Over the past few years, my gut health has gone from pretty horrible, to pretty awesome. One daily habit that I attribute this amazing change to is my daily green, gut healing smoothie. I can’t remember exactly when I started making this a regular habit, but it’s now one that I absolutely swear by! I’ve even gotten my husband on board too.
Not only is it a great way to get your breakfast in quickly—anyone else not a morning person?!—but it’s a great way to sneak in extra servings of veggies, fruits and other healthy things like seeds and nuts that you might not typically snack on throughout the day.
It tastes like a peanut butter chocolate milkshake and is something I wake up craving. Get ready to up your breakfast game with this simple smoothie!
How to Make a Gut Healing Green Smoothie
One of the secret ingredients in this smoothie that makes it a powerful gut-healer is the addition of a few California Prunes, a banana or dates.
Healthy Green Smoothie Ingredients
California Prunes
We are probably all familiar with the fact that prunes can help keep you regular—a sign of good gut-health right there, but they’re also a great prebiotic!
I was very familiar with probiotics for years, and while they definitely helped my gut, they never totally solved all my issues. When I realized that I was missing the prebiotic part of this equation, things completely shifted.
Prebiotics feed the probiotics so that they can better do their job. So when your probiotic is doing its job well, you’re also going to feel so much better. California Prunes are also high in fiber, and a high-fiber diet is great for your gut as well.
Banana
You can also use banana in place of the prunes if you don’t have them on hand, or simply don’t care for them. Bananas add great flavor and plenty of fiber. They also contain inulin which can stimulate the growth of good gut bacteria. Lastly, they’re a low-fructose fruit.
Dates
More recently, we’ve started adding in a date or two—just make sure to remove the pit! They add sweetness which is great if you like that flavor or if you’re fresh out of bananas or prunes. They are high in fiber like prunes and can help improve digestion and promote the growth of health gut bacteria.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is also high in fiber. All that good fiber feeds our body’s healthy bacteria that aids in reducing inflammation. Overtime, you will see your digestive health transform—at least, that was the case for me! The addition of cauliflower also gives the smoothie its creamy body and texture. It is important to have a high-speed blender to blend it completely.
Spinach
Again, leafy greens are great sources of fiber! Spinach is also high in vitamin K—which is good for bone health, vitamin A—good for skin, and a healthy immune system, and vitamin C—which aids in repairing all body tissues. Lastly, it’s high in iron, but don’t count on it for all your iron needs as it’s hard to absorb in this form.
Collagen
Collagen might seem like a trendy wellness word, but I promise it’s here to stay. It has amino acids necessary to repair and rebuild our intestinal walls. When your gut is compromised, your body may not be able to absorb vitamins and minerals as well as it should. That makes collagen an excellent ingredient for anyone who suffers from leaky gut. You can also sub collagen for protein powder!
RELATED: 6 Collagen Peptides Benefits
Peanut Butter Cacao Gut Healing Green Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 California Prunes, or sub 1 banana and 1 date
- 1-1.5 cups spinach, about one large handful
- 1/2 cup frozen cauliflower
- 1 scoop collagen powder, this is my favorite brand (or protein powder of choice)
- 1 scoop prebiotic fiber, optional, I love this one
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened peanut butter
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp flax seed
- dash of cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp unsweetened cacao powder
- 1/2 cup almond milk, more as needed
- 5 ice cubes, you can adjust this if you like your smoothie thinner or thicker
Directions
Put all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, start with the liquid and spinach first, then add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth to avoid spinach flecks.
Tag me on Instagram if you try this gut-healing smoothie!
Thanks to California Prunes, a brand I love and trust, for sponsoring this post! Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Fox & She possible!
BTW, why you should eat more California Prunes (and how to get them in your diet), and how to do a sugar detox.
