For Sela Moore, mornings were always rushed—and breakfast often skipped. But after a string of digestive issues and low energy spells, she decided to make a change. “I wanted something quick, easy, and gentle on my gut,” she says. That’s when smoothies became her saving grace.
The catch? They had to be simple—no more than five ingredients. “I don’t have time to chop ten things before work,” she laughs. “So I started experimenting with minimalist blends that still packed a nutritional punch.”
Sela’s go-to formula is straightforward: a plant-based liquid, a fiber-rich fruit, something green, a probiotic or fermented ingredient, and a healthy fat. From this base, she created endless combinations that supported her digestion without overwhelming her stomach.
Her current favorite? A blend of unsweetened almond milk, banana, spinach, coconut yogurt, and flaxseed. “It keeps me full, helps with bloating, and I feel balanced all morning,” she says. She switches things up with ingredients like papaya for its digestive enzymes or ginger when she wants something soothing.
But what made her smoothies truly gut-friendly was consistency. “When I had one of these every day, I noticed a huge difference,” she explains. “Less bloating, better regularity, even clearer skin.”
Beyond the ingredients, Sela also pays attention to how she drinks them. “I sip slowly, not chug,” she says. “Digestion starts in the mouth, even with smoothies.” She also avoids adding too many sweeteners—even natural ones—to keep her blood sugar stable.
Now, Sela’s five-ingredient philosophy has become a core part of her wellness routine. She even teaches workshops on building gut-friendly smoothies at local community centers. “People are surprised how good they feel just by simplifying breakfast,” she says.
Her advice for smoothie skeptics? “Start small. Choose ingredients you like, and don’t overthink it. Your body will tell you what works.”
