By Hilary Metcalfe 

Growing up in Mexico, our local juice bar served La Quemagrasa, the fat burner, a thin smoothie containing celery, parsley and grapefruit and blended with orange juice or water (for the die-hards). I love its refreshing tart taste and though not actually fat-burning, celery and grapefruit offer some amazing health benefits. 

Grapefruit’s refreshing scent is believed to be a natural anti-depressant (why it’s a signature note in our skincare line) with energising effects. It’s also abundantly available at the end end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and at its best! 

Parsley is a blood-purifier and natural detox herb. Celery is excellent for digestion and for reducing bloating. This is thanks to *NBP, celery’s oily compound and its unique sodium-to-potassium ratio. These elements, combined with the liver-cleansing effects of dear celery, are great when you feel like a little detox or depuff around your period, post-surgery with fluid retention, or due to postpartum swelling. 

RECIPE

Serves: 2 tonics, or 4 small mocktails
Prep Time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
1 pink grapefruit, with the peel cut off
1 small handful parsley, chopped (stems too)
1 apple, cored and chopped (optional)
1 large glass or 300ml water or freshly squeezed orangeor grapefruit juice
1 handful spinach 

Optional sweetener: small squeeze of honey to taste

HOW TO

Cut off the pith from the grapefruit (the white skin attached to the peel, which will make your drink bitter). Quarter the grapefruit and dig out the seeds, or strain the whole smoothie later but this filters out fibre. Layer your chopped celery, parsley, apple, grapefruit and spinach in the blender, pour in liquid and blend. If you have grapefruit juice, try blending it 50/50 with water for a more concentrated flavor. 

Strain for grapefruit seeds and celery fibers if your blender didn’t pulverize them, so you’ll still preserve the toning tonic benefits and just miss out on the fiber. The honey suggestion will even out the tart flavour if it’s too much for you.

*NBP, also known as 3-n-butylphthalide   

Why This Tonic Works for Women’s Hormones

Hormones influence everything from digestion to hydration to detoxification efficiency. When oestrogen dips, cortisol rises, or progesterone slows digestion, the right nutrients can make all the difference. This tonic naturally supports:

• oestrogen processing (via liver pathways)

• fluid balance and circulation

• digestion + bloating regulation

• electrolyte balance

• cellular hydration

• collagen synthesis

• postpartum repair

Every ingredient plays its part, and together, they create a powerful, simple, functional tonic for everyday use. See below the perfect SABI pairings to make of this your daily hormone-balancing ritual.

Functional Nutrition Notes

When to Drink It?

Ways to Serve It

• Morning tonic: blend with water for a light, hydrating start

• Postpartum lift: use grapefruit juice for a brighter flavour and vitamin C boost

• Mocktail: pour over ice with a grapefruit slice + pinch of sea salt

• Period puffiness support: add extra parsley + spinach

• Travel reset: blend mostly with water and sip slowly post-flight

Your Perfect Ritual Companions

This tonic works beautifully on its own, but pairing it with targeted herbal support can help your body move through hormonal shifts with more ease. If your digestion tends to slow in the luteal phase, or you’re prone to bloating around stress, The Digestive offers gentle botanical support to help your gut feel lighter and more comfortable. When tension, poor sleep, or cortisol spikes leave you feeling puffy or overstimulated, The Calming Herbata is a grounding companion — supporting the nervous system, reducing stress-related inflammation, and helping your body absorb nutrients more efficiently. And if period week brings cramps, heaviness, or fluid retention, The Gentle Period blend can complement this tonic by supporting circulation, warmth, and menstrual comfort.

Together, these rituals create an inside-out foundation for hormonal balance — nourishing digestion, hydration, and the stress response so your body can do what it’s designed to do: rebalance, repair, and restore.

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              THE BOTANICAL TRIAD
  Nervous System • Digestion • Cycle Support
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THE CALMING HERBATA
Oat Straw • Lavender • Chamomile • Passionflower • Lemon Balm  

THE DIGESTIVE
Cinnamon • Cardamom • Vervain • Holy Basil • Moringa • Nettles • Oat Straw  

THE GENTLE PERIOD 
Red Clover • Lady’s Mantle • Raspberry Leaf • Nettles • Holy Basil • Hibiscus  

──────────────────────────────────────────
Choose what matches your phase, mood, or moment.

Craving More Hormone-Loving Recipes?                                     

• Autumn Bowl Recipe: Thyme, Mushrooms & Kale
• Butternut Squash + Pea Dip: A Recipe for Radiant Skin
• Baked Cucumber Tartine
• Coconut Tzatziki: Creamy & Hormone-Loving
• Pumpkin Spiced Pancakes for Breastfeeding

Bon appétit!

ABOUT HILARY Hilary is the Co-Founder of the SABI, a Holistic Nutritionist, natural, whole foods Chef, product developer and advocate for women getting to know their bodies, cycles and selves better. Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Baja California, Mexico, she now lives in Los Cabos with her partner Kees, a curly-tailed rescue dog from Curacao, Flint and her rainbow babies Paloma and Bea.