From breaking down food and absorbing nutrients to enhancing immune function and energy production, the gastrointestinal tract plays a large role in your overall health. Maintaining a healthy digestive system benefits both your mental and physical well-being. There are many ways to encourage optimal digestive function, but one of the easiest ways is to add smoothies to your daily routine. 

When you make smoothies a part of your daily regimen, you can help support regularity, improve nutrient absorption, and decrease bloating and digestive discomfort. Just because you drink a smoothie, that doesn’t give you an excuse to eat whatever the rest of the day. A large cup of nutrient-dense ingredients will not cancel out a calorically-dense, sodium-rich fast food meal. 

Set yourself up for a bloat-free day by starting your day with any of the smoothies detailed in this article. As a quick note, not all of these smoothies are cleanse-approved. The reason for this is because some of the ingredients, such as oats and yogurt, offer pre- and probiotics that some raw vegan ingredients do not. If you make one or more of these smoothies and experience better digestive function, let us know in the comments. 

Pineapple Ginger Green Smoothie

This is a refreshing green smoothie that tastes like a little slice of tropical paradise. Many of the ingredients in this smoothie contain compounds that help reduce inflammation and calm the stomach. Ginger, for example, exhibits natural soothing properties, while spinach offers iron, magnesium, protein, folate, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Pineapple adds some sweetness, along with bromelain, a digestive enzyme that helps break down proteins. That makes this blend of ingredients perfect for soothing the digestive tract. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup spinach
• 1/2 cup pineapple, cubed
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. 
• Pour into two large cups and enjoy immediately. 

Pear Cardamom Oat Smoothie

Talk about fall in a cup! Pears are not only seasonal fall fruits, but they are also excellent sources of fiber (both soluble and insoluble) and sorbitol and fructose, two sugars that stimulate digestion. Both soluble and insoluble fiber help maintain bowel regularity by softening stool to make it easier to pass. Oats also contain fiber, protein, and complex carbs. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pear, cubed
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 teaspoons agave nectar
• 1/2 cup ice
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add a little more almond milk or water to thin it.
• Pour into a large cup and enjoy immediately. 

Cucumber Mint Probiotic Smoothie

Ideal for warmer days, this smoothie is as cool and hydrating as it is beneficial for the digestive tract. Mint, just like ginger, works to soothe the digestive system, while yogurt provides essential probiotics to help maintain healthy gut flora. It is a refreshing smoothie choice for anyone looking to boost digestive function. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cucumber, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup mint leaves
• 1/2 banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar
• 1/2 cup water

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
• Pour into a large cup and enjoy immediately. 

Avocado Banana Yogurt Smoothie

Is this a smoothie or a milkshake? We’ll leave that for your taste buds to decide! This ultra creamy smoothie is rich in healthy fats and probiotics. Studies show that avocado works to soothe the digestive tract, while Greek yogurt supplies the gut with beneficial bacteria. Both the ground flaxseed and cinnamon add fiber and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help relieve bloating. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1 small banana, peeled and sliced
• 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
• Dash of cinnamon

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If you want, you can freeze the banana prior to blending to make the smoothie extra creamy.
• Pour into two large cups and enjoy immediately. 

Creamy Paleo Green Smoothie

Silky smooth and undeniably delicious, this creamy green smoothie is naturally rich in chlorophyll, fiber, iron, and vitamins C, K, and so much more. It contains flaxseed and avocado, both of which provide omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit brain and heart health. Ground flaxseed also helps to regulate bowel movements and improve energy levels, due to the presence of lignans. Just remember that a little flaxseed goes a long way. 

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/2 banana, peeled, sliced, and frozen overnight
• 1/2 tablespoon ground flaxseed
• 1/2 Medjool date, pitted

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. 
• Pour into a large cup and enjoy immediately. 

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A smoothie is one of the easiest things to make if you are trying to be a healthier person. Throw a bunch of ingredients into a blender, flip the switch, blend until smooth, and then enjoy. It takes all of five or so minutes for it to come together, especially if you are quick at prepping ingredients. Plus, you can load them with vegetables, fruits, nut butters, plant-based milks, and more in order to pack the smoothie with as many nutrients as possible. There is truly no better feeling than knowing you have a belly full of amzing nutritious ingredients!

