I know I've done posts on this before, but I feel the need to do it again so click away now if your not interested in having more energy, glowing skin, reversing the aging process... well, you get the picture.
I started drinking green smoothies two years ago when I found out I had high levels of mercury and it was suggested that I start eating more cilantro. While I ate a small amount of cilantro in salsa and other mexican dishes, I felt I needed a way to get more of it in my system the fastest, least offensive way. About the same time the cilantro was recommended, I was reading about kale, how great it is and how everyone was putting it in their green smoothies. I decided those were the two ingredients I needed on a regular basis. I purchased a Vitamix which is GREAT! It blends everything up fast and very fine. Not like the blender I'm having to use now because the Vitamix is still in Birmingham. Temporarily!
I just can't tell you how much better I feel and how much better my skin looks since drinking these. I have one a day, 3 to 5 days a week. I add whatever fruits we have on hand, almost always a banana, cranberry juice, vanilla almond milk, protein powder, turmeric, cinnamon, flax seed (ground), sometimes walnuts, berries, pear, apple - whatever we have on hand. I usually add at least 2 or 3 fruits.
My husband thinks I over do it, but I'm always adding lots of things to it. It's a great way to get large amounts of greens and fruit, which I wouldn't do if it wasn't all blended together in smoothie form. I even added herbs last summer from our garden. Basil, mint and rosemary are particularly good. I add honey too since I like it a little more sweet and 2 handfuls of ice because it tastes much better cold. In the above smoothie, I even added a little avocado. I've added beets before, but they have a very strong taste. I felt like the cilantro and beets were battling out on my taste buds. Not good!! Healthy though!
Here's a list of most of the things I have added to my green smoothie and the health benefits of each. I always add Kale, Cilantro, Banana, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Protein Powder, Cranberry Juice and Honey. The other things are interchangeable.
Kale - Vitamin K, magnesium, iron, fiber, great detox food among other things. Read more about health benefits Here.
Cilantro - detoxing, binds with mercury and removes it from tissues, antibacterial, anti inflammatory
Banana - High in potassium, energy food
Walnuts- oleic acid, Omega 3. Read the many health benefits Here.
Flax Seed- Omega 3's, fiber (better ground these babies good!)
Beets- Natural liver detox, cleanses the blood
Avocado - healthy fat, helps body absorb some nutrients, Vitamin E, lowers cholesterol
Cranberry Juice - good for kidney and bladder health although I use the diet version so I don't know how strong that is or if it has enough cranberry in it to do any good but it is the "water" for my smoothie so it isn't too thick.
Almond Milk - Vitamin E for skin health, Vitamin A for eye health, Vitamin D, more nutrients than regular dairy milk. I like the Vanilla unsweetened Almond Milk. Great in cereal too!
Protein Powder- amino acids for muscle repair and rebuild. Read more of the benefits Here.
Turmeric - anti-inflammatory, cancer fighting, heart health, anti-oxidant. GREAT stuff!
Cinnamon - regulates blood sugar, heart health. Read more benefits Here.
Berries - flavonoids and phytochemicals, help fight mental decline, heart health, diabetes
Pear- antioxidants, fight free radicals, heart health and makes a tasty green smoothie!
Apple-read the many benefits Here. My favorite health benefit of apples is quercetin - an antioxidant, anti inflammatory, also found to increase endurance and athletic performance. Quercetin is also found in red wine so drink up!!
Basil- powerful antioxidant, anti-ageing benefits. Read more benefits Here.
Mint- soothes aches, pains and stomach problems, antiseptic and antibacterial, freshens breath
Rosemary- fights cancer, improves memory among many other things to many to list. Read more Here.
Honey- anti fungal, improves athletic performance, natural sweetener that makes smoothie taste great. Many more benefits Here.
Ginger Root - Soothes stomach, aids in digestion
Have I forgotten anything? What do you add to your green smoothies?
I like green smoothies, and my kids actually like baked kale, so I do it that way for them. Good tips!
ReplyDeleteI need to try baked kale. I think I would like it!
DeleteWhat a great post! As you know (thanks to you, mainly) I love green smoothies.
ReplyDeleteHere's one I like to make: avocado, pear, whey protein powder, plain almond milk, maybe a few spinach leaves. Creamy and delicious.
Another: orange, plain Greek yogurt, whey protein powder, almond milk. Tastes like an Orange Julius but not too sweet. (You know I don't like too-sweet drinks.)
You can also add coconut oil to spinach/kale smoothies for an extra healthy kick.
DeleteI am going to try the orange smoothie one of these days when I don't want the green stuff. Sounds delish!