(Life-Health) – Everytime a long weekend, vacation, or big party is around the corner, we wish we looked better. After the event, we wish we had not eaten or drank as much. And there we go, walking fatigued, swearing we’d never overindulged ourselves.
How to regain strength and enthusiasm, and feel and look better?
We asked Manuel Villacorta, a nutritionist, book author, and someone who really knows how to feel and look better. And here what he says and recommends:
“It seems detoxes are everywhere lately, with people subsisting just on juice or tea or something similar in order to flush the “impurities” out of their cells. But how does that even work? To my knowledge, no one food or herb has ever been demonstrated to be able to detox the organs, and I am not aware of any research that has been able to identify the toxins.
“If we have functioning skin, liver and kidneys, we are detoxing every day. Even if a quick detox works for weight loss, the gains are short-term because you can’t stay on it forever. While you might lose weight, that’s only because you’re not getting enough calories. A detox might briefly make you feel better, because you haven’t eaten junk food for a few days, but does that really mean you’ve made long-term progress?
“Everyone does a green smoothie, and although green is a great color with many health benefits, we need to look at the other colors of fruits and vegetables for other nutrients.”
Red and Orange, that is!
Read and orange smoothies are full of different phytonutrients that help promote healthy skin, improved memory, eye health and much more, Villacorta says. “You may use this two day meal plan based on red and orange smoothies and snacks. I am sharing my recipes hoping you’ll get a better handle of your nutrition and health.”
But remember, this is so that you take actions. Long term, improved health requires healthy eating and healthy choices every day.
Meal Plan Day 1
Breakfast: 1 Red Reboot Smoothie
Morning Snack: 1 medium apple + 12 almonds
Lunch: 1 Red Reboot Smoothie
Afternoon Snack: 1 orange + 12 almonds
Dinner: 1 Red Reboot Smoothie
Note: If you are hungry, add ½ cup beans or ½ cup quinoa with tomatoes, cucumber, and spinach and lemon juice.
Meal Plan Day 2
Breakfast: 1 Orange Reboot Smoothie
Morning Snack: 1 medium apple + 12 almonds
Lunch: 1 Orange Reboot Smoothie
Afternoon Snack: 1 orange + 12 almonds
Dinner: 1 Orange Reboot Smoothie
Note: If you are hungry, add ½ cup beans or ½ cup quinoa with tomatoes, cucumber, and spinach and lemon juice.
…And here is how you make the smoothies!
Red Reboot Smoothie
Red represents energy, strength, power, and courage, according to color psychology. Red fruits and vegetables are rich in lycopene and anthocyanins, powerful phytochemicals that possess the characteristic red pigment. Lycopene and anthocyanins are linked to:
- Reduced risk of certain cancers
- Heart, lung, and urinary tract health
- Improved memory
- Ability to ward off infection
| Ingredients | 1 Serving |
| Strawberries, fresh or frozen | 1½ cups |
| Tomato | ½ cup |
| Cooked beets | ½ cup |
| Chia seeds | 1 tablespoon |
| Camu camu powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Cinnamon | ¼ teaspoon |
| Coconut water | 1 cup |
| Protein powder (rice, pea, or whey) | 20–25g protein |
Orange Reboot Smoothie
In color theory, orange represents enthusiasm, happiness, creativity, determination, and success. Orange fruits and vegetables are loaded with carotenoids and bioflavonoids that function as antioxidants. Orange foods are also associated with high levels of vitamin C. These phytonutrients help to:
- Maintain a healthy immune system
- Slow the aging process
- Lower the risk of heart disease
- Protect against cancer
- Improve and maintain eye health
| Ingredients | 1 Serving |
| Carrots, fresh, chopped | ½ cup |
| Orange, fresh, chopped | ⅓ of the fruit |
| Papaya, fresh, chopped | 1 cup |
| Coconut water | 1½ cups |
| Cinnamon, ground | ¼ teaspoon |
| Chia seeds | 1 tablespoon |
| Protein powder (rice, pea, or whey) | 20–25g protein |
Manuel Villacorta, MS, RD, is an author and founder of Whole Body Reboot, an international weight management and wellness online program. Recipes from the book Whole Body Reboot: The Peruvian Superfoods Diet.
Lupitanews.com 