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All about Green Smoothies

Most people are familiar with the health benefits and convenience of fruit smoothies because they are easy to make, taste great and are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Green smoothies seem to be all the rage now among health conscious people, but many people are still unaware of this phenomenon.

There is something about the thought of making a smoothie out of green vegetables that leaves many people confused and disinterested but green smoothies can be just as delicious as and even healthier than a regular fruit smoothie. By choosing specific ingredients that complement each other a green smoothie can bring a powerful mix of minerals, vitamins, chlorophyll and fibre to the body in an easy-to-digest package.

Green smoothies can contain a variety of health-boosting and detoxifying ingredients, such as spinach, lettuce, kale, celery, collard greens, parsley, dandelion greens, watercress, bananas, apples, pears, avocado, mango etc.

Green smoothies are actually healthier than green juices because they retain all their healthy fibre and this allows a slower release of the sugars in the ingredients, and it makes you feel fuller for longer and helps to combat cravings.

Delicious green smoothies are an excellent way to get children to eat raw, green vegetables. You can start them slow by making green smoothies with a higher percentage of fruit than vegetables, and then progress them to regular green smoothies as they get used to them.

It is advisable that you only add fruit, green vegetables, water, and perhaps some superfood powders or spices to your green smoothies. Don’t add nuts, seeds and oils as this will slow down the digestion and assimilation of the super nutritious ingredients.

The simpler you make it the easier it is for you to digest and won’t result in gas or indigestion. Try to drink your green smoothie by itself and not as part of another meal, but you can eat other food about 30 minutes before and after you have a green smoothie. For proper digestion sip your green smoothie slowly and chew each mouthful.

To get the most health benefit from your green smoothie, make sure to choose organic fruit and vegetables as this will reduce your exposure to pesticides and other toxic chemicals that may be present in conventional produce.
Try this Green Smoothie recipe!

Ingredients

375ml  pure, filtered water
1 head of organic romaine lettuce
3 leaves of kale
3 stalks of organic celery
1 organic apple, chopped
1 organic pear, chopped
Juice of ½ organic lemon
A pinch if cinnamon

Method

Add the chopped lettuce and kale to the blender with the water and begin blending it. Slowly add the rest of the ingredients and blend until completely smooth.

Sources

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/nutrition/nutrition+tips/4+green+smoothie+recipes,18221
http://www.vegkitchen.com/tips/top-10-benefits-of-green-smoothies/