13 PAIRINGS THAT MAKE YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SMOOTHIES EVEN BETTER

If there’s one thing power couples like Beyoncé and Jay-Z and their “Drunk in Love” world domination prove, it’s that some things are just better together.

The rule even applies to what you choose to put in your weight loss smoothies each morning. See, some ingredients work best à deux by boosting each others’ nutrient absorption or improving taste or texture.

“There are certain foods that have synergistic relationships with another,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, health influencer and blogger for Better Than Dieting. So although the foods may be awesome on their own—think superfoods like kale and berries—they may be even stronger as a part of a pair, she says. With that in mind, we turned to nutrition experts to get a few of their favorite dynamic duos. Here, the ingredient pairs that help your smoothie help you.

ERIN PALINSKI-WADE, RD, CDE, AUTHOR OF BELLY FAT DIET FOR DUMMIES

1

GREEN TEA
+ KIWI

Teatime isn't just an afternoon activity and tea doesn't have to be sipped alone. Rather than use heavy milk or yogurt for the base of your smoothie, mix things up for summer and opt for green tea instead. Foods that are rich in vitamin C like kiwi (it has a higher concentration of the nutrient than an orange) help boost the absorption of catechins from green tea—antioxidants that help fry fat and turn it into energy. You'll need that for the steamier months!

2

BLUEBERRIES +
COTTAGE CHEESE

This duo hits you with a one-two punch of antioxidants and lean protein and, as an added bonus, the cottage cheese thickens the smoothie to an almost milkshake-like consistency, says Palinski-Wade. Consider us sold. Breakfast or dessert, this smoothie gets the green light.

3

TOFU +
BLACKBERRIES

The vitamin D in tofu will help boost absorption of bone-healthy calcium from the blackberries. Plus, like cottage cheese, tofu thickens up your smoothie and also helps counter some of the tartness from the blackberries, Palinski-Wade adds. The natural protein content of the smoothie will also allow you to ditch belly-bloating whey powders.

BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RDN, BLOGGER FOR BETTER THAN DIETING

4

STRAWBERRIES
+ KALE

Sure, kale is a superfood, but that doesn't mean it's great at everything. It needs a sidekick! The vitamin C in strawberries enhances the absorption of kale’s iron content—and this could be particularly important for any vegetarians that may not be getting enough of the nutrient, says Taub-Dix.

5

AVOCADOS 
+ SPINACH

Carrots aren't the only eye protectors; swap your snack time veg for this morning smoothie for the same benefits without all the chomping. This duo will give you a boost before you even get to work. The healthy fat in avocados enhances the antioxidant lutein in spinach to boost eye health—it may keep you safe from age-related macular degeneration and cataracts—both of which may lead to impaired vision and blindness—according to the American Optometric Association.

6

ALMONDS 
+ BANANA

Frozen bananas are the best secret of the smoothie world; they give your smoothie a milkshake-like consistency that's perfect for banishing those stubborn sweet tooth-induced cravings. Add some almonds to keep your energy level high well until lunchtime; the fiber and protein in these nuts help slow down the absorption of natural sugar from bananas, keeping blood glucose levels more stable, says Taub-Dix. Buh-bye sugar crash!

NANCY TEETER, RDN, NUTRITIONIST AT MIRAVAL RESORTS

7

WALNUTS +
BABY SPINACH

If this sounds like an unlikely pairing to you, just imagine them blended up with a frozen banana, some peanut butter and a splash of almond milk. You won't even taste the leafy greens. Omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts help boost absorption of vitamin K found in spinach, according to Teeter. Vitamin K is a triple threat that helps with cell growth, blood circulation, and keeps the bones strong.

8

PECANS +
PUMPKIN

Channel the taste of classic holiday pies—in the healthiest way possible: a smoothie. The unsaturated fat found in pecans helps with the absorption of the pumpkin’s vitamin A content, which supports the skin, immune system and mucous membranes. Just three ounces of canned pumpkin provides triple the daily value of the vitamin, says Teeter. Add some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for a dessert-inspired start to the day.

