Green smoothies are not only a unique colour, but they also offer unique health benefits. Made with leafy greens loaded with antioxidants and vitamins, they are an excellent way to enjoy a delicious drink that satisfies hunger and offers maximum nutrition.
In this article, Health Coach Drew (creator of the best-seller The Smoothie Diet program and the same guy who introduced me to smoothies at first) is going to tell you more about green smoothies and health benefits they provide:
TOP 20 Health Benefits of Green Smoothies by Health Coach Drew
I have personally enjoyed many health benefits from drinking green smoothies since 2008. They are an easy way to get five or more fruits and vegetables daily. But that’s not all…
Here are some of the TOP HEALTH BENEFITS of green smoothies:
#1 Natural Weight Loss
Just about everyone who drinks green smoothies loses weight. Most people who follow my The Smoothie Diet program report losing 5-10 pounds weight in the first week by only drinking green smoothies.
Green smoothies help you lose weight in several ways:
First, replacing a daily meal with a green smoothie lowers overall calorie intake while increasing fruit, vegetable, and fiber intake.
Secondly, green smoothies help reset your taste buds so that you want to eat healthy and you start craving healthy foods.
#2 Boost Fruit & Vegetable Intake (Particularly Greens)
The American Cancer Society recommends eating 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily to prevent cancer and other diseases. Green smoothies are a quick and convenient way to get your vegetables and dark, leafy greens without tasting them.
The fruit masks the flavor, so even though all you taste is pineapple, mango, banana or strawberry, you are consuming a healthy dose of spinach, kale, or any other vegetable that you put in.
The average green smoothie contains 3-5 servings (or more) of fruits and vegetables.
#3 Increased Energy
Green smoothies boost vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients without bogging down your digestive system. Since you are eating natural, whole foods in the most optimum form for digestion and nutrient absorption, you will have more energy to get things done and enjoy your day.
Green smoothies provide B vitamins and magnesium that help support energy metabolism.
#4 Boosts Nutrition
Green smoothies are jam-packed full of nutrients.
The average green smoothie recipe on my website provides more than 100% of your daily value of vitamins A (as beta-carotene), C, and K. They also provide a good source of B vitamins (except B12) E, and folate.
As for minerals, green smoothies are an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and many other trace minerals.
Blending fruits and vegetables together breaks down the cells of plants and improves digestibility. Your blender unlocks the nutrients and maximizes their delivery to your body more than chewing any salad could.
Green smoothies are quicker and more convenient than preparing and thoroughly chewing a salad.
#5 Strengthens Immune System
Increased fruit and vegetable consumption helps keep your body in optimum health. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and some of the compounds found in certain foods help protect your body against disease.
Citrus fruits, cranberries, and ginger are the top immune-boosting smoothie ingredients.
#6 Excellent Source Of Minerals For Healthy Bones
Green smoothies provide a rich source of minerals thanks to the dark, leafy greens. All bone-building nutrients are abundant, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Many of my green smoothie recipes contain more than 200 milligrams of calcium, and many have more calcium than a glass of milk.
#7 Excellent Source of Antioxidants
Green smoothies deliver a massive dose of health-protecting antioxidants and phytonutrients. Not only are you giving your body the best defenses aganst disease, you are ingesting a variety of natural substances essential for optimum health and fitness.
To get the most antioxidants in your blends, make your green smoothies with blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, pomegranates, acai, and cacao (raw chocolate).
#8 May Help Lower High Cholesterol
A healthy, plant-based diet with green smoothies may help lower cholesterol.
#9 May Help Lower High Blood Pressure
Many fruits and vegetables have been studied for their ability to lower blood pressure.
As part of a healthy diet, green smoothies may improve your blood pressure while reducing some of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
#10 Improves Mental Clarity and Focus
With a healthier diet comes greater mental clarity and focus. Green smoothies have replaced my morning coffee ritual.
I get more energy from a green smoothie, and there isn’t any afternoon slump, or caffeine-related side effects.
#11 Supports Colon and Gut Health
Unlike juicing or drinking fruit juice, green smoothies contain the whole fruit and vegetable, so you get all the fiber and nutrition.
Fiber is essential for good colon health. It feeds your beneficial gut microbes, supporting optimum digestion and a robust immune system.
#12 Promotes Clear, Radiant Skin and Strong Hair & Nails
Many say their skin, hair, and nails look healthier and stronger while drinking green smoothies.
#13 Reduces and Combats Cravings
Green smoothies reduce cravings for junk foods, unhealthy sweets, salt, and fats. You will find that after a few weeks of drinking smoothies, you will crave healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, and greens.
The sweet fruit in green smoothies satisfies cravings for sweets. You can make green smoothies with healthy, raw chocolate (cacao) if you crave chocolate.
#14 Anti-Inflammatory
Most fruits and vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties, so green smoothies are an excellent food if you suffer from inflammatory conditions.
Many of my readers report that drinking green smoothies every day reduces inflammation.
#15 Green Smoothies May Help Prevent Chronic Diseases, or Even Provide Therapeutic Benefits
There have been countless studies on diet and nutrition. The overwhelming consensus in the peer-reviewed scientific literature is that people who eat more fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of developing disease – including cancer, diabetes (type 2), obesity, cardiovascular disease, and many age-related medical conditions.
Specifically, green smoothies, combined with healthy diets, may provide therapeutic benefits for (or protect against):
- Allergies
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arthritis & Gout
- Diabetes, Type 2
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Stroke
#16 Supports Eye Health & Protects Vision
Green smoothies are rich in beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and resveratrol – four antioxidant compounds in many fruits and vegetables.
#17 Specific Benefits For Women
Certain fruits and vegetables and other smoothie ingredients may help women who suffer from PMS.
Green smoothies can also support a healthy pregnancy.
Women going through menopause may also benefit from green smoothies.
#18 May Help With Seasonal Allergies
While the medical data is limited, there are many, many reports of people who have reduced the severity of their seasonal allergies once they started drinking green smoothies.
I have experienced the same thing: I rarely get seasonal allergy attacks since I started drinking green smoothies in 2008.
#19 Rich With Chlorophyll
Green smoothies are rich with chlorophyll which some natural health experts say enhances the immune system, purifies the blood, and rejuvenates the body.
While these claims are likely over-hyped, getting potentially beneficial plant compounds in your diet doesn't hurt. If you wish to increase your intake of chlorophyll, then get it from leafy greens and skip the questionable supplements.
#20 Alkalizing
Many natural health experts promote the alkalizing effects of green smoothies (or fruits and vegetables). This claim is controversial, however.
Promoters of the acid-alkaline “theory” claim that green smoothies help neutralize blood pH and prevent the body from becoming too acidic. The truth is that no food causes blood pH to change, so green smoothies would not neutralize blood pH since your body tightly regulates it (regardless of what you eat).
Green smoothies provide minerals used by your body to maintain pH balance naturally. The calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in leafy greens helps keep your bones strong. If you are not deficient, your body doesn’t need to rob your skeleton of these precious minerals.
Also, many of my readers, myself included, have noticed that heartburn and indigestion disappear when drinking green smoothies.
In addition to these health benefits, green smoothies are:
- Easy to make and clean up after.
- Taste amazing.
- They can be kept for a couple days in the refridgerator.
- They are fun to make and experiment with different fruit and vegetable combinations.
Green smoothies are life-changing!
To Your Success!
Certified Health Coach,
P.S. If you need to lose 5-10 pounds quickly, I encourage you to watch this short FREE video presentation and try my The Smoothie Diet program to see how effective detox smoothies for weight loss can be.