When it comes to eating a hearty meal, for many of us, the struggle to add some greens on to our plate is realer than real. While beige-toned foods like bread, pasta and rice are delicious, and filling, they aren’t chockful of nutrients that will have our health doing a happy dance. So today we want to give you some insight on why you should add more green colors to your plate—no, it’s not to just appease Popeye, though we can agree that is definitely an underlying motivation.
Green vegetables have a myriad of health benefits. If you were to do a quick Google search right now, we guarantee you’ll find thousands of articles written on the subject. For that reason, we’re pairing them down and selecting the top three reasons why you should eat more of these delicious foods!
#1 Iron, Iron, and Well, More Iron
Yes, you read that right. green leafy vegetables are terrific sources of iron. This mineral is vital to the production of hemoglobin and myoglobin in our bloodstream, which ensures that our cells are properly oxygenated. Seems important, right? Well, just eating one cup of raw spinach will give you .8 mg of iron; however, to get even more out of these vegetables cooking them is a smart route. For example, that same amount of spinach cooked will provide 6.5 mg of iron…much more, the way we like it.
#2 Folate is Fantastic
Did you know that folate is a major nutrient, and you can only get it through the foods you eat? That’s why we love our greens. They provide folate so we can go through our days worry-free. While you may not know this, folate is an essential component for DNA and RNA synthesis and cell division…so, as you can see, it is needed. Grab a bunch of kale next time you’re at the grocery store, regret won’t be an option.
#3 Because, Skin.
If you’re not sold on the whole vitamins and mineral ordeal, what if we said you could eat yourself to the appearance of healthy skin? Green leafy vegetables are rock-stars when it comes to feeding your body’s largest organ. They are full of vitamin K, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium and lutein. These are prized nutrients that work to rejuvenate the skin, repairing damaged cells and allow it to appear supple. Eating greens is one way to help your skin get that coveted glow.
Start Today
Now that you know the benefits these greens bring to the table—literally—we want to go the extra mile and show you three, quick recipes that you can make to get your fill of green goodness today!
OMGreenness! Smoothie
What You’ll Need
- 2 Frozen Bananas
- 2 Cups Kale
- 1 Cup Sliced Mango
- 1 Cup Milk of Choice
Directions: In a blender, place all the ingredients. Mix them together until a smooth consistency forms. Pour into a glass and enjoy this tropical smoothie that will have you saying “OMG”.
Sautéed Spinach with Lime Zest
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups of Spinach
- ½ Fresh Lime
- A pinch of water and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt/Pepper to taste
Directions: Add the EVOO and bit of water to a pan, and heat over a medium flame. Pile on the spinach and mix around in the water mix until the leaves appear wilted. Sprinkle on some salt and/or pepper to taste. Move to a plate and garnish with a small squeeze of lime. Enjoy the refreshing, iron-infused meal!
Avocado Mousse
- What You’ll Need
- 1 Large Ripe Avocado
- ¼ cup raw cocoa powder
- ¼ cup milk of choice
- 1 banana, chopped up
Directions: In a food processor place all the above ingredients. Pulse together until a smooth, creamy consistency forms. Scoop into a bowl and enjoy! We love it topped with some berries for extra tastiness.
You’ve been informed about the great benefits greens can give you! Now, go out and conquer the shopping list with the above ingredients for a no-fail “Greens Only” day. And if you find yourself struggling still, because you have a demanding lifestyle, grab a bottle of our “Max Whole Greens/Whole Foods Multi” which provides the benefits of greens in capsule form!
PipingRock Empowering Your Health Journey