9

CAYENNE +
COCOA POWDER

If you’re unfamiliar with this combo, don’t write it off just yet. Cayenne enhances the sweetness of the cocoa, and its flavonoids work as antioxidants that help fight inflammation. And research suggests that capsaicin, an active ingredient in cayenne, might help lower blood pressure, fight fat and suppress appetite. Plus, it may also slightly boost metabolism, says Teeter. Blend them together with a frozen sliced banana and some almond milk for a breakfast smoothie that tastes like frozen hot chocolate.

10

TANGERINES
+ SOFT TOFU

Make your smoothie reflect the changing season by using citrus as your primary fruit. The ascorbic acid, an immune-system protector, in tangerines helps the body absorb iron from tofu. And Teeter says the spongy stuff contains 40 percent of the daily needs of the nutrient, so consider it a relatively solid source. For a childhood treat-inspired drink, blended it with some vanilla plant-protein powder. The tangerine and vanilla combine to make a grown-up version of a Creamsicle.

ANGELA ONSGARD, RDN, NUTRITIONIST AT MIRAVAL RESORTS

11

HEMP SEEDS +
COCONUT OIL

The medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil may help increase magnesium absorption from hemp seeds. This mineral not only helps with sleep issues and bone density, but also slashes atherosclerosis and hypertension risk, Onsgard says. Don't let the fat in coconut oil scare you off. This healthy fat not only gives your smoothies an indulgent texture, but also helps whittle your middle.

12

AVOCADO 
+ PAPAYA

Can't get away this year? Channel the tropics with this slimming and satisfying morning smoothie. The monounsaturated fat in avocados helps with fat-soluble (and vision-protecting, cell growth-supporting) vitamin A absorption from papaya—a fruit that also happens to contain twice the daily recommendation of vitamin C, Onsgard says.

13

ALMOND BUTTER
+ KALE

Kale might add color to your smoothie, but if you blend up the right ingredients, you won’t taste the green addition. Combine almond butter, almond milk, a sliced frozen banana, cocoa powder and a handful of kale for a peanut butter cup-inspired smoothie. Kale contains a hefty dose of both vitamin A and vitamin K—206 percent of the daily value of the former and 684 percent of the daily value of the latter—and the monounsaturated fats in almond butter help boost absorption of these two nutrients, says Onsgard.

Source
http://www.eatthis.com/13-pairings-make-weight-loss-smoothies-healthier

14 Best Fruit and Vegetable Juices for a Healthy Life Style

The health benefits of fresh juicy fruits and vegetables need no further emphasis, but with our busy schedules and over dependence on processed foods and ready to eat meals most of us fail to reach the daily intake of 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables. But juicing is an easy and fun way of consuming all the nutrients and goodness of vegetable sand fruits without spending time on cooking. Juices are an integral part of any well-planned weight loss diet and in addition it also provides great and youthful looking skin, shining hair and healthy nails.

The high level of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in juices helps in maintaining proper health and regular consumption enhances beauty naturally and promotes healthy hair growth. The vitamin C in freshly squeezed juices improves collagen level in skin which is a key factor for skin elasticity that makes skin smooth, supple and younger. The mineral calcium present in certain fruit and vegetables juices helps in strengthening bones, fighting arthritis, lowering high blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Potassium reduces stiffness of joints and increases flexibility thereby reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

 

Fruit and Vegetable Juices for Quick Weight Loss:

When it comes to weight loss, it is always better to stick to more vegetable juices because fruit juices contain a large amount of fruit sugar even when no additional sugar is added to it and it can affect a person’s weight loss efforts in a negative way. Therefore it is recommended to add more vegetables to your weight loss smoothie.

 

Green Detox:

Ingredients:

• Fresh Chopped Kale- 3 Cups
• Apples- 2
• Cucumber-1
• Lemon-1/2

Put all the ingredients in a juices or food processor and process till it turns in to a nice smoothie. The best time to have this smoothie is for breakfast or lunch. The kale and cucumber helps in complete detoxification of the entire system and it soothes the digestive system as well. Both apples and cucumber are great natural weight loss foods that help in losing weight.