This mango kale smoothie only contains four ingredients. Because it is packed with fiber, protein, omega-3s, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and complex carbs, it makes for a great breakfast. It is perfect whether you are raw vegan, Paleo, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, or literally any person with any diet. You cannot go wrong by drinking this smoothie! Just make sure that you remove the ribs from the kale before adding them to the blender. The ribs, or thick central stems, are very bitter and fibrous, so your smoothie will have an off-putting flavor if you include them. You also need to blend on high to ensure you don’t have any kale pieces floating around in your smoothie.

Now, if you are not a mango person, you can replace the mango with a banana. You can replace the kale with spinach if you do not enjoy kale. Consider adding a tablespoon of chia seeds or hemp seeds for a boost of protein and healthy fats. Those are all optional choices, as the smoothie is delicious as is. Whatever you do, just enjoy being healthy!

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When the sun is shining, you need a refreshing beverage, in addition to your water of course. You need to have water on you all day during these hot summer days, but you can enhance your hydration efforts, while delivering some much needed nutrients and electrolytes to your body, with this peach mango agua fresca. What is an agua fresca, you ask? The literal translation means “fresh water,” and it is a light, non-alcoholic beverage popular in Mexico and Central America.

Traditionally, an agua fresca blends fresh fruit with water and some sort of sweetener, typically a lot of sugar, and maybe a hint of lime juice, depending on the recipe. What separates this agua fresca recipe from the others is that it does not contain an entire bucket of sugar. The natural sweetness from the peaches is all you need, but you can add the optional agave nectar if the beverage is not sweet enough for your liking. You may also prefer the agave nectar if the lime you use has a little extra zing or zest to it, meaning it is tarter than you expect.

Unlike other juicing recipes, this one does not require a juicer. Blend everything together in a blender until it is very smooth and you no longer see any bits of peach or ginger. To serve, you have to pour the mixture through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag to avoid taking large gulps of peachy ginger pulp.

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Longer days and warmer weather can mean only one thing: cooling, sweet treats become quite heavenly. The cold is a beautiful welcome from the intense dry or humid heat, depending on where you live. The combo of chili, lime, and mango brings those summer sensations together in one cooling and delicious treat. Your taste buds get hit with a subtle heat from the chili powder, while those citrusy bits of energetic lime zest remain with you as the sweet and tropical mango coats the tongue. To create a luxurious texture and creamy undertone, you have the nutty, homemade almond milk.

There are many reasons to love this recipe, one of them being the fact that this only contains five ingredients. Unlike a mango sorbet from the grocery store, this recipe does not contain copious amounts of sugar per serving. The sweetness primarily comes from the mango, which you cube and freeze overnight prior to making this recipe. Because the lime juice and zest bring a tangy acidity and the chili brings spice, we added a touch of maple syrup. You can start with a little less maple syrup and increase the amount from there.

In order to create a more pleasant eating experience, make sure that you blend everything until smooth and creamy. You don’t want any frozen mango chunks in the sorbet! Using a high-speed blender is a possibility, but you may have an easier time creating a smooth and creamy consistency. Whichever kitchen appliance you use to make the sorbet, make sure that you scrape down the sides of the processor/blender to fully incorporate all the ingredients. When ready to serve, feel free to dust with some chili powder or add a squeeze of lime.

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Quick, easy, delectable, and perfect for summer, this sweet peach dressing is going to blow your taste buds away. With only five ingredients (olive oil, lemon juice, fresh peach, agave nectar, and sea salt), it is essentially summery goodness in a jar. We give it a rave review, but your palate will ultimately be the deciding judge. Can this dressing make it to the top of your summer dressings list? You’ll just have to make it and find out, but hurry before peaches are out of season!

Making a summer salad? This is the dressing you’ve been looking for. It also differs from other dressings, in that most do not blend fresh seasonal fruit into them. Because it contains fresh peach, the lifespan is not nearly as long as a store bought dressing. In fact, you have to use this dressing within three days of making it, and that’s even when you store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Because the dressing has fresh lemon juice, you want to use a peach that is ripe. Riper peaches offer a sweeter flavor, which balances the acidic nature of the lemon.

Once you prepare the ingredients, add all of them to a blender and blend until smooth. Ideally, peel the peach, as this will make for a more pleasant eating experience. You don’t have to peel the peach if that is too much work. Instead, you can blend the unpeeled peach cubes with the rest of the ingredients and strain the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve. That will get rid of any red peel flakes in the dressing.

