I absolutely love smoothies because you can really add any kind of nutrient you need for the day and while I am pregnant this comes in handy! My midwife has been recommending I get a lot more protein and iron at 23 weeks and is also wanting me to amp up my blood volume and do it in a healthy way! She has recommended something frankly I had never heard of: liquid chlorophyll. So I ordered some and I have to say – it is pretty amazing! I have been making quite the ultimate protein and iron smoothie recipe lately and I just had to share it with you!
So what is liquid chlorophyll and why is it so beneficial during pregnancy? It basically acts like hemoglobin and can help to rebuild and replenish our red blood cells! What does this mean for us pregnant mamas? A huge boost in our energy! I’ll take that please! It also does a whole of other things like chelate heavy metals and give us a mighty good dose of magnesium – all FANTASTIC things too! As an FYI, on the bottle it says to take 1 tsp but my midwife actually recommended I take 6 tablespoons daily so a few superfood smoothies (maybe half a recipe each) will get most of it in!
I add another secret ingredient which is optional if it gives you the willies but I have to say I have felt absolutely INCREDIBLE since adding this other secret ingredient. Ladies…you know how I am always telling you how truly wonderful beef liver is for your health and hormones (check out some of the benefits of liver here)? It contains all the nutrients we need in one tiny package. I will always remember this post I read about how you can take raw frozen liver as a pill…and how helpful it is for our bodies and so I cut up the liver into small pieces and I add about an ounce to my ultimate smoothie. I really really really really – did I mention REALLY – don’t like the taste of beef liver but I do love the taste of cooked chicken liver…but unfortunately chicken liver doesn’t have nearly the same amount of iron. I want a big punch in an ounce per day and the best known source is beef liver. If I put an ounce in my smoothie frozen and raw I cannot taste it! SO there you go – a super secret ingredient that is of course only for those who are very serious about feeling intensely amazing during pregnancy! I mean an iron boost, an energy boost AND a vitamin A boost…all good things for your body and your growing baby! WIN WIN!
So let’s get to the Ultimate Pregnancy Smoothie Recipe…
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp liquid chlorophyll (I get mine here)
- 2 ounces Ningxia Red (wolf berry super anti-oxidant drink) (I get mine here)
- 1 Tbsp cacao powder (I get mine here)
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 2 pastured egg yolks
- 1 Tbsp pastured butter
- 1 scoop protein powder (I get mine here)
- 1/4 cup milk kefir (this is optional and you can sub with filtered water + a good probiotic like this one but I like the probiotics in the kefir for my smoothie)
- 1 apple
- 1/4 cup frozen strawberries
- a big bunch of greens – dandelion greens are what is in season for me right now but also love kale when it is in season!
- 1 ounce frozen grass fed and organic beef liver (optional but not really – you’ve got to try it!)
Directions
Blend all ingredients in a blender (I personally use this one) and drink up!
I want to know how this smoothie helps you feel so please comment below and please share the good word with others you know who are pregnant. Hey…I also think this smoothie is pretty great for anyone trying to conceive as it would be a huge fertility booster too!
Hey! I’m interested in trying your smoothie recipe as I’ve been diagnosed with anemia and an auto-immune disorder. My husband and I want to start a family soon, so I’m willing to try anything that will get my iron and energy up! I do have issues with “chunky” or “gritty” smoothies. I’m wondering if this one has any of that feel? With the seeds, greens, apple, and frozen liver – are there any chunks? If your answer is “no”, then I need to know what blender you are using (the link to your blender in your post was not active). Looking forward to your reply. Laura 🙂
I use a Vitamix and so it hasn’t been gritty for me! Enjoy!
Hi Lindsey. A few comments. I like your recipes and have tried some of them – but always replacing with vegetable options for your animal ingredients. However, can you perhaps leave out the animal products. If you really want a healthy lifestyle, then a vegetarian (strictly per definition) diet is the way to go. And organ meat is a definite no-no. Why does any person want to eat liver – and raw on top of it. The liver is used to clean blood and detoxify chemicals found in the body. Why do you want to eat that? A good source of iron is raisens, as one example.
I am so happy you have found what you are looking for. I also have found what works for me. If you don’t like it then I suggest you find another site that better meets your needs. In the meantime you might want to read the links I tagged to about liver to address your comment on the detox thing. That just isn’t true. You can also check out the http://www.westonaprice.org website for more info on what a nutrient dense diet is. My entire blog is based on their principles as it has changed my health for the better these past 5 years and I would not trade this diet in for any other. The only reason I blog is because of how much WAPF helped me. So I am not going to change it for your opinion. Thanks!
I am totally in agreement with Lindsey. Eating pasture raised liver is def. not going to be toxic. So much vitality and nutrients there. Dis-ease comes from lack of movement and free flow of energy…that can be mental as well. Diet should be open to change depending on the season, time of life, constitution, etc. There is no one diet that is good for everyone…it’s something that should be in constant flux and consideration. Anyways, just wanted to say that when I initially opened the email I rolled my eyes a bit at it being a pregnancy smoothie because in Chinese medicine we generally do not suggest smoothies to women wanting to get pregnant due to it’s cold nature and difficulty for digestion…but then when I saw your ingredients was in total support. So much vitality and support for pregnant mothers. The only thing I would suggest is that if you find that you get gas or bloating from the smoothie to make sure that you have some ginger tea or warming soup afterwards to keep the digestion warm. Although not pregnant…going to try your recipe….I have a toddler so that’s draining too 😉
AMEN to that! Yes–I am super conscious of ‘cold things’ too! But I am far too hot in the 90 degree heat here in Austin right now to drink any broth! LOL. Thank you for your sweet comment!
just thought i’d share that i’ve been doing green smoothies for years. in fact, i bought a newer vitamix 4 years ago because my 20 year old one didn’t macerate the greens well enough!! when i started daily ningxia in my smoothies, i did not notice a difference in my energy level. so, someone on my YL team suggested that i drink it separately. then early summer, i started making kombucha (excellent source of probiotics and MUCH cheaper when you make it yourself!). i add my NR to the kombucha and drink it on an empty stomach. then i have my green smoothie. i’m thinking the oils that i’ve been putting on daily PLUS the daily kombucha have helped my energy. they are definitely not hurting!!
Absolutely THRILLED that my husband and I came across your YouTube video about scheduling (since we just started our journey with YL)…. and am BLESSED to have come to your blog to find out that we are LIKE-minded, spirited, all the way around! I too have a midwife for our births and last pregnancy she suggested liquid chlorophyll! It IS amazing! Just wish I knew to put it in smoothies, but perhaps next time I will! Blessings on your pregnancy! So excited to read more of your posts!!! Shalom!
Whoop! Nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by to comment! <3