Green smoothies are perfectly balanced meals or drinks (depending on its texture) that have many benefits for your health. You can start your day with a delicious green smoothie made in your kitchen in less than 5 minutes!
What is a green smoothie?
These natural drinks consist of three parts: fruit, raw leafy green vegetables, and a certain amount of water. Green leafy vegetables are the essential parts of green smoothies, not only because of the colour, but because they are full of vitamins, minerals, fibre, chlorophylls, and amino acids.
Making a good green smoothie is not hard. You can use a wide variety of vegetables. For example, you can put some spinach, rocket, green salad, parsley, radish, etc.
As far as the fruits are concerned, you can use banana, mango, and dates as the base of your smoothie. Depending on the season, you can use other fruits as well.
During the winter, you can combine oranges, as excellent sources of vitamin C, folic acid, and fiber; pears or apples that add an extra creamy texture.
Nutrition specialists also recommend adding some berries, as they are excellent sources of antioxidants.
Why are green smoothies so good for you?
Natural detoxification of our body begins after midnight and lasts until noon the next day. This is why we should not consume heavy, thermally processed food until noon. As a result, a green smoothie is an ideal choice for your first-morning meal.
In addition, some of the reasons why you should consume green smoothies include:
- A green smoothie is a low-calorie, light drink
- It is full of healthy vitamins, minerals, and fibre
- It is very easy to prepare a green smoothie
- It can be consumed by all family members
- Regular use of smoothies improves the condition of your skin, hair, and nails
- It is a delicious source of energy
- It is a good way to lose weight
- It positively affects your mood
- Constant use improves memory and concentration
- It regulates your digestion.
Green smoothies for weight loss
Different types of green smoothies are very good allies in weight loss. Green smoothies alkalize your organism. Moreover, these are very good means of natural detoxification. Therefore, regular consumption leads to natural, balanced, and safe weight loss.
7 Best Ingredients for Green Smoothies
There are many different ingredients you can put into a smoothie, but some of them are more beneficial than the others. Let’s see which seven green ingredients are a must.
Spinach
Spinach is the key ingredient of lots of different kinds of green smoothies. It is rich in fibre, vitamins C and A, folic acid, and magnesium. It regulates your blood pressure and helps lose weight. It is also very rich in lutein which protects your eyes.
Kale
Kale is rich in many different vitamins, including C, B6, A, and K. It strengthens your immune system, protects against cancer, protects your bones and eyes. Also, it makes your skin, hair, and nails healthier. It reduces inflammation in your body and protects the heart and vascular system. It also improves digestion and reduces the risk of diabetes.
Kiwi
Kiwi also strengthens your immune system, regulates blood pressure and digestion, helps in treating respiratory illnesses, headaches and stress. It is rich in vitamin C.
It reduces the triglycerides in your blood by 15 percent. In addition, it helps in healing wounds, maintaining bone structure and health, as well as the health of your teeth and digestive system.
Also, kiwi will give your green smoothie an excellent taste!
Parsley
Parsley cures inflammation and infection. It also improves your mood and gives you energy. Parsley acts as a diuretic, heals rheumatism, relieves the symptoms related to swollen legs. It also relieves menstrual pain. Therefore, don’t forget to add some parsley leaves into your smoothie.
Nettle
Nettle is well-known traditional medicine for cold. It acts as a powerful detoxifying agent for your whole body.
Nettle is an excellent diuretic and laxative. It is also used in cases of irregular menstruations, asthma, spleen disease, gangrenous wounds, and many other diseases.
Due to the high concentrations of iron, nettle has been used for the treatment of anaemia for centuries.
Therefore, it is a good idea to add some nettle to your green smoothie. It will provide the necessary iron and give you some extra energy.
Mint
Mint contains a high amount of menthol, which accounts for its recognizable scent and taste. It helps in preventing bad breath. In general, consumption of mint in various forms helps maintain oral hygiene and health.
Mint is also used to relieve digestive tract problems, reduce stomach and intestinal pain, relieve various cramps and nausea, especially those caused by travel.
It promotes weight loss because it acts as a diuretic. Also, it stimulates metabolism and reduces appetite. In addition, it is very effective in relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Therefore, you should add some mint leaves to your green smoothie, and it will smell great and taste even better! We recommend you to use mint in your summer green smoothies, due to its cooling effect.
Chard
Chard is a very valuable plant. It contains around 13 different antioxidants, including alpha and beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and choline.
It also contains magnesium, manganese, potassium, and iron, as well as significant amounts of vitamins K, A, E, and C.
Green Smoothie Recipes
Here are some popular and healthy green smoothie recipes you can try. All you have to use is some fresh fruit and vegetables and – a blender! Let’s begin!
Green smoothie for a fresh start
Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups of water
- Some chopped green salad
- 3 to 4 branches of parsley
- A cup of spinach
- 1 apple
- 1 pear
- 1 banana
- Half a lemon juice
- A bit of coriander
Mix all ingredients in your blender and blend for a minute or two. Consume fresh in the morning.
Winter Smoothie
Ingredients:
- Two large cups of spinach
- 5 dates
- 2 oranges
- Some celery
- two cups of water
Mix all ingredients in your blender and enjoy your winter green smoothie!
Tropical Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 large banana
- 1 cup of pineapple
- 1 ½ cup of chard
- 2 oranges
- A bit of mint
- 1 cup of coconut water
Mix the above-mentioned ingredients in your blender. Enjoy your summer green smoothie!