 

Fresh Green Lemonade:

Ingredients:

• Kale- 3 Cups chopped
• Apples-2
• Cucumber-1
• Mint-1/2 Cup
• Lemon-2

Kale is an amazing vegetable loaded with vitamins and minerals. It is a great source of vitamin K, C, beta-carotene, lutein, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese. Both apples and kale are super foods for weight loss and mint is a natural stimulant that helps digestion and converts fats in to usable energy. Put all the ingredients in a juicer and juice till it turns in to a smoothie. Sip it for breakfast or lunch for best results.

 

Metabolism Booster:

Ingredients:

• Cucumbers-2
• Celery-5 stalks
• Apple-1
• Coriander-1 Cup
• Lemon-1
• Red Pepper-1

Boosting metabolism is the key to fast weight loss. Speeding up metabolism leads to more calorie burn and lemons and spicy peppers work effectively in boosting it. The high water content of cucumber and celery keeps the body hydrated and fuller for a longer period of time. Put all the ingredients in a juicer and make a smooth paste with thin consistency.  Have it as a mid-morning snack or in the afternoon.

 

Grapefruit Crusher:

Ingredients:

• Grapefruit-1
• Apple-1
• Kale-2 Cups Chopped
• Cucumber-1
• Lime-1

Grapefruit is a power food for weight loss because a certain enzyme present in this pink citrus fruit lowers insulin level in blood and prevents the secretion of fat storing hormones that helps in weight loss. In addition, it is a great source of vitamin C that not only fights cold and flu but also provides youthful and smooth skin. Peel the grapefruit and cut it into a few pieces add with all the other ingredients in the juicer and enjoy your tangy smoothie.

 

Fruit and Vegetable Juices for Amazing Skin:

As far as beautiful and healthy skin is concerned, it is best to choose fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins, A, B and C and beta-carotene as vitamin C and beta-carotene are the building blocks of youthful and bright skin that glows from within.

 

Skin Cleansing Potion:

Ingredients:

• Carrots-2
• Spinach-2 Cups
• Apple-1
• Cucumber-1
• Ginger-1 Inch

Carrots are a rich source of vitamin A, C and D along with folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and small quantities of potassium, sodium, magnesium and copper. The vitamins present in carrots helps in maintaining the skin cells and the beta carotene in apples and spinach prevents skin damage whereas silicon present in cucumbers improves skin tone, quality of hair and nails. The anti-oxidants present in ginger prevent premature skin aging and acts as a natural remedy for acne and pimples. Put all the ingredients in a juicer and blend well. Drink it during breakfast to flush out toxins from the skin.

 

Youth Enhancer:

Ingredients:

• Cabage-8 Leaves
• Carrtos-4
• Ginger-1 Inch

The beta-carotene present in carrots and cabbage provides a natural radiance to skin and adds a healthy glow to the face. It also helps in maintaining collagen in skin that keeps the skin supple and youthful and prevents appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It also acts as a natural sunscreen that reduces sun burn and protects skin from within. Put all the ingredients in a juicer and enjoy this refreshing smoothie.

 

Sweet Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• Sweet Potato- 1 Peeled
• Apples-2
• Carrots-2
• Spinach-1 Cup

Sweet potatoes are rich sources of vitamins A and E. While vitamin A that helps in removing age spots, wrinkles and fine lines vitamin E provides a clear glow to skin, reduces dryness and acts as a natural sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Spinach is a rich source of health benefiting minerals like iron and phyto-nutrients that have amazing anti-inflammatory properties and reduces the risk of prostate cancer.

 

Purple Haze:

Ingredients:

• Beet-1 Along with greens
• Cabbage-1/4th
• Cucumber-2
• Red Grapes-1 Cup
• Parsley-1 Cup

Beets are a rich source of vitamins A, C and K and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and magnesium. Beet juice reduces skin irritations, acne and pimples while the oxalic acids helps in dissolving inorganic calcium deposits that works as a natural remedy for kidney stones, arthritis and heart diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties of red grapes help in preventing inflammation of the arteries and protect the heart.