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Do you ever want to grab all of the gummy, colorful snacks that are marketed for children and eat them for yourself? Well, we cannot blame you, but you also do not need all of those artificial dyes, preservatives, and other processed ingredients. What if we told you that you could make similar fruit roll-ups to the ones you enjoyed as a child? In fact, you can make healthier versions of those without the added sugars, preservatives, and artificial ingredients!

How To Make Fruit Leather

Maybe you have some extra produce that you need to use up, or perhaps you need a healthy snack to satisfy your sweet tooth. Are you a parent that just wants your kids to enjoy healthy snacks? If any of those things apply to you, fruit leather is the answer. It is very easy to make and you can get creative with the flavors. Although a dehydrator is preferable to make fruit leather, you can also use your oven on the lowest setting. Just keep in mind that most ovens do not go as low as 115 degrees F, which is the temp at which dehydration is acceptable for raw vegans. Anything above that temperature renders the recipe cooked and no longer raw vegan. 

Let’s Get Down To The Basics

The only ingredients that you need to make your own fruit leather are ripe fruit and potentially fruit juice. Let’s go over the steps that you’ll need to take:

• Prep your fruit: Make sure that you wash your fruit, even the ones that you are going to peel. Peel any fruit with a skin and pit anything that has a central seed. Core any fruit with a large core and boil down anything that is very hard; your blender will do the rest of the work.
• Sweeteners: There is no need for added sweeteners for most fruit leather recipes. If you feel that the fruit is too tart on its own, you can add some pure maple syrup or raw agave nectar. Add one tablespoon at a time to the blender and taste until it is to your liking. Naturally sweeter fruits like apples and bananas can also be used to sweeten fruit leather. 
• Gather your tools: You will need a blender, parchment paper or silicone sheets, baking trays (for the oven method), dehydrator sheets for dehydrating, and scissors or a pizza cutter to cut the finished product into strips. 
• Preservation: You want the fruit leather to last, especially if you make a large batch. You can roll the fruit leather up and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two months. Store in the freezer for even longer by rolling the fruit leather in the parchment paper and keep in a sealed freezer bag. 

Success Tips

If you want your fruit leather to remain a lighter color that is similar to the color of the fruit, you can add fresh lemon juice while blending your fruit. This is a great step if you want to use lighter-colored fruit leathers that contain mango, guava, pineapple, peaches, or apples. Thicken your fruit mixture by adding banana or thin it out by adding a little water or fresh fruit juice. If using harder fruits, such as apples, consider boiling them first before adding them to the blender with your other ingredients. 

After you blend your mixture, spread the mixture on the baking sheet or dehydrator tray until it is about 1/8-1/4-inch thick. If you can see parchment paper through the puree, it is too thin. A good rule of thumb is to spread from the inside to the outside of the tray. The outside will cook quicker than the inside, so that spreading method will help you achieve an even layer. Ideally, use the back of a silicone spatula or spoon to achieve this thin, flat layer. 

When Is It Ready? 

The fruit leather is ready when it isn’t sticky and doesn’t indent when you press on it. It should not have the original shine it did when you put it in the oven or dehydrator. Once the fruit leather is fully dehydrated, it is very easy to peel off the parchment paper and you can easily cut it into strips, especially if parchment paper is underneath. Before you store the fruit leather, make sure it is completely dry to prevent condensation from accumulating in the container. Continue reading for a couple fruit leather recipes. 

Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather

Get your snack on…raw vegan style! With these apple cinnamon fruit leather strips, you get the flavor and nutrition that you don’t get from packaged fruit leathers. Embrace the great combination of apples, cinnamon, and pears!

Click here to make the recipe. 

Mango Fruit Roll-Ups

Looking for a healthy snack to pack in your or your child’s lunch? This is super easy, healthy, affordable, and did we mention easy? Try it today!

Click here to make the recipe.

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Ready your spoon because you’re about to dive into the refreshing world of a vibrant cucumber basil gazpacho. It’s the perfect warm weather appetizer that is every bit as crisp as it is cool. Each spoonful is a delightful experience for your palate, as it contains cucumbers, fragrant basil leaves, green onions, avocado, and a handful of seasonings. This gazpacho embodies the essence of late spring and summer in every bite. It is truly a celebration of raw vegan cuisine without a single processed ingredient in sight. Keeping your produce raw means that each item retains its natural enzymes and nutrients, offering a boost of health in every bite. The silky texture and zesty flavor make it a great appetizer or light meal, especially when temperatures rise.

