Why Green Smoothies are so Good for Good Health
It seems as if every day there’s a new weight loss fad guaranteeing to help you lose weight and keep it off. But these usually lead to disappointment and the weight just won’t go away.
The Origins of Green Smoothies: More Than a Trend
Green smoothies may sound like a fad, but actually they’ve been around since 1988 when Dr. Ann Wigmore created what was then called “energy soup.” The basic recipe may have changed, but green smoothies are still a practical and healthy way to help you get to your desired weight and keep the weight off.
From green smoothies, you can promote weight loss without losing the nutrition, vitamins, minerals, fiber and good carbohydrates that you need to lose weight quickly and safely. But weight loss isn’t the only benefit of green smoothies.
According to the American Cancer Society, one should consume 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. If you find that difficult a green smoothie can be a quick and convenient way to get those servings, particularly the dark, green leafy foods. Green smoothies generally contain your choice of leafy greens, like spinach, lettuce, or kale. Using fruit in your green smoothie will help mask the flavor of the vegetables you may not particularly care for. So instead of tasting spinach or kale, you can enjoy pineapple, mango, strawberry or banana.
Why Fiber Matters: Green Smoothies vs. Juicing
Nobody really likes to talk about needing fiber, but everyone does. Green smoothies do a better job of promoting healthy digestion and elimination than fruit juice or using a juicer. Green smoothies use the whole fruit and vegetable so you don’t lose the nutrients contained in things like the peeling.
A benefit of consuming your fruits and vegetables in a smoothie is that the blending breaks down the food and improves the digestibility. The benefits are greater with a smoothie because you’re not cooking the nutrients out of the green vegetables. Or, you’re not adding salad dressing, croutons and cheese to make them palatable.
Green smoothies are plentiful in phytonutrients and antioxidants, helping your body to fight disease and promote optimum health.
These fiber-rich vegetables can help you feel full for longer periods of time. Plus cravings for junk food, including sugar will be significantly reduced. While caffeine and sugar filled drinks may give you an initial burst of energy, with a green smoothie you get a powerful boost from the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, and you don’t experience that sudden sugar drop when the fuel runs out.
Power-Up Your Smoothies: Nutrient Add-Ins to Try
Here are some things you can add to your smoothies for extra nutrients:
- Psyllium fiber is a great weight loss supplement that helps to satisfy the appetite and regulate the digestive system.
- Coconut milk is great for weight loss and adds great flavor. Coconut milk helps control blood sugar and build strong bones.
- Your local health food supply store will carry protein powers. Adding whey protein powders can be an easy way to add protein to your diet.
- Greek yogurt can add to the consistency and provide added health benefits. Greek yogurt is a good source of calcium and can help curb your appetite.
Keep in mind, however, that the suggested add-ins aren’t necessarily low in calories.
Your options for smoothie recipes are endless, limited only by your creativity.
Try an apple, kale, lemon smoothie
Ingredients:
- 4 fresh peeled and cored apples
- 2 cups of water, half a cup of lemon juice
- 5 leaves of kale.
Or try a strawberry, banana, romaine smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1/2 bunch of romaine
- 2 cups of water
- 2 bananas.
All you need to do is blend the ingredients until smooth. Blend in some ice if you prefer your smoothie cold.
