Help! I started drinking green smoothies every morning and now I’m bursting out of my pants. What gives?
You’re smart to start your morning with a green smoothie—many of my followers report shedding 5 to 10 pounds per week when they sip a green drink daily. I suspect that the reason you haven’t seen these results just yet is that your GI tract is overwhelmed by the extra fiber. Increasing intake of this hard-to-digest nutrient too fast can lead to a buildup of waste and gas in the GI tract, which triggers belly bloat and weight gain.
Fortunately, a few simple tricks can help optimize your digestion and fast-track your slim down: (1) Drink a cup of warm water mixed with 1 Tbs. of lemon juice first thing in the morning. The acidic compounds in the juice will help jump-start the production of digestive juices in the stomach. (2) Make chewing motions as you drink your smoothies. This will help release digestive enzymes in your saliva and stomach that speed up the breakdown of the fiber. (3) Take your time and slowly sip your smoothie to give your digestive tract plenty of time to break down the fibrous compounds and absorb metabolism-revving nutrients.
