Best Green Powders For Smoothies
When it comes to smoothies, we all know that fresh is best
Even when it comes to superfood.
But we need to be realistic too because life sometimes gets in the way of fresh.
Sometimes your leafy greens go bad, or you didnt buy enough, or you havent gone to the store to buy more yet.
And sometimes you cant get organic leafy greens, or even a big variety of leafy greens.
And if this is the case, it can be much better to use an organic green powder than consume a bucket load of pesticides on your non organic greens.
Because leafy greens are one of the most heavily sprayed foods when it comes to pesticides, so its something you do need to be extra careful about.
I can only really get 1-3 types of organic leafy greens where I live so I buy these and also use a variety of different powders to increase the nutrients in my Green Thickies.
So here are my 10 best green powders for smoothies to help you get a variety of clean nutrients into your body every single day:
1) Organifi
Now You Can Get All Your Healthy Superfoods In One Drink With No Shopping, No Blending, No Juicing, and NO CLEANUP! This is my number one favourite green powder because its SO tasty AND nutritious and the tubs are just the right size for travel so it always comes travelling with me.
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Experts Reveal The 5 Best Blenders For Green Smoothies
January 7, 2020 by Mia Young
Green smoothies are absolutely one of the healthiest things you can drink, they pack an enormous punch of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants guaranteed to have you feeling better.
But If your blender isnt up to the task then youre going to have to chew through most of it
Get the right blender however and your green smoothie can be perfectly smooth the way theyre supposed to be.
So what does it take to get there? Well Ill tell you, I cover all the most important things in this article and then review my top choices. So just keep reading and youll find out everything you need to know. The best thing is that all my top choices are available on Amazon so you can orders yours today!
With that said lets get stuck in shall we? The table below has a quick rundown of the top choices which you can look at if youre in a hurry, just click the name to go to Amazon where you can order yours.
In This Article
- Jamba 2.4hp Powerful blender for greens
Step : Final Blending And Adjustments
Place all the remaining ingredients in the blender with the blended base and blend until smooth.
Adjust to taste adjust the level of thickness or sweetness as desired.
Add more milk, fruit , ice, or natural sweeteners like honey.
Adding a bit of ground cinnamon will give the smoothie some warmth and balance the bitterness in any greens too!
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Tips For Making Green Smoothies
Have you had a chance to check out my post about prepping smoothies and how to increase their nutrition?! If not, its a great resource! Here are a few more tips I like to share in regards to making the best creamy, healthy green smoothie:
The Secret To A Perfect Superfood Smoothie Is:
- A serving of veggies
- A serving of some type of fruit
- 1-2 servings of extra add-ins
- liquid
Tips & suggestions:
- Keep bananas, berries, and some veggies in your freezer to have on hand for smoothies all the time!
- If using fresh fruit, you may want to reduce the liquid content or add ice for a thicker texture
- Add-in any of your favorite superfoods to any of these smoothies!
- If you love these 3 veggie-packed smoothies for beginners youll also love my favorite green smoothie recipe!
If you tried these 3 Veggie-Packed Smoothies for Beginners or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on , and for even more deliciousness!
Recommended Reading: 30 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse Jj Smith
Adding Extra Nutrition To Green Smoothies
You can enhance any green smoothie by adding additional nutritious ingredients to really make it your own. Dont be afraid to experiment a little! Here are a few suggestions that you can add to this green smoothie:
- Matcha: if youre a green tea lover, you can add a teaspoon of matcha to your smoothie for green color, antioxidants and earthy flavor.
- Flaxseed meal: this is one of my favorite ingredients to add to smoothies for a little boost of fiber and minerals, and is especially great for nursing mamas as flaxseed can help increase milk supply. Usually a tablespoon is plenty! Heres a brand I love.
- Chia seeds: feel free to add in a tablespoon of chia seeds to your smoothie for a boost of healthy fats and fiber.
- Hemp seeds: if youve been wondering what to do with those hemp seeds lurking in your cupboard, feel free to throw in a tablespoon into your smoothie for a boost of healthy fats, omegas and minerals.
- Protein: make this a post-workout smoothie and boost the protein by adding 1/2 cup greek yogurt or 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder. I recommend Vital Protein collagen peptides or Bobs Red Mill Plant Based Vanilla Protein Powder.
- Mint: do you love minty flavor? Add a few fresh mint leaves!
Potential Risks Of Green Smoothies
Because there are many ways to make a green smoothie, its possible to add too many sugars, carbohydrates, or fats. The potent vitamin content in leafy greens may also be unsuitable for people with certain medical conditions.