 

Berry Punch:

Ingredients:

• Strawberries- 2 Cups
• Blueberries- 2 Cups
• Blackberries- 2 Cups

This is an amazingly delicious berry smoothie that rich in anti-oxidants, anthocyanins, phytochemicals and flavonoids that  are not only helpful for gorgeous skin but also helps in the body from damage caused by free radicals, reduces chances of stroke, heart attack and type 2 diabetes. The essential fatty acids improve skin hydration while vitamin C protects the skin from damage caused by free radicals and increases the levels of elastin and collagen. Pour all the ingredients in a juicer and turn to a smooth paste.

 

Fruit and Vegetable Juices for Healthy Hair:

When it comes to healthy and shining long hair, Silica is the most important mineral that strengthens hair follicles by supplying vital nutrients to the scalp. It also treats hormonal imbalance which is a major reason for hair fall in women. Our hands are one of the first things that people notice and silica helps in strengthening nails that gives a beautiful appearance to the hands. Therefore, try to consume vegetables that are loaded with this mineral.

 

Cucumber Refresher:

Ingredients:

• Cucumbers-2
• Apples-2
• Mint Leaves-1 Cup

Enjoy this delicious juice while soaking up its goodness. It hydrates the body while potassium present in cucumber lowers high blood pressure. It is also a rich source of antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamins A and C that reduces the damage caused by free radicals; it also helps in reducing cholesterol and relieves joint pain, arthritis and gout. The silica present in cucumber promotes hair growth naturally and improves the texture of hair.

 

Healthy Hair Growth Juice:

Ingredients:

• Cucumbers-2
• Carrots-2
• Tomato-1

The mineral silica present in cucumber improves blood circulation to the scalp and encourages hair growth. Silica in combination with vitamin A and beta compounds strengthens the hair roots that prevents hair fall, brittleness, split ends and improves the quality of hair.

 

Hair Grow Smoothie:

Ingredients:

• Cucumbers-2
• Strawberries-1 Cup
• Carrots-2
• Apples-2
• Lemon-1

The antioxidants present in the strawberries improves blood circulation to the scalp and promotes fast hair growth whereas, silica present in cucumber improves hair texture, prevents hair breakage and split ends and increases the luster of the tresses. Beta-carotene present in carrots treats dandruff and itchiness of scalp. In addition, it also helps in improving the workings of the immune system.

 

Lettuce Crush:

Ingredients:

• Romaine Lettuce-3 Cups
• Cucumber-1
• Apple-1
• Parsley-1 Cup
• Lemon-1

 The vitamin C and beta-carotene in romaine lettuce make sit a heart healthy green veggie that reduces the risk of heart disease and also promotes the creation of hemoglobin in the blood. Whereas the silicon present in both lettuce and cucumber improves texture of hair, rejuvenates dull and limp hair  and strengthens nails. Parsley and lemon help in digestion.

 

Green Punch:

Ingredients:

• Spinach-3 Cups
• Cucumbers-2
• Red Grapes-1 Cup

The flavonoids present in spinach have anti-cancer properties whereas the antioxidants help in fighting chronic diseases. Lutein and zeaxanthin found in abundance in spinach improves vision and protects the eye. The high level of vitamin A increases moisture retention of skin and vitamin K promotes healthy functioning of the nervous system. Black grapes protect the scalp from infections and dandruff and prevent premature graying of hair. Now that you know the secret to a fit body, beautiful skin and shining long tresses; enjoy your juices and flaunt your beauty to the world.



