DAY 10 of our 10-Day Sugar Detox! + the kids’ fave smoothie recipe

Today marks the last day of our family’s 10-Day Sugar Detox with Standard Process.  We are SO excited.  Some for return to unstructured eating.  Some for lessened rules on caffeine, alcohol and grains.  But it’s not like I had imagined.  I’m not craving carbs, though some small portions of wild rice with dinner or quinoa on a spinach salad do sound lovely!  I think the joy is in sloughing off the rules, just being cleared to do it our way, to be through with the extra supplements, maybe have one smoothie for breakfast rather than at every meal, to raise a glass to our success and revel in knowing WE DID IT and are truly reaping so many benefits!

But first.  It’s been a lot of smoothies.  3 per day.  For 4 people.  That’s 120 smoothies and I believe I made 114 of them.  But who’s counting?

That’s also a lot of prep work and extra dishes.  But it was also the only way to get in the powdered supplement for us adults.  It also helped to ensure we got to our target servings of veggies per day (13-15 a day per adult).  Kids are still a work in progress, but they are eating more veggies each day.  And my 6-year-old tried salad for the first time.  And liked it!  She became weary of smoothies. Poor lamb.  To my surprise and delight, on Day #9, she opted for the non-blended version and ate it happily! It’s a new world, people!

Because we did this 10-day version, rather than 21-days, we were able to share a kit, which helped us ease into the cost of this particular cleanse.  Our cleanse and associated posts are in no way associated with Standard Process.  I’m just a big fan of the company and their commitment to quality, whole food supplements.

Here’s the one smoothie that is still on the menu EVERY NIGHT for the kids.  Even the picky salad-eating one.  We call it dessert!

PUMPKIN PIE “DESSERT” SMOOTHIE, makes 1 serving

1 1/2 cups Coconut Water (or water)

1/4 cup Coconut Milk

1 TB Flaxseed Oil

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/2 cup Canned Pumpkin

3 Ice Cubes

Stevia to taste

 

Blend and enjoy! Add more water or ice if needed to reach desired consistency. 

This smoothie is brimming with healthy body benefits!

Coconut Water is harvested from unripe coconuts.  It provides potassium which is a great electrolyte replacement.  This also means it is quite beneficial during a detox as it helps purify the blood.  As we detox, our cells are able to self clean and dump stored toxins into the bloodstream.  The sooner our bodies can eliminate those toxins, the better we feel.  Coconut Water is also said to relieve muscle tension, lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.

Coconut Milk contains a high concentration of lauric-acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that aids in improving cholesterol levels and overall heart health.  It is easily absorbed by the body and is also considered a fat-burning food!  Coconut milk can also help in managing diabetes and blood sugar control as digestion is improved and sugars are released into the bloodstream at a slower rate.

Flaxseed Oil aids in digestion, improves blood sugar control and responsiveness to insulin in diabetics, is widely used in natural cancer prevention and treatment plans, as well as increases collagen and reduces appearance of cellulite.  On top of all this, it is loaded with Omega-3’s which support a healthy heart, brain and mood.  It is also nice to have this as an alternative to Fish Oil in plant based diets and for those concerned about potential mercury intake.  Flaxseed does not contain EPA and DHA as fish oil does, but does contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).  In a healthy digestive system, ALA is converted to EPA and DHA, both of which are used in natural treatment of ADHD.

Pumpkin contains a high concentration of antioxidants, helping in cell turnover, has beta-carotene which is helpful for our eyes, and is high in fiber,

Let me know if you try this recipe!