Green Smoothies
If we want to just do one simple thing to increase our health then drinking a green smothie a day (or at least a couple of times a week) is it. A green smoothie is unbelievably healthy, literally bursting with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fiber. Green veggies get their green colour from the high level of chlorella they contain. On a molecular level chlorella is virtually identical to human blood, making this green drink a super fuel that is perfectly designed to boost our wellbeing.
Being fibrous, vegetables can be tricky to digest resulting in much of the nutrition being lost. Blending the greens breaks down the cell wall & fibrous structure, meaning you are effectively giving your body a pre-digested meal where all the nutrition can be easily absorbed & assimilated. However, it is still best to chew your green smoothie as if you are eating a solid meal; by doing this you add the digestive enzymes from your saliva improve absorption.
The genius of green smoothies is that the combination of vegetables & fruit creates a drink that is sweet, meaning it is tasty & palatable for even the most ardent vegetable-hater. They are a fantastic way to get your kids to enjoy their daily vegetable intake.
I like to have a green smoothie for breakfast every day. I prefer to add only a little bit of fruit because I don’t want to spike my blood sugar too much. How thick or runny the smoothie is depends upon how much liquid is added; it is purely a matter of personal taste. Usually I use plain water, but if I want a really top of the range super-duper boost then I will juice a couple of celery sticks, a small carrot & a chunk of cucumber & then blend the smoothie with this juice. Any green-leafed vegetable can be used; my favourites are kale, chard, spinach, lettuce (not iceberg), & cavelo nero. Here are some of my favourite recipes:
Green Smoothie with Kale
2 handfuls of chopped kale
1 tablespoon cilantro (adds a lovely flavour)
1 slice watermelon (chopped)
½ banana (chopped)
1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
Any combo of superfoods *
1 cup water (or freshly juiced vegetable juice)
Add all ingredients to a blender & blend until smooth
Green Smoothie with Spinach
2 handfuls of spinach
1 medium ripe pear (deseeded & chopped)
I tablespoon parsley (great for the liver)
About 6 red grapes, halved (source of antioxidant resveretrol)
1 tablespoon chia seeds (pre-soaked for 10min)
Any combo of superfoods *
1 cup water (or freshly juiced vegetable juice)
Add all ingredients to a blender & blend until smooth
Green Smoothie with Chard & Lettuce
2 handfuls of chard
¼ to ½ head of lettuce
1 passion fruit (discard skin)
1 handful of mixed berries
Any combo of superfoods *
1 cup water (or freshly juiced vegetable juice)
Add all ingredients to a blender & blend until smooth
* Green smoothies provide a great way of incorporating superfoods into our diet; simply add your additions to the blender & you’re all set. Some of the additions I like to use are:
1 scoop of Hemp protein or Whey protein
1 tablespoon Flaxseeds or Chia seeds (adds omega-3 & fiber)
1 tsp Maca (strength & vitality)
½ tsp MSM powder (for liver & more)
1 tsp Lacuma powder (increases sweetness)
1 tsp Spirulina powder (trace minerals)
1 tsp probiotic powder (healthy gut)
2 tsp raw cacao powder (when I’m in a chocolate mood!)
I hope this has given you some ideas for making your own green smoothies. It is good fun to experiment & create your own unique blends. If you develop some great combos don’t forget to let me know.
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