Have you heard about different ‘superfoods’ that can be added to smoothies to make them even more healthy?
There’s a long list of them; so many that it’s easy to get overwhelmed in the land of superfoods.
I always recommend to keep things simple, but I can understand the urge to test out something new, especially if there are health benefits attached to it.
To save you the time and energy required to sort through all the superfoods out there, I’ve put together a short list of my favourite smoothie boosters. Check them out and give them a try!
5 Ways to Boost Your Smoothie
1. MACA POWDER
Known for its hormone balancing effects. Maca has been studied to help normalize the symptoms of premenstrual/menstrual symptoms, as well as the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, cramps, fatigue and lethargy. Look for gelatinized maca for easier digestion and absorption. Add 1 tsp.
2. COLLAGEN
The ultimate anti-aging smoothie booster! As we age, our bodies’ natural production of collagen starts to slow. Collagen supplementation has proven to be effective in supporting the strength and flexibility of bones, tendons and cartilage, as well as the appearance of skin and nails, and GI tract health. Incorporating a collagen powder into your smoothie is an easy way to support many areas of your health and stay forever young. Learn more about the benefits of Whole Body Collagen. Add 1-2 scoops.
Whole Body Collagen
A unique blend of THREE collagen peptides supported by clinical research showing their efficacy for supporting collagen production, bone strength, joint & gut health, skin elasticity + more.
These little guys are loaded with antioxidants, even more so than tea, wine and blueberries! In addition, cacao nibs are a high source of magnesium, iron and fibre. A great way to add extra nutrition and crunch to your smoothies. Stir in 1 tbsp.
4. SEA SALT
Not only will a high-quality sea salt enhance the flavour of your smoothie, but it will add life-giving nutrients. Sea salt is rich in trace minerals that are hard to obtain from food due to the lack of nutrient-rich soil. Sea salt can help promote vascular health, healthy pH & electrolyte balance, as well as increase energy, regulate sleep and improve symptoms of adrenal fatigue. Look for Pink Himalayan or Celtic. Add a pinch.
5. CINNAMON
Popular for its blood sugar lowering effects, but also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and immunity-boosting abilities. Great way to naturally sweeten your smoothies as well. Opt for Ceylon cinnamon over Cassia (aka “fake”) cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon contains a higher amount of coumarin, a natural plant chemical that can be toxic to the liver and kidneys, and it may also be carcinogenic, in large doses. Add 1/2-1 tsp.
These gluten & grain free Rum Balls are the perfect way to get the party started during the holidays! Chocolate and rum come together in this recipe to make a rich and soul warming treat! Enjoy this healthy spin on rums balls any time of the year–not just the holidays.
My love for rum balls dates back to my little Jen days. My Nonna (a.k.a. Ma) use to make them for the family around Christmas time. Not sure who inspired her to make rum balls since they’re not a traditional Italian recipe, BUT I’m glad she did because they were delish!
Since my craving for rum balls is still strong, I decided to put a healthy spin on this popular treat which can be enjoyed any time of the year–not just the holidays.
Most traditional rum ball recipes are packed with low-quality and inflammatory ingredients like vanilla waffers, confectioners’ sugar and corn syrup.
Instead of using vanilla waffers, I use a combo of almond flour and shredded coconut, which creates a great gluten free base. I also kicked nasty corn syrup and confectioners’ sugar out and replaced them with a natural and pure sweetener, maple syrup.
The combination of coconut, rum and chocolate makes this a delicious treat you’ll crave all year round. Give this easy, no-bake recipe a try!
For a alcohol free and kid friendly version, omit rum and increase maple syrup to 1/2 cup.
These gluten & grain free Rum Balls are the perfect way to get the party started during the holidays! Chocolate and rum come together in this recipe to make a rich and soul warming treat! Enjoy this healthy spin on rums balls any time of the year--not just the holidays.
3 Ways Gelatin Can Support Gut Health and Digestion
1. Aids in gut repair. Gelatin is beneficial for preventing intestinal damage and repairing the lining of the digestive tract, thereby preventing “leaky gut”. The gut lining is one of the body’s most important lines of defense, since it keeps food particles, bacteria and yeast inside the digestive system (where they belong) and prevents them from entering the bloodstream, which triggers inflammation.
