4 Delicious Smoothie Recipes That Can Help You Shed Pounds Fast

Not long ago, natural health guru JJ Smith debuted a very special pumpkin spice smoothie on The Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Oz took one swig and raved, “It’s like you’re having pumpkin pie!” More than just delicious, the recipe is loaded with ingredients that “boost your thyroid speed and combat weight gain,” he noted. His comments kicked off an internet frenzy, and women across the country began test-driving the drink. To date, devotees have sipped off as much as a dress size in five days. “Even if you’re not a pumpkin spice fan,” Smith promises, “there are seasonal ingredients you’ll love that can do great things for your thyroid and waist.”

Smoothies helped Martha lose 62 pounds!

For years, picky eater Martha McNair mostly ate chips, candy and fast food. She tried to cut calories, but her weight crept up, as did her blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Then her thyroid fizzled out. Hesitant to take meds, Martha looked for natural remedies and found JJ Smith’s smoothies. “It was the first healthy food that ever looked good to me,” recalls the North Carolina realtor, 57. Once or twice a day, she blended ingredients like spinach, berries, flax and pumpkin into “creamy and delicious” drinks. At other sittings, she stuck to simple fare like eggs, chicken and salad.

Her metabolism began humming. Down more than a pound a day, she had energy to add exercise. “Now, the doctor says I don’t need meds for my thyroid or anything else,” says Martha, who shrunk from a size 16 to a six. “It’s never too late to take your health back!”

The thyroid is an “itty bitty gland hidden beneath the Adam’s apple that affects your body in a really big way,” according to Dr. Oz. Responsible for regulating crucial functions like breathing and fat burning, if your thyroid is healthy, you’re likely slim and invigorated. If you’re not, there’s a good chance the stress of modern life has left your thyroid in need of TLC. “Eating for a healthy thyroid is just plain smart for everyone,” says Smith. “And smoothies make it easy. You load your blender with the best ingredients and have a meal ready in seconds.”

Smoothies are thyroid-friendly foods.

Below, Smith shares some of her go-to smoothie recipes. Pick your favorites or try them all — no matter which you blend up, the plan in Smith’s 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse (details below) can help you lose fat fast. Smith says many women simply drink a smoothie as a meal replacement, and find themselves heading briskly to a happy weight!

Thyroid-friendly smoothies are a great choice no matter what. But if speedy weight loss is your goal, try swapping smoothies for one to two meals a day. At other sittings enjoy a serving of lean protein, some healthy fat, an optional serving of beans, and unlimited veggies.

For thyroid friendly smoothie ideas, see our favorites below. To give them an extra nutritional boost, add a serving of plant protein to any (or all!) drinks. For more tips and recipes, go to JJSmithOnline.com.

Autumn Power Red Smoothie

• 1⁄2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 cup frozen berries
• 1 cup frozen cauliflower
• 1 banana
• 1 cup nut milk
• 1 cup kale
• 1 Tablespoon of flax

Green Apple Crisp Smoothie

• 1 diced apple
• 1 banana
• 2 cups of spinach
• 1 ⁄4 cup nuts
• 1 cup oat or nut milk
• 1⁄4 cup oats
• Ice
• Dash of vanilla and cinnamon

Blackberry Pear Smoothie

• 1 cup frozen blackberries
• 1 pear
• 2 cups greens
• 1 Tablespoon of flax
• 1 1⁄2 cups nut milk
• Dash vanilla and ginger

Pumpkin-Spice Magic Smoothie

• 1⁄2 cup pure canned pumpkin
• 1 cup frozen mango
• 3 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3⁄4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

More Thyroid-Friendly Foods

Pectin-rich Pumpkin

Like many fruits, pumpkin is rich in vitamin C. It’s a thyroid pick-me-up that speeds fat burn by 25 percent. “Pumpkins are full of fiber,” said Dr. Oz. That includes lots of pectin, a gel-like fiber that “grabs” and expels up to 75 percent of thyroid slowing toxins. Pectin blunts hunger better than many diet pills and releases compounds that are study-proven to help melt belly fat 86 percent faster. Other top pectin sources include apples, pears, and bananas.

Want to make your thyroid friendly smoothies even more powerful? Experts say adding a pinch of table salt enhances the sweetness, and delivers the iodine your thyroid needs to make its metabolism-revving hormones.

Healing protein

New research shows eating lots of protein-rich foods is strongly linked to the healthiest thyroid. Turns out, protein’s amino acids heal and bolster delicate thyroid tissue. Smith is a fan of plant-based protein powder, which “blends well in any smoothie,” she says.

Seeds and Nuts

Per Dr. Oz, our thyroids need plenty of the amino acid tyrosine and the mineral selenium to thrive — and most of us don’t get enough. Add daily doses to your menu, and you could see a 38 percent uptick in the production of thyroid hormones, accompanied by a 55 percent rise in daytime energy, German researchers say. Smith’s smoothie fix: Just whip in tyrosine rich almond milk and selenium rich pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, and Brazil nuts.

Add spices

When a top thyroid expert surveyed thousands of patients, most reported that extra spices significantly reduced slow-thyroid symptoms. Why? Studies confirm spices reduce thyroid-stalling inflammation caused by sugar, toxins and other irritants. “Cinnamon and ginger, for example, are potent natural anti-inflammatories,” reveals Smith. Warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric and even cayenne heat metabolism by up to 25 percent!

Greens

Research shows there’s a direct connection between getting enough zinc and having a peppy thyroid. That’s why Smith calls for adding leafy greens in most smoothies. Her favorite? “Baby spinach is pleasant tasting, not bitter at all,” she shares. Avocado, berries, and mango also provide a nice hit of zinc.

Always get your doctor’s okay to try a new diet, and never stop a prescription unless your doctor advises you to. If you’re experiencing symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, thinning hair, or cold sensitivity, ask to be tested. You may need thyroid meds to protect your health.