As a student was walking out of my nutrition class at a community college yesterday, he stopped me. "My friend told me about this new cleanse... she told me it's good for detoxing your body of impurities. Should I do it?" he asked.

I love when my students ask me their real-life, nitty-gritty nutrition questions. Well - back that up - I love it when anybody asks me their real-life, nitty-gritty nutrition questions. Especially about cleanses and detoxes.

You see, your body has it's own way of cleaning and detoxifying itself to get rid of "waste." That's the role of our liver and kidneys, after all. But your liver and kidneys can't do their job unless they're supplied with key vitamins and minerals to help the "cleansing" process.

UNFORTUNATELY...many "cleanses" and "detoxes" -- which aim to supply your body with nutrients to facilitate your body's innate detoxification mechanisms -- also lend themselves many ingredients that your body tries to "detox" to begin with (toxins like food additives, pesticides/insecticides, heavy metals, and other environmental toxins).

The best "detox" focuses on whole fruits- and vegetable-based foods, whole grain carbohydrates, healthy proteins, and nourishing fats....not supplements or food products sourced from non-food based ingredients and/or unnecessary fillers. The best detox focuses on giving your body the right amount of energy (aka enough, but not too many, calories) and nutrients it needs - not restricting it in attempts for a quick fix for weight loss. The best detox isn't short term, but rather a long-term healthy eating style.

Now this isn't to say that all supplements promo'd for detox aren't of good quality. One of my new favorites is Amazing Grass's Alkalize Detox SuperFood. With just one scoop of the raw greens powder, I can pack in a healthy dose of Vitamins A, K, and C - and superfoods, super herbs, and super spices like broccoli, spirulina, turmeric, goji, and ginger.

So in true "healthy detox" spirit - and also in the spirit of Superbowl Sunday - I give you this Superfood Super Bowl Smoothie. It's rich in key vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients necessary to facilitate your body's natural detoxification process.

Superfood Super Bowl DETOX Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup frozen mango
2 Tablespoons Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 70
1 scoop Amazing Grass Alkalize Detox
Ice
Water to the max line
To top: 1 tablespoon walnuts, extra berries (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Add all ingredients to a NutriBullet; fill with water to the max line. Blend.
Pour into a bowl. Top with walnuts and extra berries (or ingredients of your choice).
Tweet the picture of your Super Bowl and use the hashtag #yesnutrition to share your healthy choice with others!

Nutrition Facts: 322 calories, 13g fat, 37g carbs, 9g fiber, 14g protein. NOTE: You may wish to split this recipe in 2 - share with a friend or save for later.

Pretty super, right?

Disclosure: I work with Amazing Grass as a Brand Ambassador. Opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support YES! Nutrition :)