If somebody had mentioned the word green and smoothie in the same sentence to me a couple of years ago I would have screwed up my nose at them. Two years on and I am a converted green drinker and trust me they don’t taste as bad as they sound. The ‘in’ thing to drink amongst foodies far and near and popping up on café menu’s all over Melbourne there is an obvious demand for the thick green liquid.
Rich in immune boosting nutrients, green smoothies are one of the easiest and most powerful ways to up our fruit and vegetable intake. Green leafy vegetables are jam-packed full of vital minerals and vitamins that maintain our health, yet some find it hard to eat the amount we need to reap the health benefits and that’s where green smoothies come in. Making sure you have a side of salad with your meal each night is all good and well, yet one single green smoothie can contain as much green leafy vegetables as you might consume in a week. If you can aim to consume a green smoothie once a day you have already hit your green vegetable intake out of the park, and I can guarantee before long you will start reaping the health benefits. Get more info on other healthy foods here.
Not only do these wonder smoothies help us to consume more fruit and vegetables they also help us to digest them. When blended the cells in the fruit and greens are split and make it easier for our body to absorb them so that they start to be embraced by our body the minute the smoothie enters your mouth. And before you wonder how a mix of pulped up veggies and fruits could taste good enough to drink a glass of, think again. Quoted from Victoria Boutenko’s book “Green smoothie revolution” the ratio in smoothies that is optimal for human consumption is around 60% ripe organic fruit mixed with about 40% organic greens. Therefore the fruit’s sweetness dominates whilst the green leafy vegetables cut through the sweetness to balance it out. With regular green smoothies our bodies form healthy eating habits and after a few weeks most people start to crave and enjoy eating more greens.
And if it wasn’t already enough, green smoothies can aid in helping to lose weight. Being low in calories, yet very filling due to the drinks high amounts of water and fiber, green smoothies keep you feeling fuller for longer and fight hunger and cravings. The benefits of green smoothies are endless and with a wide range of blenders on the market there’s plenty of options to choose from. Used by professional chefs and juice bars the Vitamix is in a league of it’s own and is the King in the blending world, although can prove costly. For those on a budget why not try the Optimum Blender, I invested in one of these a month ago and have had no regrets. Half the price, the optimum blender chops through all vegetables I have thrown at it and creates a smooth green smoothie every time. So go on, change your chocolate milkshake for a green smoothie today and reap the health benefits. With an array of recipes online you’re bound to find a concoction you enjoy, or be creative and make up your own recipe. Below is one of my favourites that keeps me feeling healthy and glowing.
Ingredients:
1½ glass of coconut water
A couple of handfuls of Kale
½ cucumber
2 celery stalks
2 carrots
1 Orange
½ a lemon
Ginger (as much as you like)
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