ANTIOXIDANT SMOOTHIES
B efore you can understand how important antioxidants are to your body, you first need to
understand what they do. In a nutshell, they do exactly what their name implies: they prevent
oxidization in your body caused by free radicals. Free radicals are cells that have lost an electron and
become unstable. In an attempt to become stable again, they steal electrons from healthy cells,
thus creating another free radical.
Healthy molecules don’t usually lose their electrons, but sometimes it happens to weak
molecules during respiration or other bodily functions. Sometimes your body has these to attach to
harmful bacteria and other pathogens in an attempt to neutralize them and carry them from your
body. Finally, free radicals can be created by contact with environmental toxins such as pollution,
UVA rays, cigarettes, and pesticides.
The very least free radicals will do is make your skin and hair dull and start the outward signs of
aging, such as wrinkles and sun spots. In more dire scenarios, they can cause heart disease, cancer,
and eventual death. Antioxidants are the happy little nutrients that bounce around sharing their
electrons with free radicals, and therefore neutralizing them. Since they are stable in either form,
there is no danger of the antioxidant becoming a free radical itself.
All fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, but watch especially for ones rich in the
antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. If you’re ready to start blending up some smoothies that will help
you get bright skin and beautiful hair while fighting off wrinkles and disease, then read on!
Antioxidant Ale xxx
This is a great juice to start off your day. It’s rich in antioxidants and contains fruit that will give you that
nice energy pop.
• 1/2 sweet potato• 4 strawberries, capped
• 1/2 cup raspberries• 1/2 cucumber, quartered
• 1/2 cup orange, peeled • 4 mint sprigs (optional)
Cut the sweet potato into 1-inch chunks.
Add all ingredients and blend. The antioxidant punch in this juice is absolutely out of this world, and
the flavor is truly yummy!
Yield: About 2 cups.
The Dish on Sweet Potatoes
The Good: Sweet potatoes are high in antioxidant vitamins C and E, and the cancer-fighting,
vision-preserving carotenoid, beta-carotene. They’re also a good source of fiber, manganese,
potassium, and B6, which makes them extremely good for your heart.
The Bad: Many of the nutrients in sweet potatoes are concentrated in the skin, so don’t peel
them. To avoid pesticides, be sure to scrub them extremely well. Of course, organic is best.
SuperShake xxx
Speaking of antioxidants, this smoothie is a powerhouse of anti-aging, disease-fighting superstars. If you
want to tone it down a bit, toss in a couple of tomatoes or cucumbers.
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 carrot
• 1/4 head cabbage
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 kale leaf
• 1 cup water
• 1 beet
Add all ingredients and blend. If you’d like, add a pinch or two of sea salt for flavor and a mineral
boost, or perhaps cayenne for the extra antioxidant pop from the capsaicin.
Yield: About 3 cups.
Thanksgiving in a Glass xxx
Though this tastes so good you won’t believe it’s good for you, rest assured that it is! The spices are
amazing antioxidants, and the squash and pumpkin contain all the vitamins necessary for disease
prevention. It’s also advantageous for your eyes, so drink up!
• 1 apple, cored and quartered
• 1 cup pumpkin
• 1 small cucumber, quartered
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Add the produce to your blender in the order listed. When blended, add the spices to your glass,
stir, and enjoy!
Yield: About 2 cups.
B efore you can understand how important antioxidants are to your body, you first need to
understand what they do. In a nutshell, they do exactly what their name implies: they prevent
oxidization in your body caused by free radicals. Free radicals are cells that have lost an electron and
become unstable. In an attempt to become stable again, they steal electrons from healthy cells,
thus creating another free radical.
Healthy molecules don’t usually lose their electrons, but sometimes it happens to weak
molecules during respiration or other bodily functions. Sometimes your body has these to attach to
harmful bacteria and other pathogens in an attempt to neutralize them and carry them from your
body. Finally, free radicals can be created by contact with environmental toxins such as pollution,
UVA rays, cigarettes, and pesticides.
The very least free radicals will do is make your skin and hair dull and start the outward signs of
aging, such as wrinkles and sun spots. In more dire scenarios, they can cause heart disease, cancer,
and eventual death. Antioxidants are the happy little nutrients that bounce around sharing their
electrons with free radicals, and therefore neutralizing them. Since they are stable in either form,
there is no danger of the antioxidant becoming a free radical itself.
All fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, but watch especially for ones rich in the
antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. If you’re ready to start blending up some smoothies that will help
you get bright skin and beautiful hair while fighting off wrinkles and disease, then read on!
Antioxidant Ale xxx
This is a great juice to start off your day. It’s rich in antioxidants and contains fruit that will give you that
nice energy pop.
• 1/2 sweet potato• 4 strawberries, capped
• 1/2 cup raspberries• 1/2 cucumber, quartered
• 1/2 cup orange, peeled • 4 mint sprigs (optional)
Cut the sweet potato into 1-inch chunks.
Add all ingredients and blend. The antioxidant punch in this juice is absolutely out of this world, and
the flavor is truly yummy!
Yield: About 2 cups.
The Dish on Sweet Potatoes
The Good: Sweet potatoes are high in antioxidant vitamins C and E, and the cancer-fighting,
vision-preserving carotenoid, beta-carotene. They’re also a good source of fiber, manganese,
potassium, and B6, which makes them extremely good for your heart.
The Bad: Many of the nutrients in sweet potatoes are concentrated in the skin, so don’t peel
them. To avoid pesticides, be sure to scrub them extremely well. Of course, organic is best.
SuperShake xxx
Speaking of antioxidants, this smoothie is a powerhouse of anti-aging, disease-fighting superstars. If you
want to tone it down a bit, toss in a couple of tomatoes or cucumbers.
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 carrot
• 1/4 head cabbage
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 kale leaf
• 1 cup water
• 1 beet
Add all ingredients and blend. If you’d like, add a pinch or two of sea salt for flavor and a mineral
boost, or perhaps cayenne for the extra antioxidant pop from the capsaicin.
Yield: About 3 cups.
Thanksgiving in a Glass xxx
Though this tastes so good you won’t believe it’s good for you, rest assured that it is! The spices are
amazing antioxidants, and the squash and pumpkin contain all the vitamins necessary for disease
prevention. It’s also advantageous for your eyes, so drink up!
• 1 apple, cored and quartered
• 1 cup pumpkin
• 1 small cucumber, quartered
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Add the produce to your blender in the order listed. When blended, add the spices to your glass,
stir, and enjoy!
Yield: About 2 cups.