by Christine Bailey
Blue Guava & Tropics Blend
We are all too well aware of the importance of vegetables in our diet. Packed with an array of nutrients, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals these are nature’s life enhancing foods. Virtually every health authority recommends that we increase our intake of vegetables yet most of us fail to achieve even frequently quoted ‘five a day’. If you’re striving to lose weight or looking to bring true nourishment to enhance your beauty, brain, body and spirit then its time to embraced supercharged green smoothies.
Wherever you are along your path to good health one of the easiest ways to transform your health is to kick start the day with a green smoothie. But what exactly is a green smoothie?
Typically a green smoothie are composed of around 70-80% green vegetables with 20-30% fruits blended with a liquid such as water, nut milks, herbal teas or fermented drinks like kefir and kombucha. You can then supercharge it with the addition of a superfood or a protein powder to further support your health goals.
I absolutely love drinking green smoothies. They are incredibly nutrient dense and like a glass of liquid nectar to rejuvenate and sustain the body. Green Smoothies are also one of the best ways to give yourself a natural energy boost without resorting to stimulants like coffee. Within minutes it will start to revitalize your energy levels and nourish your body at the cellular level.
Here are some more reasons why I love green smoothies:
- They are a great way to naturally boost your energy making them perfect in the morning or at that afternoon slump.
- They are packed with antioxidants and nutrients to support health, aid detoxification and protect the body from disease.
- They are the ultimate fast food – taking minutes to make which means they are perfect when you’re in a rush.
- Easy to digest, they provide soluble and insoluble fibre to support bowel health and provide a slower release of energy.
Ginger Green Combo
If you cannot face eating platefuls of vegetables then blending them in a delicious drink may be your answer. The blending process breaks the fibre apart which makes the fruit and vegetables easier to digest. Being full of fibre you will also find them very filling and satisfying and by helping to support blood sugar levels they can help you avoid reaching for pick me up snacks later in the day.
If you start incorporating green smoothies in your diet daily you will soon feel the benefits from the inside out. Your skin will become more radiant, energy levels will soar and you will begin to think clearer. Your body will experience deep nourishment and enable you to feel vibrant and alert. If you need to shape up they are an effective tool for healthy weight loss.
Making a green smoothie is simple – select your liquid, add 2 cups of green vegetables and then add in ½ 1- cup fruit. Frozen fruit gives the smoothie a wonderful creamy texture and is also very quick and convenient. Then add in 2-3 of your favourite superfoods – this may be nuts, seeds, protein powder, spices, herbs, oils, superfood powders or blended powders.
For liquid options choose from a selection like water, coconut water, milk or nut milks, kefir, kombucha, herbal teas and green tea.
Greens can be anything you have to hand. Darker leafy greens are particularly nourishing. Examples include kale, spinach, cabbage, spring greens, parsley, watercress, rocket, chard, coriander, mixed lettuce leaves, romaine, collards, celery, cucumber, broccoli, pak choy etc.
For fruit the aim is to keep the amount as low as possible to avoid upsetting blood sugar levels. So as you get used to smoothies try and decrease your intake. Use fresh or frozen fruits such as banana, pear, apple, berries, and cherries citrus, avocado, mango, pineapple, kiwi fruit.
There are loads of superfood options: protein powders, green superfoods (spirulina, chlorella, moringa, wheatgrass, barley grass), chia seed, flaxseed, hemp, nuts, nut butter, coconut oil, omega blended oils, cacao, maca, lucuma, vanilla, cinnamon, acai and goji berry powder, goji berries, baobab powder, matcha green tea, mushroom powders, herbal powders.
Storing Smoothies. Ideally consume your smoothies immediately after making. This is because they are perishable. However you can store them for up to 24 hours without too much loss of nutrients. This is particularly helpful if you are taking your drinks with you to work or want to make up a batch in the morning for the rest of the day. The best way to store your drinks is to put them in a glass jar (BPA-free plastic works too) with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. This reduces the oxidation and loss of nutrients. Immediately store it in the fridge and consume it when you are ready.
Simply adding one green smoothie a day can transform your health, helping you feel vibrant and radiant with a new fresh healthy outlook to life.
Christine Bailey
The Supercharged Green Juice & Smoothie Diet
Available in January 2016.
Preorder from Amazon now.
