Ask An LA Chef: Best Healthy Smoothie Recipe
Being healthy should be a fixture of your life these days. Luckily for you, we've tapped an expert in the area to help put together some recipes for smoothies that will have you tasting something great and being healthy at the same time.
www.lancecorralez.com
Perhaps one of the hardest working catering Chef's in Los Angeles, chef Lance Corralez has acquired quite the resume. Corralez offers his award-winning culinary skills to restaurants like Micky's and the Abbey in West Hollywood, Dukes Coffee Shop on the Sunset Strip, Barbarella Bar in Silverlake, Broadway Bar and Grill in Santa Monica and the famed Morton's restaurant. Corralez continues to dazzle and delight as a private Chef for shows like Community and Glee. Corralez was also the esteemed chef and the mastermind behind fourteen A-list celebrity packed Vanity Fair Academy Award parties.
Instead of grabbing a caffeinated drink or eat something loaded with sugar, Chef Corralez chooses to get his energy boost the natural way. Corralez has created a Green Drink series for his clients that do more than just rejuvenate but also have many health benefits. Whether it's weight loss, healthier skin or just a pick me up, these smoothies are good for the body and they taste very good.
Kale, celery and spinach are essential ingredients for any healthy smoothie as they have a lot of protein and fiber. These benefits will make you feel full while providing vitamins for your skin, hair and bones. Spinach is also a good source of iron and helps prevent cancer and lowers blood pressure while green apples are packed with vitamins for skin and hair. Additionally, kiwis are a great antioxidant and immune booster as well as parsley which supports healthy kidney function. Limes not only add a little flavor zing but also reduce respiratory, gums and urinary disorders.
- 1 Bunch kale
- ¼ bag spinach
- 1 kiwi
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 green apple
- 4 stalks celery
- 1 lime
Throw all items, skin and all, into a juicer and puree. Drink once a day.
Green Drink #2
Great for summer, this smoothie includes cucumbers which are known to hydrate and keep your body cool. It also flushes out toxins and has lots of skin and eye friendly vitamins and minerals as well as cancer fighting potential. Watercress add a peppery flavor and help reduce cholesterol, stabilize blood pressure and prevent other diseases. Lemons are extremely beneficial to a person's health. They have powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties and are a well known aid in fighting and preventing cancer. Ginger and cayenne are both great for the circulatory system while cayenne has anti-inflammatory agents that help wound and skin heal faster.
- 1 cucumber
- 4 stalks celery
- 1 bunch watercress
- 1 lemon
- 1 ounce ginger
- 1 tsp. cayenne
Throw all items, skin and all, into a juicer and puree. Drink once a day.
Green Drink #3
This incredible smoothie has all the healthy components but with the beets you get an energy boost. Beets are also a great detoxifier that help fight inflammation and lower blood pressure. Carrots are great for the eyes and skin. These orange gems also help prevent stroke and heart disease. By adding romaine lettuce to your smoothie you get a ton of omega-3s, protein, vitamins a & k and minerals. Romaine is also a great source for iron and calcium.
- 1 beet
- 2 carrot
- 1 bunch kale
- ¼ bag spinach
- 4 leaves romaine
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 cucumber
- 4 stalks celery
Throw all items, skin and all, into a juicer and puree. Drink once a day.
Related: Best Juice Bars In Los Angeles
Kristine G. Bottone is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