Source

20 Ways to Make Homemade Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss (suitable for all special diets)

If you are new to my website I’ll give you a bit of background.  The name, Green Thickie means a filling meal replacement smoothie which is a complete meal with optional greens to make it a Green Thickie.
I have hundreds of recipes for meal replacement shakes on this website.  I started off adding oats to my smoothies to turn them into meal replacement shakes.  After a while I started experimenting with other ingredients to make the smoothies thick and filling.  Now I’ve experimenting with grain free diets so I’ve just found a whole load more ingredients that make perfect additions to make homemade meal replacement shakes.

I also use my Green Thickies as a great tool for weight loss.  If you drink one Green Thickie for breakfast and another for lunch and a home cooked healthy dinner, you should see results when it comes to health and weight loss.  Get started with Green Thickies here.

So if you are interested, any of the Green Thickie Recipes on this website can be used as meal replacement shakes for weight loss.  Green Thickies are designed to be the perfect meal for busy people.  If you don’t have time to sit down and eat a proper meal, you’ll get everything you need for one meal from a Green Thickie.  Because they are so filling I don’t usually feel the need to snack in between meals and nor do I have time to snack.  So I don’t have too many snack recipes on this website.

A lot of people ask me what else to eat besides Green Thickies, so I developed my 7 Day Diet Plan for Weight Loss and Improved Health which will give you a full calorie counted meal plan to help you lose weight which incorporates some tasty recipes that aren’t published on this website.  Click here to have a look at Green Thickies Diet Plan.

There are 6 ingredients in most green thickies.  The essential ingredients are liquid and fruit/vegetables for nutrients.  But I also add something sweet to my smoothies such as dried fruit to make them taste gorgeous.  I also add greens as I believe eating leafy greens regularly takes your health to the next level.  To make them into a complete meal there are 2 more elements which are a protein source such as nuts or seeds and a filler. Keep reading to find out about fillers.

This blog post explains the different choices of fillers you can add to your smoothie to make them into a complete meal.  But after I explain the fillers I’ll also give you a formula for making your own homemade meal replacement shakes for weight loss.
So now that I’ve explained the concept behind Green Thickies, I’m going to give you a list of ingredients that you can use to turn any smoothie into a filling meal replacement shake.

Each of my recipes serves 2, so all these fillers need to be added to a batch of smoothie that is enough for 2 portions.

 

How to add the fillers to smoothies to create Meal Replacement Meals

To make your own meal replacement shakes, you can either:

• Use one of my recipes and add your choice of filler to it from the list below, or
• Create your own smoothie with the template at the bottom of this post.

 

20 Fillers to turn any smoothie into Meal Replacement Shakes

Choose 1 from the following list to add to your smoothie – Each smoothie serves 2 so drink half of the smoothie for each meal.

 

Raw Ingredients (Raw, Vegan, Paleo, Primal, Grain Free, Gluten Free, GAPs, SCD Diets)

1) 3 Medium Bananas/ 3 Cups of Banana Chunks (in addition to the bananas already in the recipe)*
2) 3 Small Mangos/ 3 Cups of Mango Chunks*
3) 1 Medium Avocado or 2 small avocados*
4) 4 Tablespoons Coconut Butter* (Get good quality Coconut Butter here) (low Carb)
5) 2/3 Cup of Coconut Milk from a Can* (Get good quality Coconut Milk here) (low Carb)

6) 4 Tablespoons of Coconut Cream* (Get good quality Coconut Cream here) (low Carb)

 

Nuts (Raw, Vegan, Paleo, Primal, Grain Free, Gluten Free, GAPs, SCD Diets)

7) 1/3 Cup Nuts (get good quality nuts here)
8) 3 Tablespoons Nut Butter*  (get good quality nut butter here)

Seeds (Raw, Vegan, Paleo, Primal, Grain Free, Gluten Free, GAPs, SCD Diets)

9) 1/2 Cup Seeds  (get good quality seeds here)
10) 3 Tablespoons Seed Butter*  (get good quality seed butter here)

Grains

11) 1 Cup of Oats (get good quality oats here)
12) 1 Cup of Quinoa (get good quality quinoa here)
13) 1 Cup of Buckwheat (get good quality buckwheat here)

 

The Healthiest Smoothie Filler in the world!

