28 Day Green Smoothie Challenge
All you have to do is add a green smoothie to your diet every day for the 28 days - it can be a meal replacement or just add it on to your day - just be sure to have one every day. The only rule is that it must contain 1-2 Cups of leafy greens. I'm a fan of kale and spinach, but there are many varieties of leafy greens to choose from and now that the Farmer's Markets are all opening up again, you should have no trouble finding:1. Kale
2. Collards
3. Turnip Greens
4. Swiss Chard
5. Spinach
6. Mustard Greens
7. Broccoli
8. Cabbage
9. Watercress
10. Arugula
Get creative! Try different types of greens with different types of fruits. Mix in some peanut butter or some protein power. make it sweet with maple syrup, make it savory with ginger - the sky's the limit! If you're not into being creative, here is a list of 30 that should help you through the challenge. My go-to smoothie recipe is one I found on Pinterest and modified a bit:
The Green Power Smoothie
Ingredients:
2C Leafy Greens (I use Spinach and Kale)
1/2 C Chunk Pineapple
1 Banana
1/2 C Plain Greek Yogurt
3/4 C Almond Milk
1/2 C Ice
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
Combine all of the ingredients in the blender and blend well.
Pour into your favorite tumbler and enjoy :)
Why are we doing this challenge?
There are so many benefits to green smoothies and we want to use this as an opportunity to kick-start us all into a great habit and clean up our bodies moving into the holiday season. The health benefits of green smoothies include:
1 – Natural Weight Loss
Drinking a green smoothie is an effective was to lose weight since it provides the nutrition, vitamins, minerals, healthy carbohydrates, fiber and low fat whole food that you need to lose weight quickly and effectively without starving yourself.
2 – Increased Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables (Especially Greens)
The American Cancer Society recommends 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day to prevent cancer and other diseases and green smoothies are a quick and convenient way to get your vegetables while masking the flavor with fruit.
3 – Easy Digestibility and Nutrient Absorption
Your blender unlocks the nutrients and maximizes their delivery to your body more than chewing any salad could and smoothies are quicker and more convenient, especially when you are on the go.
4 – Antioxidants
Green smoothies are high in antioxidants and phytonutrients, giving your body defense against disease and optimizing your health and fitness.
5 – Increased Energy
Smoothies provide a powerful boost of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients without bogging down your digestive system, giving you more energy to get things done and enjoy your day.
6 – Mental Clarity and Focus
With a healthier diet comes greater mental clarity and focus. Maybe use green smoothies to replace your morning coffee ritual and experience greater alertness, energy and reduced anxiety and nervousness.
7 – Increased Fiber Intake
Unlike juice, green smoothies use the whole fruit and vegetable so that you get all the fiber and nutrition. Fiber is essential for good colon health and it keeps your bowels in working order.
8 – Clearer Skin
Smoothies are high in fiber and allow your body to eliminate toxins the right way instead of through your skin, leading to a clearer, more radiant appearance.
9 – Reduce Cravings
Green smoothies reduce cravings for junk foods, unhealthy sweets, salt and fats. You will be creating a new craving for fruits and vegetables instead.
10 – 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.
11 – Alkalizing
Fruits and vegetables are alkaline foods that help maintain a proper pH level in your body. A low pH level of the blood can cause your body to leach calcium from your bones to neutralize it, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
So go, make those smoothies and enjoy how they taste and how you feel. Please feel free to post in the comments section or on Facebook, some of your all-time favorite recipes or maybe a new favorite that you discovered during this challenge, to share with everyone :)
Happy blending!
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