Detoxifying a body isn’t a one-day process. It’s a commitment of eating the right foods while avoiding all the wrong ones. When it comes to loading up and moving out the toxins from the liver, it works in two phases, conveniently called Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification.

Phase 1 helps to liberate the toxins from your liver. Fantastic, but now you need to get those toxins out of your body. This is where Phase 2 comes in. When you eat foods that help to move this process along, toxins are eliminated from your body.

When I wrote The Belly Burn Plan, my goal was to help people reduce inflammation. After inflammation hits the road, it’s a lot easier to lose weight. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to lose much weight at all if you’re constantly struggling with inflammation. One way to reduce inflammation is to detoxify your body. The Belly Burn Plan starts with an effective 3-Day Detox. I highly recommend you pick up the book (or order it here) if you haven’t already. The results are pretty great.

The ingredients in this recipe kick start Phase 1 detoxification and finish off with Phase 2 detoxification….exactly what your body needs!

The potency of this smoothie is pretty spectacular. It’s the combination of blueberries, turmeric, green tea, honey and (get ready for it)…black pepper. Here is a breakdown on why they’re all much-needed.

Blueberries
In the berry world, blueberries rank highest in antioxidants. Organic blueberries actually fare much higher than their conventionally-produced counterparts. Other than helping to diminish the signs of aging, increase energy and decrease the risk of cancer, blueberries.

• Slow the effects of liver disease (1)
• Increase liver detoxification (2)
• Lower body fat stores (3)

TIP: Buy organic blueberries – fresh or frozen. One serving a day is all you need to reap the benefits. This smoothie is a great way to start.

Turmeric + Black Pepper
What’s not to love about turmeric? Add black pepper to the mix and you might be scratching your head. Black pepper contains a compound called piperine. When piperine is combined with curcumin, a compound in turmeric, benefits skyrocket. In fact, the bioavailability jumps by as much as 2000%! (4)

Here a just a few reasons you should add this duo to foods in your diet each and everyday.

• Helps kill cancer cells (5)
• Greatly reduces inflammation (6)
• Improves conditions associated with diabetes (7)

TIP: To get the benefit of turmeric and black pepper, add them to foods regularly, including homemade tea, omelets, roasted vegetables and soups.

Green Tea
Green tea is loaded with antioxidants called polyphenols. Even though I’m not a huge proponent of caffeine, green tea is usually the only exception. The caffeine content of green tea is significantly lower than that of black coffee, or even black tea.

• Helps improve cardiovascular health (8)
• Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes (9)
• Reduces inflammation (8)

TIP: If you’re sensitive to caffeine, or are trying to restrict caffeine from your diet, then substitute an organic decaffeinated green tea instead. That being said, green tea has significantly less caffeine than coffee. If you’re trying to cut out caffeine without the withdrawal headache, this smoothie could help you step down without any problem.

Blueberry Green Tea Detox Smoothie
Serves 1

1 cup water
1 cup blueberries
½ cup ice
1 inch fresh turmeric, peeled and sliced
1 bag green tea
1 tablespoon honey
Pinch of black pepper

1. Prepare tea. Boil one cup of water and add to a mug containing the sliced turmeric, bag of green tea and black pepper. Cover and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
2. Remove cover and place in refrigerator to cool.
3. After the tea has cooled, strain ingredients from the mug, then combine the liquid, blueberries, honey and ice in a blender.
4. Blend until smooth and enjoy.