Eat Clean, Green, and Stay Lean!

by Mary Luciano February 28, 2014
Do you feel sluggish and have little energy? Do you have extra pounds to shed? Do you struggle with eating clean because you’re always on the run and don't have the time to eat enough greens? Would you like to have more energy, stamina, and vitality to truly enjoy your life?

Introducing Green Smoothies: a sure way to keep you clean, green, and lean.

If you’ve already heard about green smoothies, great! You’re a step ahead! Green smoothies are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They’re a delicious way to get your dose of good quality greens for the day.

Any nutritionist will tell you that you need to eat dark leafy greens as often as possible. Yet sadly, it is the food group that is lacking most in today’s modern diet. Adding greens to your diet can help restore health very quickly. Did you know that greens are one food group in which all nutrients perfectly match human nutritional needs? Chlorophyll, known to be plants’ blood, is chemically similar in composition to that of human blood and is believed to help purify our blood and enhance our immune system. Greens are rich in chlorophyll!

It is estimated that we should have approximately 7 to 10 servings of greens a day which equates to a minimum of one pound. Yes, ONE POUND! However, sitting down for hours each day chewing on salad just may not fit into our busy schedule. So what’s the answer? Green smoothies!

You may be thinking, GREENS in my smoothie? Most people don't like dark leafy greens because they are too tough and fibrous to enjoy on their own and can taste bland. However when blended with fruit, green smoothies are very palatable.

Why blend greens? It’s important for us to consume greens in the form of smoothies because the cell wall gets broken down and the absorption of vitamins and minerals into the bloodstream is then easier. In addition, some people's digestion is not as optimal as it could be, and they may have problems with digesting raw greens. Blending raw greens makes it easier to digest and assimilate the nutrients.Greens have insoluble fiber, which means they can absorb sugars and counterbalance the fruit in the smoothie. This is helpful for people who are hypoglycemic or are diabetic.The following are some benefits you may experience once you start to drink green smoothies:
  • Increase in energy
  • Radiant skin and eyes
  • Keeps you regular
  • Aids in weight loss
  • Helps with sugar cravings
  • Improves digestion
Green Smoothies are quick, easy, and delicious. Try these treats for breakfast, snacks, or a pick me up in the afternoon. As you start to drink more green smoothies, you will notice that you may want to add more greens and less fruit. Believe it or not you may even start craving them.If you have not yet experienced a green smoothie, what are you waiting for? With a bit of fruit to sweeten the taste, you will love them in no time. This is one sure way of getting your daily recommended amount of greens at one time, in a fast and easy manner.Adding a minimum of one green smoothie a day either as a meal or a snack can increase your energy, stamina, and vitality so you can truly enjoy your life.

Never made a green smoothie before?

Here is what you need to make a delicious, tasty, green smoothie:

High Powered blender (preferred but not mandatory) - The one that comes highly recommended is the Vitamix. You can use a more inexpensive blender; however they may not break down the tough fibers in the greens as well. With the amount of use this appliance gets, you can make back your money two-fold. To learn more about Vitamix blenders go to http://www.maryluciano.com/links .Rubber scraper - You are going to want every drop of this delicious drink!Container for your smoothie - A wide mouth mason jar is recommended. Drinking smoothies from a glass container instead of a plastic one not only tastes better, it is also better for the environment and easier to clean because of the wide mouth.Lots of leafy green veggies - Favorite greens to use are kale and romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, spinach, field greens, swiss chard, sunflower and pea sprouts, arugula parsley, cilantro, bok choy, and beet greens. Fruit - Any fruit will do but most popular are bananas, pears, mangoes, apples, pineapples, and berries.You can also add some hemp or a protein powder of your choice. To get your dose of omega fats you can add flax or hemp seeds or their oils. You may want to experiment and come up with your own recipe, but in the mean time here is one to get you started. Banana Mango Smoothie 1 banana 1 to 2 mangoes (Ataulfo mangoes are best) 1 to 2 handfuls of spinach 1 handful of sunflower sprouts (optional or more spinach) 1–2 cups of waterDirections: Peel the mangoes and banana. In a blender, add first the water, then the mangoes and banana, and the greens last. Blend for 20 seconds. If too thick, add more water to your preferred consistency. If you want it colder, replace 1 cup water with a handful of ice.Pour finished smoothie in a glass or a jar and enjoy!

Copyright © 2013 Mary Luciano

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