Let’s talk about greens! Although important, I don’t mean money but veggies. I know how hard it is to include eating greens into a meal when you’re not really feeling it. But veggies are important for a healthy life. If you’re looking for a way to increase your veggie and fruit intake consider making a habit of making green smoothies.
Green smoothies are awesome because they are quick to make with various vegetables and fruits. Drinking a green smoothie will help you reach the recommended daily vegetable and fruit intake. According to the CDC an adult should be 2-3 cups of vegetables a day and 1 ½ -2 cups of fruit a day, but only few Americans reach this quota.
What Makes Up A “Green Smoothie”
The vegetables and fruits that make up a green smoothie will aid your health. We already know the importance of having a balanced diet to avoid chronic diseases and aid in having a healthy weight.
The chlorophyll found in dark green vegetables help our bodies regulate itself. Chlorophyll smoothies inflammation and pain, as well as alleviating the imbalance in blood sugar. Incorporate vegetables high in chlorophyll such as spinach, beet tops, broccoli, kale, and collard greens. Of course there are more to that list but including those into your smoothie will be a good start as they can be found in most grocery stores.
Just because it’s called a green smoothie does not limit yourself to only green produce. When making your smoothie you want to keep a 3:1 ratio of veggies to fruits. Including fruit in your smoothie will make it more tolerable to drink as it will give it some sweetness and kinda cut down on the “earthy” taste. Berries, dates, bananas, pineapple, and apples are good additions to your smoothie. Play around with ingredients you know you already love to create a perfect smoothie.
Of course what makes up your green smoothie will also increase your intake of vitamins and minerals. In return it will help your overall immune system. If you can not make green smoothies there is the “green drink” alternative.
Green Drink?
A “green drink” is a supplement powder that can be added to shakes or water. It is a way to get the vegetable and fruit missing from your diet. The supplement is supposed to not really have a taste to it, so it will be easier to drink for picky eaters. When shopping for a supplement powder look for the following:
- Low sodium and sugar content
- Natural ingredients
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Probiotics
- High vegetable to fruit ratio
Start making a green smoothie or green drink at least twice a week in the morning to create a healthy habit. Get your veggies and fruits in a quick drink that is sure to wake you, you might even find that you don’t need coffee to get energy to start your day.