Benefits of Green Smoothies
Eat your vegetables! Our mom’s have been telling us that for years, right? But lets face it, most Americans are not eating near the amount of veggies that they should be. Blending up a healthy, delicious smoothie is a great way to pack greens and other nutritious vegetables and fruits into your diet (especially those that you may not enjoy eating on a regular basis). Smoothies also a great way to sneak veggies into your kids’ diet – we all know how picky kids can be when it comes to veggies!
Eating a well balanced, plant based diet is definitely one the most powerful things you can do for your health (and athletic performance). Research has shown that people who eat plant-based diets have lower weight, reduced risk of chronic diseases, better nutrient intake, and better management of chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
By taking simple steps, like consuming more fresh vegetables you can start to experience those benefits.
Blending up a green smoothie for your breakfast every morning is a great way to start you day. Think about it – you’re giving your body a blast of phytonutrients, antioxidants and fiber. I promise, that green smoothie is going to keep you energized and full til lunchtime. It’s the perfect “grab & go” breakfast.
Without a doubt the healthiest smoothies are the ones that contain greens.
I recommend making smoothies that are loaded with leafy greens and only a small amount of fruit. The biggest mistake that people make when making smoothies, is using too much fruit. Too much fruit can cause spikes in your blood sugar. A good rule of thumb is no more than one serving of fruit in your smoothie. For example, 1 serving of berries is 1 cup. A serving a pineapple is 1/2 cup, due to it’s higher sugar content.
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Blueberry Almond Spinach
2 tablespoons almond butter
1/2 banana (preferably frozen)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
3 cups spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Add all ingredients to your Vitamix and blend til smooth. Enjoy!
Eat Healthy and Thrive! Remember quality nutrition is your competitive edge! /br