Ah, the green smoothie…either you love them, hate them, or are afraid to try them. 😀 Why would you want to have a green smoothie? Well, they an easy way to increase leafy greens in your diet. Leafy green vegetables are low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and low on the glycemic index. Best of all they are full of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial phytochemicals. Honestly, I’ve had a few green smoothies that were just plain awful, but this my friend is not one of those.
My Piña Colada Smoothie is a great introductory green smoothie. Aside from it’s beautiful color you would never know it is loaded with fresh baby spinach.
Spinach is full of antioxidants called flavonoids and carotenoids. The flavonoids in spinach have been found to function as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Two carotenoids in spinach (lutein and zeaxanthin) are antioxidants that aid in vision and help prevent age-related macular degeneration.
Spinach has lots of nutrients and is a great source of vitamin K, vitamin A, iron and folate.
Vitamin K is a fat-solube vitamin that aids in blood clotting and helps maintain bone health.
Vitamin A promotes good vision and helps maintains good skin health.
Iron is important as it helps hemoglobin hold oxygen in the blood.
Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that functions as a coenzyme in the synthesis of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and metabolism of amino acids.
Magnesium helps lower blood pressure and prevents arrhythmia.
Calcium is needed for healthy teeth and bones, nerve impulses, muscle contraction, and blood coagulation.
- 1 cup ice
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- ½ cup fresh mango chunks
- 1 small banana
- 4 oz 0% plain greek yogurt
- ¾ cup cold water
- Add ingredients into blender in the order listed.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
I love the tropical green Piña Colada Smoothie. Yes, it is green, but all you taste is delicious pineapple and coconut flavors. Drink up and you’ve just added 2 servings of a healthy green vegetable to your diet. 😀
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