2. Promotes enzymes and stomach acid that break down food. When you don’t produce enough enzymes/stomach acid, you can experience common digestive problems like heartburn, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. Older people often experience more digestive problems because their stomach acid decreases during the aging process and is worsened by increased stress levels. Gelatin can improve your ability to produce stomach acid and enzymes that are needed for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
3. Improves bloating and constipation. Gelatin is capable of absorbing water and fluids, which helps prevent fluid retention and stomach bloat while improving constipation.
Jello is a great and easy way to add gelatin to your diet. Give my Lemon Raspberry Jello recipe a try. It’s healthy jello for adults and kids!
Lemon Raspberry Jello
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup frozen raspberries
3/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup grass-fed gelatin
3 tbsp. honey
4-5 drops lemon essential oil (food-grade) or 1 tsp. lemon zest
Get 24% off all Young Living essential oils (including food-grade oils) here.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Add raspberries and citrus juice to blender and blend until pureed.
2. Add puree into a saucepan along with gelatin and honey and whisk together. It will be a thick paste to start.
3. Turn heat to low and continue whisking ingredients (5-10 minutes) until mixture becomes thin.
4. Whisk in lemon essential oil or lemon zest towards the end.
5. Pour mixture into a glass dish or into molds. Place in the fridge for 1-hour to set.
6. Remove from molds or cut into squares and enjoy!
Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings are not only delicious, but also super easy to prepare with only 4 simple ingredients needed. These guilt free wings are keto, paleo and AIP friendly.
Chicken wings are an essential part of any sports lover’s diet! They’re flavourful and easy to munch on while your eyes are glued to the screen.
As yummy as restaurant and bar wings are, these places almost always deep fry their wings in rancid vegetable oil. These inflammatory oils can cause many short and long term health problems and should be avoided whenever possible.
You might be thinking – “Jen, why do you have to be a game day buzz kill?!”
I’m not – I promise! Today, I come to you with a better alternative which will not only save you from spending time in bars that smell like a combination of body odour and beer – BUT also keep you from burping up rancid chicken wings for the next week!
So, here’s my brilliant game plan … Host game day in the comfort of your home with your best people (no buzz kills allowed) and make my simple chicken wing recipe below!
I use heat stable avocado oil in my recipe, which has a smoke point of 500F. You can safely bake your wings in the oven at a high temperature without worrying about creating toxic fumes or harmful free radicals.
Now check out my Salt & Pepper Chicken Wing recipe with avocado oil!
Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings are not only delicious, but also super easy to prepare with only 4 simple ingredients needed. These guilt free wings are keto, paleo and AIP friendly.
Supplements can also play a powerful role in helping to heal your gut. GI-Revive is one of the best gut repair formulas on the market. I have used this supplement for years and have shared it with my friends, family and clients. The results are amazing!
GI-Revive™ is a synergistic formula offering wide-ranging support for optimal gut health and function. It provides therapeutic levels of nutrients which support gut lining repair and help fight inflammation along with ingredients to promote healthy bowel function.
GI-REVIVE
A synergistic formula offering wide-ranging support for optimal gut health and function.
What makes GI-Revive the best supplement for healing your gut
1. L-glutamine. Glutamine is the most important and commonly used nutritional substance to repair tissues, particularly high turnover tissue such as the cells of the intestinal lining. Glutamine deficiency can cause severe intestinal degradation and supplementation can enhance intestinal healing and repair. It is essential in maintaining proper intestinal permeability and avoiding “leaky gut syndrome.” Leaky gut syndrome can result in increased toxic and allergy exposure, systemic inflammation, and autoimmune disease.
2. Aloe Vera, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow, Chamomile, Okra, Cat’s Claw and DGL. These relaxing herbs can improve intestinal function by coating and soothing the intestinal lining, promoting the healing of ulcers and inflamed tissue, and reducing cramping by relaxing the intestines. GI Revive™ contains this impressive comprehensive blend of botanicals that have a long traditional use in gastrointestinal disorders.
