use frozen pineapple chunks in smoothies to save time.
// Fresh ginger // Soothes the intestinal tract and helps with digestion. Awesome for all kinds of gastrointestinal relief, such as morning sickness. Anti-inflammatory and immune boosting.
// Fresh parsley // Rich in vitamins K, C, A, folate, and antioxidants. It’s a natural diuretic which can help release water retention. Opt for flat-leaf parsley as it’s less bitter than curly parsley. Cilantro would be a nice swap here too!
// Avocado // Major anti-inflammatory benefits + heart-healthy fats. High in fibre which aids with digestion.
// Banana // Rich in B6, manganese, Vitamin C, fibre, and potassium. Interesting to note – while bananas are high in sugar, they have a low glycemic index score which means that they won’t spike blood sugar levels. It’s soothing to the digestive track and thought to regulate the bowels and enhance friendly gut bacteria.
// Lemon // Rich in vitamin C. Aids digestion and helps flush out toxins.
[Source: The World’s Healthiest Foods]
I also add some coconut water and probiotic powder for an extra boost! Feel free to add a handful of spinach or kale too.
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Happy Digestion Smoothie
Yield
2 1/4 cups (560 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
This green smoothie is packed with digestion-enhancing and immune-boosting foods like pineapple, parsley, ginger, and avocado. Don't worry though; its sweet flavour makes it friendly for green smoothie newbies! If you are adverse to the spiciness of ginger, I recommend starting with half the amount and adding to taste from there. This smoothie also keeps well overnight. I will often make a double batch, save leftovers in a small mason jar in the fridge overnight, and enjoy it the next morning.
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1/2 large frozen banana
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) water
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut water
- 1/4 cup packed fresh parsley leaves
- 2 tablespoons avocado
- 1 teaspoon packed fresh grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon probiotic powder, optional
- lemon or lime slice, for garnish
Directions
- Add all ingredients into a blender and blend on the highest speed until super smooth.
Tip:
- Feel free to add a handful of baby spinach to boost the nutrient power even more.
- Fresh mint also gives this smoothie a nice digestion boost (not to mention a delicious minty flavour).
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
PS – I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Publisher’s Weekly recently – hop on over and read the interview here!
This is a great smoothie recipe! Digestive health is so critical to overall health and wellness. You can even add in healing supplements and vitamins, etc. Makes for a great breakfast!
Hi there! What kind of probiotic powder do you use??
Hey Amy, I’m currently using Flora Udo’s choice super adult probiotic, but I’ve only been using this one for a couple weeks now. So far so good I think.
Thank you for this refreshing recipe! I didn’t have parsley so subbed in some green superfood powders along with 1/4 lemon and it was still tangy and delicious. Don’t we all need something nourishing for the belly x
What a great way to start morning with this smoothie.I substitute this smoothie to my daily breakfast meal! Great for my digestion especially that I’m working out!
So great!! It is filling and so yummy. Great for a breakfast smoothie.
I just made this smoothie, it’s a nice lite and mellow smoothie. I didn’t add the probiotics because I make and eat a lot of fermented foods. I did add some cumu cumu powder to give it and me some zing. I think this is a great base smoothie where one could add a variety of goodies such as a little lime, lemon, super food powders etc…
Another win!!
Great smoothie….almost like a green juice detox but tastier with the banana. Just pinned it. Thanks,Anna
This recipe is so delicious. I’ve always struggled with regularity and this recipe is a delicious stoolution to my problem!
Thanks for the nice smoothie recipe. That sounds so good and I love how easy it is! Most the ingredients are my favorite, especially the baby spinach, avocado, and banana. Have to try this version asap :)
Hey Donna, I hope you enjoy the smoothie if you try it out!
Hi Angela!
Do you have suggestions for pre-making smoothies ahead of time? Maybe a way to store them so that they are freshest the next morning? I’d love to make monster smoothies in the morning before heading to class, but my day starts early and I’d hate to wake everyone else in the house up with the blender haha! Just thought that perhaps you’ve tried experimenting with this before…
Hey Brooke, Oh such a great question! I find that smoothies with banana in them don’t tend to sit very well overnight, but ones without banana have a better chance.
This one: http://ohsheglows.com/2012/11/22/back-on-track-green-monster-banana-free/
and this one: http://ohsheglows.com/2016/05/18/all-day-glow-green-smoothie/
don’t have banana in them and might be good ones to try! I’d love to know how it goes.
I’m glad to hear that the heaviness is lifting a little bit every day and that you’re being gentle with yourself in the process. I don’t have kids but I know that my digestion is SO related to my stress level and schedule – I can’t even imagine what it would be like adding a baby to the mix. Bookmarking this beautiful recipe and will try it out soon! Thanks for posting, Angela.
Wowza, this was awesome! I just made this for my husband; he’s finishing up a round of antibiotics, and dealing with the ensuing sensitive stomach. He’s not a great fan of parsley, but I’ve tried enough of your recipes that I trust you implicitly. :) Sure enough, we both loved it!
aww thanks Erin! That made me smile. Sending healing vibes to your husband! I was on antibiotics over the winter and I can relate to having a super sensitive stomach after. It takes a while to recover.
Hey Angela,
Thanks so much for your comments and this article. I appreciate the time you put to answer on all of questions.
Personally, I prefer avocado in smoothies for the creaminess it provides.
~Jeneva
Hi, I’ve been dealing with h.pylori and trying to build my digestive system up gently. I have heard that veggie fruit smoothies may not be the route for me by a ND. What do u think? Also, what is s ur take on foodmap foods being avoided during this build up?
Lovely smoothy. Really helped me to recover from when I had a bout of norovirus.
This looks like a wonderful smoothie! Love the recipe
Can’t wait to try this! What probiotic powder do you use? Also, I’ve been taking probiotic gummies now for a couple years as I find they help with digestion and have kept my cystic acne at bay, but I’m wanting to switch to a more natural kind. Do you use the powder regularly? Thanks!
I LOVE this smoothie! I was looking for a green smoothie that would help with my digestion but not have loads of greens like spinach or kale. This is such a great smoothie that is very satisfying. I add chia seeds to up the omega 3’s and I think I want to try it with strawberries in it to change it up here and there. Awesome recipe :)
Soooo tasty!
The best green smoothie out there!
-Always add the mint, I tried it once without and it felt lacking.
-Siggis yogurt makes a nice addition instead of probiotic powder plus a little protein boost and creamy add in.
-I find the consistency better when I use unfrozen banana, I’ve tried both – but prefer it better fresh. Plus the extra step of chopping and freezing bananas is a chore.
-Lemon garnish is a must!
Fresh, creamy, tasty and functional! Thanks :)