A Green Smoothie a Day.... That's What the Doctors Say!
Starting the morning off with a green start!
Green smoothies are a hot topic of interest. When I first heard the idea of drinking spinach for breakfast, I had a few thoughts:
- First of all, no thanks.... the idea of drinking spinach for breakfast...yuck!
- Secondly, there is no way that would fill me up! I need a hearty breakfast to feel full otherwise my stomach will start growling by 10am!
BUT..... I knew there were many healthy benefits so,
I reluctantly gave the green smoothie movement a try and... surprisingly I felt great! Not only was I full for the entire morning, I also felt energized. My skin was looking great, my digestion improved, and I just overall felt better. On top of all of the health benefits, these smoothies are easy/fast to make and can be taken on the go!
Many of us do not eat enough greens, vegetables, or fruits. A green smoothie a day is a great way to load up on your green intake early in the day! Plus, when you're starting your day off with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, you are bound to make better choices throughout the day! This is also a great way to kickstart your metabolism in the morning. Another added benefit is loading up on fiber! Because the smoothie is blended, it makes the nutrients and fiber more readily available to absorb into your blood stream!
A few tips on how to make the perfect green smoothie include the following:
- Base: The base or heart of your smoothie should consist of some type of leafy greens. I like to use spinach or kale. You can also add in a variety of micro greens, mustard greens, arugula, etc. This is the largest component of the smoothie. Depending on how much you want to make you can add 2-3 cups of your leafy green(s) of choice.
- Veggies: The veggie component is the second largest portion of your smoothie. I love to add whole, local, organic carrots to my smoothies. It adds a hint of sweet but also has many health benefits. The beauty is that you can add any veggie that sounds good to you! For example, broccoli, celery, cucumber, etc.
- Fruit: I love adding banana and/or avocado to my smoothie. You can also add antioxidant rich fruit such as blueberries, blackberries, or cranberries. I try to keep the fruit portion to a minimum. Just a little fruit to make it sweet but I prefer to have more veggies.
- Liquid: Almond milk (unsweetened, original) is my preferred liquid to add to my smoothies. You can also add water, ice chips, or greek yogurt. I prefer the almond milk because I like my smoothie a bit heartier and I like the added boost of vitamin E.
- Add Ons: This category can be a lot of fun! Add ons can include a variety of ingredients including:
- seeds: chia seeds, hemp seeds, or flax seeds
- spices: ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, etc.
- miscellaneous: coconut oil, fish oil, probiotic, protein powder, local honey, Amla powder (antioxidant superfood)
To finish off your green smoothie you throw it all in some type of blender: Nutribullet, Vitamix, or standard blender, mix it up, pour into your go to cup, and you're on your way!
I recommend that all of the food options used are whole food ingredients from our many local organic farms in the greater Petoskey area! When you have the choice, locally grown is always best! :)
Please consult a health professional for advice on what type of smoothie will work best for you as we all have different needs. Also, some pre-existing health conditions may make some of the above listed ingredients something that should be avoided as to not affect the efficiency of certain medications.
If you are interested in learning more about green smoothies, feel free to give us a call! We are happy to discuss any nutritional questions you may have :)
Stay tuned for our next blog post! And if you have any ideas of things you want to learn about send us a message and we can work that into our blogging schedule!