14) I now use either Balance Complete or Power Meal smoothie fillers almost all of the time because they contain an abundance of nutrients and I have never felt as healthy or as energetic since I started using these products.  To find more out about them you can watch my video here.  They are by Young Living and you can purchase them here.  Or to find out how to save 24% on your order you can read more here.

 

Other Carbs (Vegan, Grain Free, Gluten Free)

15) 1 Cup Sweet Potato*
16) 1 Cup White Potato*

 

Eggs (Low Carb, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Primal, Paleo, GAPs, SCD Diets )

 17) 4 Large Raw or cooked Eggs (Organic/ Free Range)*

 

Dairy (Low Carb, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Primal, GAPs, SCD Diets )

18) 6 Tablespoons Cream (Raw/Organic)*
19) 1 Cup Full Fat Cottage Cheese (Raw/Organic)*
20) 1/3 Cup Full Fat Creamed Cheese (Raw/Organic)*
All of these fillers have roughly the same number of calories.  Each smoothie serves 2 so you would consume half of these fillers per smoothie.  This might seem a lot to you but remember, this is a complete meal, not a snack!  Some of them are bulkier than others so although each shake will be roughly a pint (500ml) some may be smaller and some larger, but all should fill you up until your next meal.
*I have added a star next to the fillers that are easiest to blend without a high speed blender.  All of the ingredients can be blended with any blender but it is easier to blend if you soak hard ingredients overnight first.  Another option is to grind your grains, nuts and seeds using your blending or coffee grinding before adding them to your smoothie.
I have chosen these fillers as most of them have a fairly neutral taste, and you’d be surprised how much the sweet fruit can overpower the taste of both the fillers and any greens you add to your smoothie.

How to prepare the fillers for your meal replacement shakes

Most of the fillers can be added raw but to aid digestion, improve available nutrients and make the smoothies easier to blend it is advisable to prepare the fillers in the following ways:

• Oats: Soak these in the smoothie liquid overnight and add straight to the blender (get good quality oats here)
• Quinoa: Rinse then soak these in the smoothie liquid overnight and add straight to the blender.(get good quality quinoa here)
• Buckwheat: Rinse these and continue to rinse every couple of hours for 8 hours then add straight to the blender.  (get good quality buckwheat here)
• Sweet Potato: Cook this first by steaming it for 10 minutes or baking it for 20 minutes
• White Potato: Steam this for 12 minutes and bake it under tender, about 45 minutes.
• Cooked beans: Rinse canned beans or follow packet instructions to soak and cook dried beans.
• Seeds and nuts: Soak over night, rinse and add to the blender.   (get good quality nuts and seeds here)
• * If using dates or other dried fruit, it’s also good to soak these overnight in the smoothie liquid and add it all to the blender.

 

How to make Homemade Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss

Here is a formula that you can you to make your own smoothie.  For more information on creating your own smoothie, please read How to make a Smoothie in 5 Easy Steps. 
To make 2 servings of smoothie add the following ingredients:

1. 2 Cups of Liquid
2. 2 Cups of Fruit or if you are avoiding fruit, 2 cups of salad vegetables
3. 1/4 Cup of Dried fruit or 2 Tablespoons of liquid sweetener such as Raw Honey or Maple Syrup
4. 1/4 Cup of Nuts or Seeds or 2 Tablespoons of Nut/Seed Butter or other protein source such as 2 Tablespoons of Gelatin
5. 1-2 Cups of mild leafy greens
6. One of the fillers above

Remember – for homemade meal replacement shakes for weight loss drink 1 serving which is half of the above recipe formula.  This formula will make approximately 2 pints and to lose weight, drink 1 pint as a meal replacement.  Do this for breakfast and for lunch and then have a sensible dinner that is suitable for the particular diet you are following.  This is a great formula for weight loss.  For a complete meal plan – check out my 7 Day Diet Plan to boost your weight loss even more. If you get tired of having 2 sweet meal replacement shakes every day, make your first shake with fruit and your lunch shake with vegetables so you get a variety of fruit and vegetables in your diet. Have a look at my Vegetable smoothie and add your preferred filler to it.

