Are you looking to lose a little weight after the holiday session by introducing the occasional green smoothie into your diet? Or perhaps you are looking to cleanse or detox after a heavy drinking session in an attempt to flood your body with much needed nutrients?
Everybody knows there are a range of health benefits associated with drinking a green smoothie, but can they tell you exactly what? Likely not, but that’s ok. Below you’ll find a handful of the very best reasons to include them as a part of a balanced diet. You can also visit: the Health Benefits of Juicing to learn more about these nutrient-rich drinks.
Nutrition
Want an easy ticket towards healthy nutrition? Green smoothies are your best bet. From the good old vitamins and minerals to antioxidants, fruits and vegetables are known to be rich in nutrients. Blend the two into a smoothie, and what you have now is a nutritional powerhouse.
Although they cannot substitute “normal” foods entirely, green smoothies are an excellent nutritional booster. The average smoothie recipe contains a lot more nutrients than you can eat in one sitting. And because everything’s already broken down, smoothies take less time to digest. Pureeing the ingredients in a bullet blender unlocks the nutrients and enhances their absorption into the body more than eating any salad could.
Not every blender is created equally unfortunately so be careful what you select. You will see in this Nutribullet comparison that the Magic Bullet is no where near as powerful resulting in less than favourable results!
Energy Levels
There’s nothing worse than having your battery run out of juice in the middle of the day. Not the one in your phone (or any device for that matter). We’re talking about your body’s energy reserves.
Whenever you find yourself in need of an energy boost, try drinking a green smoothie. It will help revitalize your body without bogging down your digestive system. Fruits like strawberry and bananas are rich in rapid-metabolizing sugars – these will provide fuel to get you back up and running. Combining them with veggies like beets and carrots will keep your energy reserves stocked up in the long term. You may find some review here.
Of course, the best way to solve a problem is to prevent it from occurring. Rather than wait till your body runs out, why not start off with a tankful of gas? A glass of green smoothie in the morning will provide all the energy you need to last the entire day. And by consuming a large amount of fruit and veggies upfront, hitting your daily required intake becomes much easier.
Immune System
A green smoothie a day keeps the doctor away. No, seriously – fruits and veggies are great sources of phytonutrients. These are chemical compounds produced by plants to ward off pathogens and, in some cases, predators. Phytonutrients contain both anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants. The latter work to fight off unstable molecules within the body’s cells – including the white blood cells that make up part of the immune system.
A properly-constituted smoothie will also supply your body with plenty of immune-boosting vitamins. These include vitamin A, B6, and E, all of which enhance immunity on a cellular level. Vitamin C further fortifies the mechanism by stimulating the production of antibodies. While most of these nutrients are available in supplement form, you’re much better off obtaining them from natural sources. To get the most immune boosters, aim for maximum variety in your blends.
Colon & Gut Health
As noted earlier, smoothies exact less toll on the digestive system compared to normal foods. This can be a boon for those who suffer from digestive disorders – smoothies nourish the body with little-to-no gastric distress. Drinking them on a regular basis also helps keep one’s gut in good shape.
Smoothies contain lots of fiber, a substance that aids movement within the digestive tract. Fiber also nourishes the micro-organisms within the gut as well. It’s also been said to provide relief to some of the symptoms associated with digestive disorders. While processed foods are often lacking in fiber, drinking smoothies can ensure your tract never runs out of this vital ingredient. Consuming fruits and vegetables also helps in detoxifying the gut, thus minimizing the risk of infection.
Weight Loss
Green smoothies can be of immense help for individuals who are looking to lose weight. Jam-packed with nutrients but low on calories, they can help keep the body nourished while making it easier to melt off the pounds. They’re also said to make it easier to transition into a healthier diet.
Just one glass of smoothie a day will help cut down hunger pangs (and thus minimize unhealthy cravings). With time, you’ll be able to take full control over your eating habits, and develop an affinity for whole foods. Smoothies will also help in keeping your body hydrated, controlling blood sugar, and lowering cholesterol levels.
Make no mistake that effective weight loss requires more than a well-balanced smoothie recipe there are other elements of your life that might need improving. That being said,
every journey begins with one step. Smoothies will help you get a grip on your diet, and the other pieces of the jigsaw will start falling in place as a result.