A green smoothie offers an excellent way to start the day because it provides several servings of leafy greens and fruits in a delicious and convenient way. It offers alkalizing, energizing, cleansing, and detoxifying benefits, as well as nutrient-dense calories. Green smoothies provide healthy carbohydrates, fats, protein, and fiber, along with an abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. This specific green smoothie combination also provides extra special support for our bodies during times of stress to combat nerves, fatigue, and anxiety. It is also very beneficial during certain times of the year when the seasons are changing to fall and spring, which tend to be more challenging for the body. The smoothie is quick and simple to make, and very tasty that kids and adults of all ages can easily enjoy it.

Characteristics

TYPE: Snack, Treat, Meal
PREP TIME: < 5 mins
SERVINGS: makes about 2 cups (16oz)

  • 100% Real food
  • 100% Whole food
  • 100% Vegan (Plant-based)
  • 100% Raw food
  • Wheat-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Soy-free
  • Whey-free
  • Corn-free
  • Peanut-free
  • Nut-free
  • Oil-free
  • Sugar-free
  • Protein powder-free

Goodies Needed

INGREDIENTS:

TOOLS:

Preparation Steps

  1. Peel the banana, cut or break into smaller pieces and place into the blender.
  2. Wash the orange, peel, split apart, and place the orange wedges into the blender.
  3. Wash the spinach and add it to the blender.
  4. Add the flax seeds, Ashwagandha powder, and water to the blender.
  5. Blend on high until a uniformly smooth and creamy consistency is achieved (about 15 seconds in the Vitamix.)
  6. With the help of your spatula, transfer the smoothie into your glass(es) and enjoy.

Tips

  1. Rotate your fruits — Maintain the banana as your primary fruit, and alternate your other fruit (orange) based on seasonal availability and your preferences. Other excellent fruit additions include mangoes, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, and pineapples.
  2. Rotate your greens — While spinach is an outstanding leafy green, be sure to rotate through different leafy greens in your green smoothies regularly for best health and nutrition benefits. Other good leafy green options include kale, collard greens, swiss chard, romaine lettuce, dandelion, watercress, and bok choy greens.

Meal Nutritional Benefits

Spinach

  • provides healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and is virtually fat-free
  • provides lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits
  • provides vitamins, especially vitamins A, C, K, and most B vitamins, including folate, choline, and betaine
  • provides minerals, especially potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron
  • supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • supports healthy eye health, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, infections, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Bananas

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, including vitamin A, C, E, K, and most B vitamins
  • provide minerals, including potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and zinc
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support healthy digestion, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Oranges

  • provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, a little protein, and are virtually fat-free
  • provide lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants
  • provide vitamins, most specifically vitamin C and some B vitamins, including folate
  • provide minerals, especially potassium, calcium, and copper
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support immune function and protect against infections
  • protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, kidney stones, ulcers, and rheumatoid arthritis

Flax Seeds

  • provide healthy fats, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber
  • excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid ALA, including an outstanding omega-3 to omega-6 ratio of 4:1
  • provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
  • provide vitamins, including vitamin C, E, K, and most B vitamins
  • provide minerals, especially manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, selenium, iron, copper, calcium, and potassium
  • support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
  • support optimal brain, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive health
  • support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels

Ashwagandha

  • an adaptogenic Ayurvedic herb, regenerative tonic, and nerve tonic
  • not a significant source of calories, carbohydrates, fats, protein, fiber, vitamins, or minerals unless consumed in large quantities
  • provides antioxidants, phytonutrients, anti-inflammatory, and anti-stress benefits
  • supports optimal immune, cognitive, brain, and nervous system health
  • supports optimal adrenal health and energy management
  • supports optimal endocrine health, hormonal balance, and fertility
  • provides neuroprotective properties and support for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases
  • provides anti-arthritic properties and support for rheumatoid and osteoarthritis diseases
  • provides anti-tumor properties and support for cancer diseases