Green smoothies are packed with nutrients, living enzymes, are low in calories, and they just plain make you feel good. The secret to good taste is balancing fruit with your leafy greens. Because the vegetables are already broken down they are easier for your body to digest, so that your body can focus on healing and detoxification.
It’s possible to drink more nutrition, without adding more calories, than you could eat in one sitting, which also rests your belly. Raw vegetables retain the micronutrients lost in the cooking process so that you get more bang for your buck, so to speak. Raw vegetables also help your body to it’s healthy state of alkalinity repairing from our often acidic diet. (coffee, cheese, meat, etc)
Green smoothies are wonderful pre- and post-workout, they are easy and convenient, and have also been shown to reduce cravings for sugars and carbs. The best ratio is 60% fruit to 40% vegetable, for taste and nutrition. They are also filling and an effective part of any weight loss regimen. As for fruits and vegetables to use, it’s a personal choice. Maybe you like apples, or peaches, or pineapple. The sweet taste of pineapple is a great starter fruit if you are new to the whole smoothie process, also, you can start off with an 80% fruit/20% greens combo and work your way up to 60/40. Any blender or food processor should work, skin your apples and cucumbers, cut into smaller pieces and throw them all in. You can also sprinkle a bit of ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, or whatever you like in there.
Protein mixed with fruit can cause abdominal bloating, so eat your protein in a separate meal. Sugar will add unnecessary calories, if you must have it sweetened use a bit of honey or other natural sweetener. Smoothies taste best cold and fresh, so throw some ice in the blender too, if you must save it for later keep it in an airtight container to keep it as fresh as possible.
Hard pits and seeds can damage your blades so remove them before starting, soft seeds, like watermelon, cucumber, and kiwi are fine and will provide additional nutrients. This should help you to enjoy a healthy delicious nutrient rich drink, at least to be brave and try it!
Source: http://www.superskinnyme.com/green-smoothies-weight-loss.html
