Top 5 Health Benefits of Green Smoothies

To everyone apart of the wellness wave, thanks for the love!

 Whether or not you all partied like a rock star or chilled at home binge watching your favorite series, I hope you all had a solid weekend. With the change of seasons comes a change in activity, and the best way you can achieve your goals in life is with a "clean bill of health". As the wise Benjamin Franklin once put it "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".  Hate em or love em, today we're going to discuss the top 5 health benefits of green smoothies 😋. 

                                                  They taste better than they look! 

To be honest, when I first started the smoothie operation, I avoided green smoothies like the plague! Partially because I felt they were an acquired taste, and also because it just wasn't on my radar at the time.  Along the journey of becoming my best self (taste testing a few Vitamix samples altered my perspective) I came around to enjoying them!  Whether or not you are a beginner at your own smoothie operation, the best thing that you can do is to keep an open mind. 

Increased Energy

After a brutal leg day earlier in the week I decided I needed something to pick me up before I headed off to work. Similar to the energy boost of a cup of coffee (minus the  rush of caffeine) green smoothies are jam packed with essential nutrients and vitamins which will instantly boost your energy levels. After drinking your smoothie/protein shake it will eliminate cravings while simultaneously stoke the flames of the fat burning process. To maximize on weight loss, green smoothies can be used as a meal replacement. The magic within green smoothies are the B vitamins and magnesium which fortify your metabolism. Many people across the country have the goal of shedding a few pounds. Why not add something to your repertoire that will lead to a leaner meaner you?! 

Improved Digestion

Inflammation in the GI system can cause discomfort along with a whole host of other ailments. By consuming more greens you can reverse the negative effects of inflammation which can lead to easier digestion and elimination. Green vegetables are locked and loaded with vitamins/ nutrients that will detox your system leaving you with more overall energy. So once again, grandma was right when she said eating more greens is good for your health, but extracting them takes things to whole other level!

Vibrant Skin

Although we often don't think of it in this way, skin is the largest organ apart of the human body (gasp). The compound effect of consuming more fruits and vegetables in your diet (in time) will lead to more clear,radiant, and vibrant skin. To see the positive effects that green smoothies have to offer, think of this journey as a marathon not a sprint. According to Health Fitness Revolution " because vegetables are mostly water and smoothies require water as an ingredient, you’re also increasing your intake of water. Because of this, you skin will take on a glowing appearance." With time you may even start to hear from your friends and co-workers that you appear fitter and more youthful. 

Heart Healthy & Strong

Any one hate the taste of greens? The answer to this is simple if you do, throw it in your bullet or blender.  As Joan Salge Blake, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics said "Vegetables are high in potassium, which can help lower blood pressure. If the vegetables are pureed so that the fiber is still intact, they will help fill you up." Combine this with healthy fats such as avocados, almonds, cashews, or hazel nuts and you will have a creamy smoothie that will leave you feeling full and satiated 




Zen Kai Boost Your Immunity 

Sometimes its easy to slack off and take our health for granted, but like many things in life we have a tendency to appreciate things once their gone. The American Cancer Society recommends that we eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day to avoid cancer. The power of Fruits/Vegetables is tried and proven. Battling cancer is one thing, but even the most cautious among us can become sick due to factors outside of ones control. Below I am going to give you two smoothies which have worked wonders for me in the past. One for prevention (to cultivate and maintain a healthy immune system) the other for restoration (to kill your infection and at the same time reconstruct your immunity).   

• Pumpkin Spice Green Smoothie (The Prevention)
• Lean Heart Healthy Green Machine (Additional Prevention)  
• Cold Fighting Blast (The Cure) 

Now although this video came out circa 2016 the message still rings true.  To be honest this is not my favorite smoothie, however whenever I or my family is under the weather nothing gets you better faster. 

Cold Fighting Blast Ingredients 

1 Cup of collard greens + 1 Cup of Pineapples + 1 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar + 1 Tbsp of Ground Ginger (or an inch of whole ginger) +  1 Full Bottle of Water  + 3-4 shakes of Cayenne Pepper + 1 Full Lemon + 1 Tbsp of Honey

Pumpkin Spice  Ingredients 

1/2 a cup of Pumpkin Puree + 1 banana + Dash of Nut Meg +2 handfuls of Baby Spinach+ 1/2 a teaspoon of pumpkin spice+ 1 Cup of Almond Milk

 

Lean Green Heart Healthy Blast Ingredients 

2 Cups of Spinach, 1 Cup of Kale, 1/2 a Cup of Cherries, 1/2 or 1 whole Apple, 1 Tbsp of Almond Butter, 1/2 Tbsp of Coconut Oil, 1 Cup of Almond Milk 

These are my top 5 health benefits of drinking green smoothies and I can honestly say I see and feel the results. Whether you are looking for an overall boost in energy or you are seeking a change in nutrition, green smoothies should be a key thing that you add to your meal plan!

Sources) Nutriliving: Lean Heart Healthy Machine
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/03/green-smoothies-nutrition/2518141/
Nutriliving Pumpkin Spice Green Edition