Big news: I have a new favorite green smoothie.

And do you know what’s strange about that? It’s not my type.

Yes, I have a smoothie type: creamy thanks to avocado and purple from blueberries. But no avocado or berries here…

Instead, this smoothie is jam-packed with refreshing pineapple, green apple, cucumber, lime, and ginger (hence the name, Super Refreshing Green Smoothie). This combo is amazingly delicious, plus packed with free-radical fighting antioxidants and gut-loving enzymes.

Chia seeds add fiber, fat, and a bit of protein, helping to balance out the natural sugars by slowing glucose absorption into the bloodstream. Remember: this is key for preventing an insulin spike and subsequent blood sugar crash, which set the blood sugar roller coaster into motion. This spike and then crash in blood sugar levels are often behind “hanger”, that afternoon energy crash, and crazy sugar cravings — yep, no fun!

Related Post: 6 Simple Tips to Keep Blood Sugar Levels Steady

Let’s go back to the fiber really quickly. Just two tablespoons of chia seeds gives us a whopping 40% of the recommended daily value (RDV) of fiber, which is amazing since most of us do NOT get enough fiber in our diets. This is a shame considering:

1. Fiber keeps the gutty-works moving and grooving (i.e. regular)
2. Fiber is key for detoxification by since it makes sure the toxins the liver dumps into the stool are pushed out of the body in a timely manner (by keeping us regular) AND actually binds to some of the toxins and prevents them from being reabsorbed into the bloodstream (yes, this happens)
3. Fiber is key for blood sugar control (again, by slowing glucose absorption and so preventing a dramatic insulin spike)

(OK I lied! That wasn’t really quick.)

And of course, there’s a healthy serving of greens in here (wouldn’t be a green smoothie without the greens!). As always, I like to use frozen greens since they don’t have much of a taste at all and so can let those other yummy ingredients really SHINE.

Super Refreshing Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 small/medium green apple, cored and sliced
• 1 Persian cucumber OR 1/3 medium cucumber, sliced
• 1 lime
• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach OR kale*
• 4 chunks frozen pineapple*
• 2 tbs chia seeds
• 1 cup water

*If using fresh rather than frozen ingredients, you may also want to add some ice. I like to use frozen ingredients since 1) they’re often cheaper than their fresh counterparts, 2) they’re conveniently already prepared for you, and 3) studies have found that they’re just as or even more nutritious than their fresh counterparts since they’re typically flash-frozen just after being harvested, when the nutrients are most abundant.

Directions:

• Juice the lime directly into your blender.
• Add all other ingredients (green apple, cucumber, peeled ginger, frozen chopped greens, frozen pineapple, chia seeds, and water) to the blender.
• Blend on high for 30-60 seconds, or until consistent and smooth.
• Serve and enjoy!

Note: The smoothie will thicken after a few minutes thanks to the chia seeds and their amazing ability to gel (fun fact: chia seeds can hold up to 12 times their weight in water!). If it’s too thick for your liking, stir in a bit of water and be sure to add 1/4-1/2 cup more water next time you make the smoothie!