Yes, this Green Kiwi Smoothie tastes just as good as it looks! Green smoothies are everything and, contrary to popular belief, they are among the Most Delicious, in my opinion! Especially, when you know what you're doing.
Green smoothies are a nutritious blend of fruits & veggies. They are hands down, in my opinion, a fun and easy way for people to meet their recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals. Unlike their cousins, juices, green smoothies retain the beneficial fiber content from whole foods.
Have you had your smoothie today?
Green smoothies consist of leafy greens like Kale, arugula, microgreens, and, even Collard Greens with a base liquid like water. With the exception of Spinach, most of these greens are very bitter. However, when you add fruit into the mix, a bitter smoothie can literally turn into a Tropical Smoothie with the addition of fruit..
Adding certain ingredients CAN increase the calorie count by increasing its sugar and fat content. Leafy greens are naturally low in fat and calories, so please be mindful when adding ingredients.. Make sure your Smoothie is Balanced with Fruit, Veggies, Nuts & or Water or plant based Milk. I do not recommend making smoothies with Whole Milk or ANY dairy products, for that matter.
Depending on what you like, healthy additions to a green smoothie can include:
Fruits like cherries, papaya, pineapple or peaches
Other vegetables like carrot, beetroot, cucumber, or cauliflower
Nuts and seeds like almonds or peanut butter, almond butter, hemp or chia seeds, and flax meal
Herbs and spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, or cocoa powder
Natural sweeteners like Agave, dates, or Stevia
Creamy additions like non-dairy yogurt, non-dairy Milk, bananas, avocados or silken tofu
The Combinations are Endless! ! Smoothies are also an easy way to take supplements like protein powder, maca powder, spirulina, or other powdered vitamin and minerals, just by adding a serving into the blender.
Nutritional Info
The nutritional content of your green smoothie will depend on what you include.
Green smoothies are also a great source of B vitamins. The B vitamins found in leafy greens, like folate, vitamin B6, and niacin, help your body release energy from food and can promote a healthy nervous system.
Health Benefits of Green Smoothies
Green smoothies are a great way to incorporate leafy greens into your diet. These greens are a rich source of vitamins and minerals and are most nutritious when consumed raw like in a smoothie.
It’s also easy to customize a green smoothie to your taste. However, while adding ingredients can improve the green smoothie’s flavor, they can also increase the amount of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and sugars.
Including leafy greens in your smoothie can provide health benefits like:
Digestive Health
The insoluble fiber in leafy greens helps food to pass through your digestive system, reducing issues like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Fibrous foods also help you to feel fuller for longer, which can aid in meeting weight-loss goals.
Bone Strength
Leafy greens like kale and spinach are a great source of vitamin K1. Research has documented that people with a high intake of vitamin K1 are at a decreased risk for bone fractures, osteoporosis, and decreased bone mineral density.
Immunity Support
Leafy greens are much higher in vitamin C than other vegetables. Vitamin C is known to support the immune system, fight infection, and help maintain healthy cellular function throughout our bodies.
Lower Risk of Chronic Disease
Leafy greens are high in antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamin C, which help to prevent and may even reverse oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals occur naturally but increase due to lifestyle and environmental factors, and the damage they cause to our cells is linked with chronic issues like inflammation, heart disease, and cancer.
Lower Cholesterol
Bile acid sequestrants are compounds used in medicine to lower cholesterol and are found naturally in leafy greens. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels keeps fatty deposits from building up on your artery walls, reducing your risk of heart disease.
Always Be Mindful of What You're Mixing!
Potential Risks of Green Smoothies
Because there are many ways to make a green smoothie, it’s possible to add too many sugars, carbohydrates, or fats. The potent vitamin content in leafy greens may also be unsuitable for people with certain medical conditions.
Things to consider when whipping up your green smoothie include:
Weight Gain
Leafy greens are naturally low in calories and fat. However, common green smoothie additions like fruits, nut butters, sweeteners, or milks can add excessive amounts of these nutrients to a single serving. Too much fat or caloric intake can lead to unwanted weight gain, so measure your portions so you know what’s in your drink.
Source: WebMD
Do your body a favor and start on a smoothie journey today! I started drinking smoothies in February 2014. Within a week, I could tell a huge difference in how I felt.. Within a month, my skin became even more healthy and since then, it seems as if I have began to age backwards. Moreover, I don't know when was the last time I've actually had a cold or, have been chronically sick. In addition to changing my eating habits, I truly feel that this is one of the MAIN reason why I have NEVER contracted COVID.
Take Care of your Body and it will ultimately take care of you!
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