Getting your Greens
If the thought of sitting down and eating a bowl of spinach or kale doesn’t get you all excited…you may want to try getting those greens in another way…why?
Well, because….
1. Alkalizes the Body
Your body’s pH is like the Goldilocks principle. It can’t be too acidic. It can’t be too alkaline. It needs to be just right (between 7.35 and 7.45 pH). Your body has natural buffer systems that keep it within the ideal pH range. But when you drink alcohol or consume processed foods it can cause your body to become more acidic. In response, your body has to pull buffering minerals from elsewhere in the body to maintain your pH. This can result in a wide range of issues including weak bones, fatigue, stiff joints, and digestive problems. Consuming plenty of green vegetables helps maintain alkalinity. And the easiest way to do that is with a green juice every day.
2. All-Day Energy
When you’re feeling tired, what’s the first thing you reach for? Coffee? An energy drink? While some caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee are perfectly healthy in moderation, they aren’t a remedy for the real reason you’re tired. An estimated 9 out of 10 people are lacking in key vitamins and minerals. When your body is starved of nutrients, it simply won’t work the way it should, leaving you feeling fatigued. Green juices are the perfect remedy. They provide a near-instant lift in energy. And unlike caffeine or synthetic stimulants, there’s no late-afternoon crash.
3. May Delay Aging
If you don’t eat a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, and herbs, you are missing out on a key component of wellness: antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative damage, which contributes to physical aging. Studies have linked oxidative damage to the development of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and more. And the best source for antioxidants is found in fruits and veggies.
In fact, an analysis of 95 studies by scientists from Imperial College London showed remarkable protection against a range of diseases when 10 servings of fruits and vegetables were consumed daily. This protective benefit only came from plants. Green juices give you multiple servings of nutritious superfoods to boost your antioxidant intake.
4. Improves Gut Health
Your gut is the foundation of health. It can be the difference between depression and happiness. It affects nearly every aspect of your health. That’s why it’s critical to take steps to ensure your gut is healthy, and drinking green juice supports gut health. That’s because green juices contain digestive enzymes and prebiotics. All these substances can dramatically improve the health of your gut.
5. Enhances Detoxification
No matter how careful you are, your body is constantly exposed to toxins. They can be found in drinking water, household furniture, clothing, food, and the air you breathe. All these toxins put a huge strain on your liver. Green juices help because many of the ingredients can support a healthy liver. For example, studies have found that cruciferous vegetables like broccoli can improve phase II detoxification in the liver. This means your liver will be more efficient at quickly getting toxins out of your body. By consuming a green juice every day, you can give your liver a fighting chance against all the toxins you’re exposed to on a daily basis.
6. Supports a Healthy Immune System
Green juices are one of the best ways to support a healthy immune system because they are packed full of nutrition. Much like a car needs gas, oil, and lubricants, your immune system needs specific nutrients to run properly. Nutrients that must be constantly replenished. If they aren’t, things stop working. Zinc deficiencies, for example, can make you significantly more susceptible to catching a cold or flu. A daily dose of vitamin C is also a must to help keep your immunity strong. Drinking a green juice every day is an easy way to replenish the nutrients your immune system needs.
7. Bioavailable Nutrients
You may be wondering if you’re covered with a multivitamin. The sad truth is, most multivitamins are cooked up in a lab using harsh chemicals and solvents. These “nutrients” are little more than artificial vitamins which aren’t absorbed well. Green juices, on the other hand, contain natural vitamins and minerals in their most bioavailable form. With nutritional co-factors and enzymes intact, they are easily absorbed. Your body simply gets more out of a green juice than it does a standard, run-of-the-mill multivitamin.
Here is a green drink recipe that will make you the perfect smoothie every time!…it will taste great and still get those greens in you!
GREEN DRINK
Ingredients:
• 1 cup liquid – a milk, almond milk, coconut milk, water or juice
• 1 cup leafy greens spinach or kale
• ½ cup creamy base 1 banana or ½ cup plain yogurt, or 1/2 avocado
• 1 cup fruit – frozen or fresh…your favorite choice…pineapple, pear, apple, berries
• 1 Tbsp optional superfood like chia, flax, or hemp seeds
• 1 tsp optional flavor enhancer cinnamon, vanilla, honey
Of course the more you get used to drinking your greens the more you may want to try some new mixtures…so, here are a few unique green drink ideas!
GREEN GOODNESS
Ingredients:
• 3 kale leaves
• 2 Swiss chard leaves
• 4 apples (use green for less sugar)
• 1/2 lemon, peeled
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a juicer or blender and process until smooth.
GREEN DETOX DRINK
Ingredients:
• 1 cup kale
• 2 Swiss chard leaves
• 1/2 cup parsley
• 1/2 small beet
• 1/2 cup pineapple
• 2 green apples (use red for sweeter flavor)
• 1 sprig fresh mint
• 1/2 lemon, peeled
BLUEBERRY SURPRISE
Ingredients:
• 1/2 small daikon radish
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1 cup kale
• 1 cup spinach
• 2 green apples