Cucumber – Fennel Smoothie

The surprising health-booster and cancer-fighting smoothie

If you missed this on MindBodyGreen – here it is:

Cucumber is a little known superfood. High in phytonutrients, which are anti-oxidants, it is a diuretic and a kidney tonic, which helps against puffiness. You might normally use it on your eyes to make them shine more clearly, but those bags under your eyes belong to your kidneys.

Cucumbers are a highly anti-inflammatory, alkalizing, anti-cancer food and highly hydrating. They are high in plant lignans, which help the bacteria in our digestive tract, but what is really important is that they help bind and convert the hormones that cause estrogen-related cancers.

Fennel is another surprising superfood,  that is high in phytonutrients and help fight cancer in extraordinary ways. It is studied for its ability to shut down cancer signaling in cells. It is a super immune and health booster too, because of being anti-inflammatory and it also helps remove toxins from the colon.

Who would have known…? You thought you had to only eat kale right!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup each cucumber, fennel and apple
  • 1 1/2 cup coconut water (or 2 cups for a lighter smoothie) or just water
  • 1/2 avocado
  • Juice from 1/2 lime
  • Dash of sea-salt

Makes about 16 oz

Method:

Chop the cucumber, fennel (bulb) and apple, all with the skin on. Size of the chunks depend on your blender size. For the avocado, take the peel off and remove the stone. Put everything in a blender and squeeze in the lime-juice. Add a large dash of the sea-salt. It is not so you can taste the salt, it is only to bring out the taste of the smoothie.

If you want it cooler you can add an ice-cube or two instead of the water. If you use coconut water replace 1/2 cup of coconut water with ice-cubes or just chill everything before making the smoothie.

Enjoy this refreshing summer drink. If you make it a bit thicker by adding more avocado you can almost call it a summer soup.