3. Prune Powder and Citrus Pectin. These two ingredients are included to safely aid in regularity of bowel movements without the damaging effects of commonly used herbal laxatives.
4. MSM and Quercetin. These anti-inflammatory substances can reduce the chronic inflammation which is often the reason why the intestinal lining becomes damaged and “leaky.” Quercetin can also improve tissue health through its antioxidant functions.
5. Zinc Carnosine and N-Acetyl Glucosamine. Zinc carnosine has impressive mucosal-protective and anti-ulcerative properties, including the ability to protect the intestinal lining against damage due to strong anti-inflammatory medications. N-Acetyl Glucosamine aids in the production of health supportive structures for the cells of the intestinal lining. Supplementation of these nutrients, can help support proper mucosal health and reduce intestinal permeability.
Add 1 tablespoon to a glass of water. Stir briskly and consume immediately. Take once daily. Take on an empty stomach (ex., immediately upon waking, in-between meals or at night before bed).
Take for 3-months consecutively. Most people see results soon after starting this product. Continue to take this product for the full course to allow for optimal healing of the gut. After you have used this product for 3-months, keep track of your gut health. If you feel you need extra gut support, you can go on a maintenance supplement during this time (I recommend l-glutamine). You can always start another course of GI-Revive if needed. I recommend waiting 2-3 months between courses.
Other times GI-Revive can be helpful
1. Gut support when consuming alcohol. Alcohol can be very disruptive on the gut lining. GI-Revive can help to protect your gut from the damaging effects of alcohol and repair the gut if damage occurs. I recommend taking GI-Revive before AND after alcohol consumption to help mitigate alcohol’s negative effects. 1 tbsp. before and after.
2. Gut support when eating out. Food found in most restaurants and fast-food joints contain low-quality ingredients and inflammatory cooking oils, all of which can be extremely disruptive to the gut. I recommend preparing your own food with high-quality ingredients as often as possible. When eating out, I recommend taking GI-Revive before AND after food consumption to help mitigate the negative effects of low-quality ingredients and inflammatory oils. 1 tbsp. before and after.
3. Gut support during travel. Travel can be a big stressor on the gut, especially if flying and eating out a lot. I recommend taking GI Revive before and during travel to help mitigate the negative effects of travel on the gut.
GI-REVIVE
The best supplement for healing your gut. GI-Revive provides therapeutic levels of nutrients which support gut lining repair and help fight inflammation along with ingredients to promote healthy bowel function.
If you’re following a low-carb or keto diet and someone tells you that you need processed foods like breads, pastas and cereal grains in order to get adequate amounts of fiber in your diet, hit them with this fact …
One serving of kale contains more fiber than 3 slices of whole wheat bread!
Don’t forget to throw in a “KALE YEAH!” at the end 😉
Italian Sausage & Kale Soup
INGREDIENTS:
6 slices pastured bacon (diced)
2 pounds Italian sausage (casing removed)
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 small yellow onion (diced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 large sweet potato (peeled and cut into small cubes)
4 cups chicken broth (store-bought or homemade)
4 cups filtered water
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I made my own blend using oregano, basil, rosemary, & fennel seeds)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4-5 large kale leaves (chopped)
1 cup full-fat coconut milk (canned)
1 lemon (juice only)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Using a big stove-top pot, cook bacon over medium-low heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pot and set aside. Drain excess fat from pot.
2. Add sausage to pot and break apart meat. Cook at medium heat until sausage is brown and a little crispy. Remove sausage from pot and set aside.
3. Add avocado oil to pot and sauté onion and garlic until onion becomes translucent. Add sausage, potatoes, chicken stock, water, seasoning, salt and pepper.
4. Bring heat to medium-low, cover pot and let cook for 30-minutes.
5. Add kale to pot and let cook for 5-minutes.
6. Stir in coconut milk, lemon juice and bacon. Let cook for another 5-minutes.
7. Taste and add additional salt/seasoning if needed.
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