The cucumber provides a hydrating crispness, while the basil adds a fragrant, herbaceous punch that elevates the entire gazpacho. The fresh garlic and briny flavor of apple cider vinegar help bring the flavors together in a harmonious symphony. Additionally, the avocado gives this gazpacho a luxuriously creamy texture, making each bite more irresistibly nourishing and flavorful than the last.

If you are seeking a guilt-free indulgence, this cucumber basil gazpacho is as easy to prepare as it is to enjoy. Add all of your ingredients to a blender, blend until smooth, and then serve immediately. No heat required! You can whip it up in a pinch or throw it together when you are extremely hungry. Whether you serve it as an appetizer at your next dinner party or a refreshing snack on a hot day, this gazpacho will not disappoint. Embrace the cool, green goodness and allow your taste buds to revel in the raw revolution!

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This raw vegan ricotta is a cashew lover’s dream. Made with rich and creamy cashews, this vegan cheese makes for the perfect spread or topping for a raw zoodle entree. Have a cashew allergy or just dislike them? You can replace them with raw almonds, but make sure to use slivered almonds, as whole almonds don’t yield as creamy a consistency. Cashews are commonly used to make vegan and raw vegan cheeses, which is why we decided to use them. Just make sure to soak them for an hour or two prior to blending. That will soften them and allow for easier blending.

For this recipe, we highly recommend using a food processor, as a blender may not be able to do the job effectively. Because this is ricotta cheese, you want the blended mixture to retain some texture. For this reason, keep an eye on the ingredients during while you blend them. If you end up with a super creamy spread, don’t think that you have wasted ingredients. You can still enjoy the spread, which will be more of a creamy sauce. Ricotta cheese tends to have some curds, giving it a lumpy texture. To get a similar texture with cashews, blend for 30 seconds at a time. Scrape down the sides of the processor each time and repeat until you achieve a texture that appeases you.

Finally, if you feel the need to add a little pizzazz to this cashew ricotta, you can do so with the following measurements:

• Fresh chopped herbs: Add 1/3 cup of cilantro, dill, or basil
• Pepper: Add one teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes for spice
• Fresh chopped garlic: Add one or two cloves of minced garlic

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You don’t have to go out and buy an ice cream machine or churner in order to enjoy homemade ice cream. As long as you have a blender or food processor and a freezer-safe container, you can enjoy a guilt-free dessert such as this recipe. Sure, peanut butter and chocolate ice cream is highly popular, but not everyone is a fan. Some people are also allergic to peanuts, so having an almond butter ice cream is the next best (and safest) option, provided there are no additional nut allergies.

A nut butter ice cream is such a simple concept, but packs a lot of flavor. Nut butters are naturally creamy and thick, so they help make the raw vegan ice cream a little creamier, acting similarly to frozen bananas. The dates in this recipe also help thicken the ice cream, but make sure that you soak them for one to two hours prior to blending them with the rest of the ingredients. The soaking process helps soften them, making the job a little easier on your blender. If you plan to use a food processor or have a VitaMix, you don’t have to soak your dates for longer than 15-30 minutes.

The almond butter primarily flavors this ice cream, and the flavor may change depending on the almond butter you use. Your choices are limited for almond butter since you have to use raw almond butter while cleansing. That said, different brands typically taste different. No matter which raw almond butter you use, one thing is for certain: this raw ice cream is absolutely delicious and creamy. We hope you love it as much as we do. How could you not? It’s a great source of healthy fats, protein, omega-3s, magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals.

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If we can agree on one thing, it’s that we promote the consumption of flavor-packed recipes. A romesco sauce is exactly that: a concentrated, flavorful sauce that has a variety of uses in the kitchen. Consider pesto, for example, which goes great with a variety of ingredients and can function as a sauce or dip. Romesco is similar, in that it is what we like to call: a power condiment. 

Romesco is an institution in the Catalonian region of Spain, containing many of the region’s signature flavors. There are most likely numerous variations of this sauce, but they all usually contain tomatoes, garlic, almonds, red peppers, toast bread, smoked paprika, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Some people use it to sauce fish, while others like to use it with vegetables. For the sake of the raw vegan diet, we’ve modified the classic romesco sauce and paired it with raw zucchini noodles. 

The great part about this recipe is that it couldn’t be easier to make. As with pesto, you can use a food processor or blender to make this romesco sauce. Alternatively, you can go the old school route and make it in a mortar and pestle. Just keep in mind that going that old school route will result in a more textured sauce, but some argue that it is more flavorful. We’ll leave it up to you to prepare and decide!

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