Greens Greens Greens

Posted by

It seems we are all a little green mad lately… Green smoothies, green juices, green salads, green tea, green everything! We’ll be the first to say that we hope this health ‘trend’ sticks around for years to come as the health benefits of green vegetables really are incomparable. Greens should be included in every meal to some extent to help energise your day, alert your mind and see you fighting fit ALL the time! Trust us, your body and mind will absolutely love you for it. We’ve given a breakdown of the amazing health benefits of green leafy veggies below…

greens

Vitamins & Minerals

Green leafy veggies are just the best! They are rich in soooo many important vitamins and minerals that it can be quite hard to believe that some people don’t eat them in one way or another every single day. Folic acid, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium… to name a few. Not to mention a whole host of phytochemicals which are amazing for the health of your eyes, skin, hair and nails (lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene). Green veg can also be considered a major source of iron and calcium for any diet… A fun fact for all plant-based foodies out there to know! This unique combination of allll the good things has been shown to help in the prevention of many illnesses and disease including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and more.

 

Fibre

Green leafy veggies can be considered life-giving foods. They are good sources of both soluble and insoluble fibre. Insoluble fibre is super important to your health as it helps to keep your bowels regular and provides bulk to your stools. In addition, it helps feed your gut bacteria in the same way as fermented foods do (you can read more about fermented foods here), essential for keeping a healthy balance of good and bad gut bacteria. Yes please!

Green SmoothieAntioxidants

One of the great health benefits of all plant-based foods is their rich content of the ever-amazing antioxidants! One such antioxidant, sulforaphane, has the potential to minimise risk of many types of cancer, including breast, bladder and prostate cancers. This little superhero can be found mainly in broccoli sprouts, brussel sprouts, bok choy, kale and watercress, all of which can be easily included in your green smoothies/juices,veggie stir fries or summer salads. Getting as many antioxidants as possible into your diet is key to amazing health as they work to neutralise the potentially harmful effects of free radicals in your body. As they are something that our body is constantly using, constant replenishment is necessary.

 

Chlorophyll

Green veggies have a super high content of chlorophyll, which is in fact the compound that makes them green in the first place. Which means… The darker and greener your greens, the better they are for you! The chlorophyll in greens has been found to boost immunity, naturally detox heavy metals and provide good amounts of antioxidants. All of these factors contribute to its role in neutralising the effect that environmental toxins, such as pollution, have on our body. Further to this, studies have shown that chlorophyll improves circulation and therefore gives you energy. Chlorophyll in its extracted form has also been used as a natural breath freshener and body deodorizer. Fair to say that chlorophyll is an absolute must in your diet!
.
greens-1
While consuming lots of greens may be a little daunting for some of you, it can actually be a lot easier than you initially think! Some simple ways to up the greens in your day would be to create a green smoothie as a breakfast or lunch meal replacement, tuck some mixed greens into your winter soups, fold them into your omelette or one of our personal faves is to wilt spinach or baby kale into any and every cooked meal. So easy, so good! You could also choose to nibble on edamame, green beans or kale chips as a protein-rich snack when you hit a 3pm snack attack. YUM!
How do you get your daily dose of greens into your diet? Let us know in the comments below xo
Images: @thegreeneryclinic, @mattersofthebelly