When it’s that time of the month, you’re always offered an opportunity to re-connect with your body, and to be allowing of time to rest in stillness and also be gentle with yourself. It is an excellent time to sit in quiet meditation, practice a gentle yoga flow and nourish your body with nutritious foods. It’s not uncommon to experience belly cramps and aching lower backs as your body sheds, but rather than turning to pain medication, it’s worth looking into a more natural approach. That’s because plants can be incredibly healing to the body.
This beet smoothie works with your body’s inner processes, rather than masking symptoms simply at surface level. If you dread that time of the month, due to the unpleasant PMS symptoms, then you may want to give this smoothie a go!
In Ayurvedic Medicine, the menstrual cycle is considered a blessing, as it helps to cleanse the body of toxins. Ashwagandha is a powerful herb used frequently to improve the central nervous system and control stress levels. Stress is known to delay periods which leads to the frustration of irregular periods.
When your body naturally wants to commence a cycle, but your stress levels are preventing the onset, it can result in unpleasant headaches, breast tenderness and often heavier flow. Ashwagandha is good for improving energy levels and combatting fatigue, which as you know can be a little tainted around menstruation time!
Giving your body the love it deserves, by way of nutrient dense foods is one way to relieve your PMS symptoms. Beetroot is known to reduce water retention, which is often the cause of menstrual bloating. Much like ashwagandha, beetroot also helps to balance out hormones, in particular by reducing excess levels of estrogen. Beetroot is a great source of B vitamins, which have been shown, in studies, to decrease PMS symptoms. Beetroot is also an excellent source of folate, manganese and potassium.
In my journey of dealing with hormone imbalance, I discovered that hemp powder is one great ingredient to include in my daily diet. Hemp powder contains both vitamin D and calcium, which together have been shown to reduce PMS symptoms. It is also the presence of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that proves hemp powder to be effective in alleviating your symptoms.
The nutrients in my beet smoothie make a great job with supporting your body cells’ needs throughout the winter when fresh food is present in smaller quantities.
Beet Smoothie To Reduce PMS
Ingredients
- 1 small beet peeled and cut into small cubes
- 1 cup blueberries or raspberries fresh or frozen
- Handful spinach leaves
- 1 banana peeled
- 1 tsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tsp ashwagandha powder
- 2 tsp hemp powder
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients to obtain a creamy liquid.
- Drink straight away.
Notes
Is the beet raw or cooked? Thanks! Can’t wait to try the recipe.