recipes

I knew that green smoothies were healthy but didn’t quite realize all of the health benefits!  We’ve been enjoying our own green smoothie recipes lately but I’m excited to try some new ones from The New Green Smoothie Diet: Going Green Never Tasted So Good.

Top 10 Benefits of Green Smoothies

Green smoothies have many health benefits (and we’ll discuss those in detail later on), but here’s a brief introduction to the many
advantages of drinking green smoothies on a daily basis:

1.  Green smoothies offer pure nutrition. The amount of vitamins you’ll get depends on the fruits and vegetables you choose for the
smoothie. However, most fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins A and C. Guava is also high in folate, while avocados provide high amounts of potassium and magnesium.

2.  Green smoothies are much healthier than fruit or vegetable juices. When juices are extracted, you get vitamins and minerals but no fiber. However, smoothies are made using the whole fruit/vegetable, so you get all the fiber in your drink.

3.  Green smoothies are a great way to eat your veggies without even realizing it. Although most people like fruit, many have trouble
getting their daily requirement of veggies. When you make a green smoothie, the taste of the greens is hidden by the taste of the fruit, so you don’t even notice the veggies are there.

4.  Green smoothies are easy and quick to make. The only equipment you need is a blender (and a pitcher if you make large amounts and need to store some in the fridge).

5.  Homemade green smoothies are cheap. Buying smoothies at a juice bar can set you back as much as $6 a glass. At home, combining fruits and vegetables won’t cost you more than a few cents. Drinking a glass every day will provide you with all the vitamins you need, a much cheaper (and more natural) option than buying multivitamins.

6.  Green smoothies can be a good way to get kids to “eat” their vegetables. You might need to start with a higher proportion of fruit
vs. vegetables (for example, 70/30 instead of the standard 60/40) until they get used to the flavor.

7.  Green smoothies will provide you with a lasting source of energy. Fruits are a good source of energy, but eaten alone will only provide short bursts of energy (they contain lots of sugars, which are quickly metabolized). Because of their high content of veggies, green smoothies have a balanced sugar content.

8.  Green smoothies are low in calories but very filling. Because they contain high amounts of water and fiber, they’ll make you feel as if you just ate a full meal. If you’re trying to lose weight, green smoothies will help fight hunger and cravings while helping the pounds melt off easier.

9.  Green smoothies are easy to digest. Because they’re already blended and liquefied, smoothies are quicker to digest. After all, your body no longer needs to work so hard to “break down” the food in order to extract the nutrients. People who suffer from indigestion
after eating a heavy meal will also benefit, as smoothies are filling but light.

10.  Green smoothies will keep you hydrated. Although one should drink at least eight glasses of water a day, experts believe most people don’t drink even half that amount. One of the reasons for that is that many people simply don’t like the taste of plain water. If that describes you, simply add more water to the mix as you prepare your smoothie. You’ll be drinking more liquids without even noticing it.

Here are a couple of green smoothie recipes to get you started.

Blackberry Lettuce Smoothie

-1 head of lettuce, small to medium size
-1 cup blackberries, frozen
-1/2 cup other frozen fruit of your choice
-2 cups of water
-1 small apple or half a banana

Spinach Smoothie

-2 cups fresh spinach leaves
-1 small banana
-1 small peach or nectarine
-2 cups of water or 1 cup of water and 1 cup of crushed ice, if you
want a thicker mixture

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