Source
http://www.greenthickies.com/20-ways-to-make-homemade-meal-replacement-shakes-for-weight-loss/

Grapefruit Smoothie Recipes and Nutrition

The grapefruit is a bitter and tart fruit that is a hybrid between the pummelo and the orange. The first documentation of the grapefruit dates back to 1750 AD. Grapefruits originally arrived in the US in 1823, but it wasn’t until 1885 that the grapefruit started to become commercially successful.
The most popular varieties are the pink, white and red grapefruit. In North America, the majority of the crops are grown in California, Florida and Texas.
Grapefruits blend well with other citrus fruits in a green smoothie. They complement other flavor fruits such as pineapple and kiwi. Banana makes the best base fruit as it thickens the smoothie while sweetening the grapefruit.

 

Grapefruit Nutrition and Health Benefits

Grapefruits are an excellent source of vitamin C with the average grapefruit providing up to 83% RDA. Pink grapefruits are a good source of vitamin A (as beta-carotene) with the average fruit providing 29% RDA. They are not as high in calcium as oranges. Grapefruits are water-rich which helps facilitate cleansing and detox. Diets high in citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, have been shown to lower the risk of esophageal, oral and stomach cancers.
Powerful antioxidants in grapefruits may lower risk for heart disease. A 12-week study at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego lead by Dr. Ken Fujioka showed that eating one half grapefruit before meals helped facilitate weight loss due to a compound in the fruit itself. Findings published in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggested that eating one grapefruit per day may significantly lower cholesterol levels for patients who were not responding to cholesterol-lowering medications.

 

Grapefruit Drug Interactions

Grapefruits contain compounds that interfere with certain medications including statin drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor. If you are on any medications, please consult with your doctor or pharmacist before consuming grapefruit.

 

How To Use Grapefruits In A Green Smoothie

As with all citrus fruit, I routinely remove the seeds and peel them before blending them in a green smoothie. With grapefruit, you can leave as much of the pith on to get extra fiber and nutrients. Always discard the outer peel.
You can also juice grapefruits in a citrus juicer and use the liquid to help blend (and flavor) a smoothie.

Source
http://www.incrediblesmoothies.com/recipes/grapefruit-smoothie-recipes-and-nutrition/

Boost Metabolism With Foods That Help Burn Belly Fat and Weight Loss

Let me know what you guys think. I would love to hear feedback, and any suggestions, comment them below! Enjoy xx

The Smoothie That Lowers Blood Pressure

Still abiding by that “apple a day” rule? If you’re concerned about blood pressure, you might want to trade that apple in for a beet, says a new study.

Eight women and seven men with high blood pressure were given 250 mL (just over a cup) of water or beetroot juice, then monitored over 24 hours in a small study published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension. Those who drank the beetroot juice experienced a drop on systolic blood pressure—the top number—by an average of 11.2 points and experienced an overall lower systolic blood pressure.

Beets are just one of several vegetables—including lettuce, spinach, kale, turnips, radishes, carrots, and chard—high in dietary, or inorganic, nitrate. When digested, nitrate become nitric oxide, a gas in the blood that can widen your blood vessels and aid in blood flow. While the researchers are uncertain as to whether the effect can be maintained on a long-term basis, the study showed that this small, 8-ounce dose raised nitrate levels 1.5 times in the patients with hypertension—in a relatively inexpensive way. 

Want to give your diet a healthy does of dietary nitrate? Give this Blueberry-Almond Smoothie a try—it contains beets and carrot juice, both good sources of nitrate:

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsweetened carrot juice

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

1/4 cup peeled and grated raw beet

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup unsalted raw whole almonds

1/3 cup ice cubes, 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice

Dash of ground ginger. 

Blend ingredients together and enjoy! Makes one serving.

Source
http://www.prevention.com/food/food-remedies/lower-your-blood-pressure-beet-root-juice