Everything about a green smoothie looks healthy and indeed it is hard to go past this brightly coloured liquid that literally oozes with nutrition. Here are just some of the benefits of including a green smoothie into your daily diet regime with as many brightly coloured fresh vegetables in it as you can find.
- Green smoothies are packed full of concentrated nutrients.
Juicing whole vegetables such as kale, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers and celery along with nutrient powerhouses’ parsley, ginger, mint and avocado blends an exceptionally high number of key nutrients including Vitamin C, beta carotene and Vitamin K into a concentrated form, offering a massive nutrition punch per serve.
- Green smoothies are low in calories.
The fantastic thing about most vegetables is that they are exceptionally low in calories, as they are primarily made up of water, fibre and vitamins and minerals. This means that even if you include 5-6 different veges in your green juice; the entire mix is likely to give you just 100-150 calories per serve, which is less than some cups of milk coffee.
- Green smoothies are filling.
Depending on the type of mixer of blender you make your smoothies with, the more fibrous the vegetables used; and the more skins of veges or fruits included, the more filling the smoothie will be thanks to both its water and fibre content.
- Green smoothies are an easy way to get your vegetables every single day.
In an ideal world we would all sit down to a plate of fresh vegetables and salad every single day to get all of the key nutrients and fibre we need on a daily basis. The reality is that this does not always happen and a good way to ensure you get a vege boost no matter how busy your life is, is to include a green smoothie with your breakie or lunch order.
- Green smoothies help to prevent bloating.
A common dietary issue individuals describe is feeling bloated throughout the day which in more cases than not is caused by too little fibre and not enough fluid. Simply including a green smoothie in your diet gives you both your fibre and plenty of fluid in a simple drink.
- Green smoothies are a nutritious meal on the run.
When time is tight and you simply cannot find the time to eat a salad or make a sandwich, grabbing a green smoothie is a light meal on the run that will keep your energy up for another couple of hours.
- Green smoothies are so easy to make.
Forgetting slaving away in the kitchen for hours, to make your own green smoothie all you need is a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables and a blender and voila! Your own nutrient rich meal or snack in minutes, no cooking skills required.
- Green smoothies help to control cravings.
Unlike sweet drinks and milk based drinks which leave your taste buds looking for sweetness, the mix of fruits, vegetables and neutral flavours offered by foods such as avocado and ginger will leave your palate neutral and satisfied after drinking a green smoothie so that you are not tempted to keep eating.
- Green smoothies are a great source of fluid.
One of the biggest nutritional issues that can cause a range of symptoms including fatigue, inability to concentrate and constipation and bloating is simply not getting enough fluid throughout the day. A green smoothie helps to significantly boost your fluid intake as so many of its ingredients are water based, along with the ice and water that is often added to blend.
- Green smoothies taste great.
Forget boiled vegetables; bland salads and ‘health’ drinks, the healthiest drink of all, a green smoothie tastes fantastic which means that it is easy to include regularly in your diet.
http://www.susieburrell.com.au/green-smoothies/
The Wellness Warrior
Ingredients
3 stalks of kale (discard the tough stalk and use the leaves)
3 leaves of Cos lettuce
1 cup coconut water
1 small frozen banana
A small handful of goji berries or blueberries
1 tsp hemp seeds
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp bee pollen
1 tsp maca powder
1 tsp spirulina
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a blender and blitz until smooth.
www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au
