Dandelion greens are a nutrient powerhouse and great base for a detox green smoothie. Cilantro, apples, celery, cucumber and avocados round out the health benefits of this morning elixir.

Anyone over-indulge recently?

When did the holidays became synonymous with overeating? I

'm not sure we can blame the pilgrims.

Instead of choosing not to eat until summer, how about we start with a detox smoothie to help digest where we are and make some positive steps forward.

Sure there's easy go-to's like kale and spinach to put into a green smoothie, but why not try something different like dandelion greens.

Dandelion greens have a higher amount of calcium and iron than most other greens. On top of that they’re loaded with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and is said to be a good cancer fighter.

Then there's that detoxing effect that we're after. These greens have been used as a liver tonic and diuretic for years, and adding in fresh cilantro only doubles the detoxification properties. 

Dandelion greens can be a little bitter, so I've thrown in some green apples for a little sweetness and another detox bonus since apples have pectin, a soluble fiber to help you remove unwanted waste.

Ginger is an anti-inflammatory addition and great for digestion.

Cucumber and celery increase the vitamin C and can help with unnecessary water retention. The avocado is there to boost the protein level and make you feel a bit more full after drinking it. You don’t want to need another breakfast after drinking this healthy detox smoothie.

So after indulging, try and reset with a healthy dandelion detox green smoothie to start to get your system back on track.

Dandelion Detox Green Smoothie
{Paleo, Whole30, Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free}

Makes 48 ounces

Ingredients

• Half bunch of dandelion greens, cleaned

• Half bunch of cilantro, cleaned and destemmed

• 2 celery stalks

• 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and roughly chopped

• 1 avocado, peeled and cored

• 1 small seedless cucumber

• 1" fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

• 1-1/2 cups filtered water or coconut water

• Juice of 1 lemon

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and mix until combined. Enjoy!

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