I had the urge to write about this daily habit that takes 10
minutes or less, but can have an incredible influence on you and your
family’s health!
Right
now in our world there are a lot of people who would love to feel better about their bodies.
Studies show that a good portion of both men and women are unsatisfied with
themselves or struggle with self-confidence. This is no secret, and it is
apparent that as a society we are searching for better answers than painful
dieting and hours in the gym.
I
was first introduced to the idea of green smoothies when I was
a teenager.
I
struggled a lot with body image during adolescence, and more than wanting to feel
beautiful I also wanted to feel healthy. So I was always looking
for the secrets to having a body I felt confident walking around in!
The
idea is you find the right blend of fruits, veggies,
and greens to throw into a blender that make a delicious smoothie and a powerhouse nutrient-rich boost for your body! The possible
and proven benefits to drinking a green drink on a daily basis are awesome!
·
Weight loss
·
Mood enhancement
·
Natural detox and
cleanse
·
Immune
support/boost
·
Huge percentage of
daily need for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
·
ENERGY increase
that lasts
·
Fiber that you
don’t get from juice
·
You feel ‘light’
verses ‘heavy’
·
Happy cells!!
Green
smoothies are great at anytime during the day, but are particularly excellent
for breakfast. Our body goes through natural cycles throughout
a day where it focuses respectively on these three processes: Elimination,
Appropriation, and Assimilation.
In the morning we are typically in elimination mode and our body is focusing on releasing toxins and cleansing.
In the morning we are typically in elimination mode and our body is focusing on releasing toxins and cleansing.
Eating a heavy breakfast that is cooked can often be
counter-productive to this cycle. Think of how it feels if you’re trying to
clean the kitchen and before you’re done someone comes in and starts pulling
out food to make a big meal. It would definitely slow you down or
maybe even stop you from cleaning completely. Our body is the same way.
Our body responds the
best to living and easily digestible foods in
the morning. Living food means it is raw (uncooked) and is thus still full of
enzymes and nutrients that aid digestion and fuel your body.
Convinced to give
smoothies a try? Let’s address some common hesitations for those that need a
push!
Tastes nasty?
The first time I made a
green smoothie it was disgusting. I didn’t blend it well so it was chunky and I
was a little too ambitious on the percentage of greens that I added. In
general we are used to overly-sweet food, and starting off your
smoothie habit with too many veggies can cause you (and your
family victims) to tank before finishing the first glass. Luckily our
taste buds adapt over time. Try starting with 20% veggies and 80% fruit. Then
slowly change it until you’re eventually drinking 50/50. Baby steps!
Can’t get over looks and
texture?
I would recommend
getting a good blender. They are FANTASTIC. Your smoothies will
feel like Jamba Juice. But let’s be real, a good portion of us don’t have
that kind of money to throw around just yet. But don’t let that stop you
from changing your life. Any blender will do the job. Putting the
veggies in and blending them for a bit first can help to get rid of chunks
making them easier to drink.
Bored?
Now that I’ve got a spouse to please, I’ve put a lot more
energy into VARIETY. Don’t get stuck on one recipe. Try new things!
Mix new colors! If you make your family drink something that tastes too weedy
one day, make a really delicious one the next day. Find your favorites and have
fun getting creative.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE
RECIPES:
·
1/2 Cucumber
·
1 whole lemon (just
cut end nubs off)
·
1 handful of
spinach
·
1 banana
·
2 tbsp of green
super-food powder
·
1 tbsp of organic
flax power
·
1 cup of frozen
pineapple
·
2 scoops of organic
yogurt
·
Coconut milk/Water
·
A few handfuls of
spinach and kale
·
1 Banana
·
1-2 cups of frozen
berries
·
1 whole lemon (just
cut end nubs off)
·
2 tbsp of organic
chia seeds
·
Water
·
1 cup of carrots
·
2 tbsp of organic
flax powder
·
1 tsp of bee pollen
·
1 whole lemon (just
cut end nubs off)
·
2 oranges
·
1 banana
·
A few slices of
grapefruit or 3 drops of grapefruit oil
·
2 scoops of organic
yogurt
·
Water/Coconut milk
·
1 mango
·
1 cup of carrots
·
1 apple
·
1 banana
Just
not sure it is for you?
Maybe smoothies just aren’t and will never be your thing.
That’s fine! As with everything, don’t take my word for it. Give
it a good shot. If it is a good thing your body will let you know!
No comments:
Post a Comment