I can’t go anywhere these days without seeing someone with a green drink in their hand. Maybe I live to close to Whole Foods? Nah… I myself am a big fan of greens. Greens help keep your body in an alkaline mode. We eat so many acidic foods that it is important to get greens in your day. The easiest way for me is through a drink and a couple of my favorites are: GT’S Organic Raw Kombucha (Multi-Green) and *Evolution FRESH (Sweet Greens and Lemon) 100% juice. I usually only drink the kombucha drink when I have a horrible headache, it’s the only drink that helps me with that. I drink Evolution all the time because it’s a true green drink that has juice from celery, apple, cucumber, spinach, parsley, romaine lettuce, lemon, lime, wheatgrass, and clover sprouts. Yum!
Most green drinks you get freshly blended always include spinach and/or kale among other ingredients. So, what’s better, kale or spinach? Both are great.
Here’s a quick and simplified break down:
Kale Nutrition Facts
Calories 50
Fiber 2 grams
Protein 3.3 grams
Calcium 10% RDA
Iron 9% RDA
Vitamin C 160% RDA
Vitamin A 659% RDA
Spinach
Calories 23
Fiber 2.2 grams
Protein 2.9 grams
Calcium 14% RDA
Iron 15% RDA
Vitamin C 37%
Vitamin A 407%
The Best Green Drinks From Around The Web
Makes 1 smoothie (or 2 kid sized)
1/2 cup vanilla almond, soy, or coconut milk (I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
1 cup frozen pineapple pieces
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 big handful fresh baby spinach
Variations:
– add a small container of yogurt for added protein and calcium
– add a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder (I don’t do this for kids)
Add 1 tablespoon of any of the following:
– chia seeds
– flax seeds
– natural flaked coconut
– peanut or almond butter (source)
Grape – Cucumber Punch
Ingredients
2 cups kale, fresh
1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
2 cups grapes
1 cucumber, peeled
1/2 avocado
1 banana
1/2 cup pineapple
– Serves 2 –
Directions
Blend kale and almond milk until smooth. Next add the remaining fruits and blend again (source)
Cilantro Mango Detox
1 ½ cups spinach, fresh
½ cup cilantro, fresh
2 cups water
1 ½ cup mango
1 cup pineapple
½ avocado
– Serves 2 –
directions
Blend spinach, cilantro and water until smooth. Next add the remaining fruits and blend again.
The super-food is KALE which contain large amounts of vitamins (A, C, K, & E).
All raw greens are great. I recommend having a green drink which includes both. However if you did have to choose, you now know kale is a more nutritional option.
Fitness Tip: GO GREEN and use the “Best green drinks” recipes from the list above
Ready. Set. Get Fit! GET HEALTHY!
Darese, ISSA CFT, Certified Boot Camp Instructor
Resources: Prevention.com / simplegreensmoothies.com
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