Smoothie Kick: The best spring detox with bitter substances

Few people dislike sweets. While sweets may not satisfy hunger, they are delicious and make you want more. There's a reason for this: our ancestors already knew that something that tastes sweet isn't poisonous.

Bitterness, on the other hand, warns us that a food may be inedible or spoiled. Nevertheless, moderate bitterness is healthy. By consuming bitter foods, we absorb the beneficial components of bitter substances.

What are bitter substances? And why are they important?

Bitter fruits and vegetables are an important source of vitamins , trace elements , fiber , and antioxidants . All of this helps keep our diet healthy and balanced. There are several reasons why it's good to incorporate bitter herbs and foods into your diet.

Researchers who have studied the bitter compounds found in plants have made a strong case for taking medicinal bitterness for digestive health as well as for many other health benefits.

If you're one of those people who like this flavor, consider yourself lucky. We'll explain why in the following lines.

Why do we taste bitter?

The significance of bitter taste is reflected in the comprehensive and complex way our body recognizes bitter substances. The bitter taste we taste is just the beginning.

Most scientists agree that our ability to detect bitter flavors is a defense mechanism against toxic substances.

In nature, bitter and sour tastes are often associated with harmful plants and fruits. But many of the healthy foods we consume contain different flavor profiles, including bitterness. So the defensive perception of bitter receptors is only part of the story.

Bitter taste receptors

You may remember the diagram of receptors on the tongue from school. But when it comes to bitter taste, the idea that specific areas of the tongue correspond to specific flavors is outdated. We now know that our ability to sense taste is much more complex.

Researchers have discovered that natural receptors for bitter taste are found throughout the digestive tract. Research into bitter taste and our receptors' response to bitterness is expanding our knowledge of how bitter foods affect digestion. Indeed, the benefits of bitter digestive substances seem to be just the beginning of a long list of how they interact with our bodies.

Wolfgang Meirhoff's research at the German Institute of Human Nutrition has significantly changed our understanding of the function of our bitter taste receptors. His work has shown that these unique taste receptors, called TAS2R or T2R, can detect over 100 different bitter taste profiles.

These bitter receptors mediate various activities in the nervous, vascular, and endocrine (hormonal) systems. This means that the bitter substances we ingest—whether from the food we eat or from toxic substances—trigger reactions through our nervous system and circulatory system. The unique nature of these receptors also means that bitter substances can influence how and when certain hormones are released.

Bitterness isn't always harmful, and some bitter substances have positive health effects. Here are three of the most important benefits of bitter substances:

• Bitter substances stimulate bile secretion, which is responsible for the further excretion of toxic substances from the body.
• They also improve the production of stomach acid, which speeds up digestion.
• Bitterness can create a feeling of satiety that prevents overeating.

But let's focus on the first benefit that bitter substances offer us: the elimination of toxic substances from the body, or detoxification.

What does detox mean?

Detoxification means cleansing the body of toxic or unnecessary substances. A healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetable juices, relaxation exercises, and baths should collect and eliminate harmful substances and toxins through the excretory organs (liver, kidneys, intestines, and skin).

Today, our bodies absorb so many toxins and pollutants that they can no longer be completely eliminated without ingredients that promote and accelerate the cleansing process. In addition to an unhealthy diet full of additives, we consume harmful fats, sugar, nicotine, alcohol, environmental toxins, and even stress every day.

Various detoxification methods have been developed to remove toxins and cleanse the skin, lymphatic system, intestines, and internal organs.

How does detoxification treatment work?

A detox treatment begins with a bowel movement. This is followed by days of juice drinking, during which, in addition to plenty of water and herbal tea, only fruit and vegetable juices are consumed to stimulate metabolism and digestion. In the following days, it is recommended to consume high-fiber foods consisting exclusively of fruits and vegetables or raw vegetable juices.

As with traditional fasting, solid foods are gradually reintroduced. All of this can be accompanied by treatments such as massages and baths to stimulate detoxification. Saunas, yoga, and long walks in the fresh air also enhance the detoxifying effect. There are no fixed guidelines for the duration and frequency of detox treatments. Some people detox regularly at least once a week, others once a month, and even less frequently.

It's time for spring cleaning!

After a long winter of less activity and less consumption of nutritious foods, it's recommended to do a thorough "spring cleaning." With the following recipes, we'll help you simply press "reboot" to activate your energy.

Detox smoothies are designed to detoxify the body and relieve and eliminate bloating and constipation. These five meals can be consumed in one day, and then you can return to your normal diet. You can drink it whenever you have digestive issues. You can also choose one day a month to cleanse your body from the inside out.

5 BEST SPRING SMOOTHIES FOR DETOX

1. "Orange" Smoothie Ingredients:

• 3 carrots
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 cucumber
• 1 green apple
• ½ lemon
• 1 tablespoon of omega-3 oils

This smoothie improves your liver function and thus contributes to maintaining your health. 2. Avocado, Kiwi, and Celery Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• 1 kiwi
• 1 piece of celery
• 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
• a handful of fresh mint leaves
• freshly ground pepper
• a little sea salt
• 1 tablespoon of Omega-3 oil

Chop the fruits and vegetables into small pieces before adding them to the blender. Blend them together with the seeds, mint, and spices.

Avocado is rich in antioxidants and vitamins E and C. The phytonutrients in kiwi help protect DNA, scavenge free radicals, and improve cardiovascular health. Celery protects against various intestinal inflammations, while mint, a source of magnesium, iron, and calcium, supports the digestive system.

3. Green Super Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 handfuls of spinach
• 1 teaspoon of spirulina
• 1 teaspoon wheatgrass powder
• Half a cucumber
• 1 teaspoon of matcha tea
• 1 teaspoon acai berry
• ½ fresh lemon
• A teaspoon of honey
• Water

Slice the lemon and add the other ingredients. Then blend everything together. The perfect smoothie for cleansing the body, packed with vitamins and minerals.

4. Green banana breakfast with dandelion leaves

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped young spinach leaves
• A handful of young dandelion leaves
• 1 banana
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 3/4 cup ice
• 2 teaspoons honey

Place in a blender and chop until completely finely ground.

5. Green chard shake A chard shake will keep you full and is easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

• A handful of fresh chard
• A handful of arugula
• 2 fresh green apples
• 1 tablespoon mixed seeds
• Saka walnut
• 2 cups water or almond milk
• 1 tablespoon of Omega-3 oil

Cut the chard in half, leaving only the soft parts. Place everything in a blender and blend.

Chlorophyll , which gives chard its beautiful green color, promotes the excretion of heavy metals from the body through urine. Through the blood, chlorophyll supplies tissues with oxygen and facilitates the elimination of toxins through respiration.

Spring detox is your chance to wake up and rejuvenate your body for the new season. So let's get to work, start anew, and cleanse your body and life in spring. Make the choice to be radiant and healthy. We've got the perfect smoothies for you.

Pictures:

liza54500/shutterstock - 406506031

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Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist from Pexels

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