Things to consider when whipping up your green smoothie include:
Weight Gain
Leafy greens are naturally low in calories and fat. However, common green smoothie additions like fruits, nut butters, sweeteners, or milks can add excessive amounts of these nutrients to a single serving. Too much fat or caloric intake can lead to unwanted weight gain, so measure your portions so you know whats in your drink.
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Blood Sugar
Excess sugar not only leads to weight gain, but may also increase your blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetes. Fruits and nut butters contain numerous vitamins and minerals, but can also have a high natural sugar content, so moderate the amount added to your green smoothie.
Medication Interference
The high Vitamin K content in leafy greens can reduce the effects of certain anticoagulant drugs. While people taking blood-thinners do not need to avoid vitamin K, you should still talk to your doctor about how much you should consume.
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Powerful Choice High Speed Leafy Green Blender
Brand: Jamba
Now I was stuck on this one for quite a while trying to figure out what on earth it meant by having an infinite speed dial. Because it seemed to me it had a 10-speed dial, but what they mean is that it doesnt click into place between numbers, it moves more like a volume control so you have very precise control over the speed of the motor. Not entirely relevant or useful but it feels very slick when you use it.
What is good however is the fact it has a 2.4hp motor, that is a serious amount of blending power and makes it more than capable of coping with blending up leafy greens into a smoothie, not to mention any seeds nuts fruits or anything else you might want to put in there.
The blades on it are made of stainless steel but dont use the same blunted power that the Vitamix or the Blendtec use. So while its very good I think youre money is better spent going for the Blendtec as its not much more expensive or the Vitamix if you can afford it.
How To Make A Green Smoothie
Lets break down exactly what you need to make the perfect green smoothie! In the Fit Foodie Kitchen, we use a basic recipe that we deviate from depending on whats in the fridge and what our bodies are craving.
Sowhats in a green smoothie?
Frozen Fruit we like to use frozen fruit in order to omit ice from our green smoothies so that you can get a smoother, creamier smoothie. We recommend banana, berries, mangoes, pineapple, etc. For a single serving, shoot to use around 1 cup of frozen fruit.
Greens- obviously every green smoothie has some kind of green! Whether its spinach, kale, or microgreen, any kind of green will work. Here are our favorites:
- spinach
- beet greens
Read Also: Great Smoothie Recipes For Weight Loss
Potential Health Benefits Of Green Smoothies
Green smoothies are a great way to incorporate leafy greens into your diet. These greens are a rich source of vitamins and minerals and are most nutritious when consumed raw like in a smoothie.
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Its also easy to customize a green smoothie to your taste. However, while adding ingredients can improve the green smoothies flavor, they can also increase the amount of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and sugars.
Including leafy greens in your smoothie can provide health benefits like:
Digestive Health
The insoluble fiber in leafy greens helps food to pass through your digestive system, reducing issues like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Fibrous foods also help you to feel fuller for longer, which can aid in meeting weight-loss goals.
Bone Strength
Leafy greens like kale and spinach are a great source of vitamin K1. Research has documented that people with a high intake of vitamin K1 are at a decreased risk for bone fractures, osteoporosis, and decreased bone mineral density.
Immunity Support
Leafy greens are much higher in vitamin C than other vegetables. Vitamin C is known to support the immune system, fight infection, and help maintain healthy cellular function throughout our bodies.
Lower Risk of Chronic Disease
Lower Cholesterol
What Is A Green Smoothie
A combination of fresh leafy greens, flavorful nutrient-rich fruits, and a liquid base is all it takes to make a green smoothie.
Green refers to it having the leafy greens in it.
The smoothie will often also be green in color .
You can also add some superfood options, like raw seeds and nuts.
Smoothies include dietary fiber and so are thicker than fruit juice, often with a consistency similar to a milkshake.
The healthfulness of a smoothie depends on its ingredients and their proportions.
Many Green Smoothie recipes include large or multiple servings of fruits and vegetables, which are recommended in a healthy diet or are intended to be a meal replacement.
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Ways To Upgrade Your Smoothie
1. Maca
Derived from a plant native to Peru, this ancient superfood is an adaptogen that strengthens your bodys ability to cope with stress and anxiety. Maca can also help balance your hormones, boost your sex drive, and maintain bone density.
Maca powder is available in both gelatinized and non-gelatinized forms. I recommend gelatinized maca, which is boiled and pressurized to eliminate the starch content, making it easier to digest with a more concentrated nutrient profile.
Just sprinkle between a teaspoon to a tablespoon of maca root powder into your smoothie and youll be seeing the benefits in no time. Pair with chocolate or cacao to really bring out the flavor of this tasty ingredient.
Try this Maca Madness Green Smoothie recipe from Dishing up the Dirt.
2. Greens Powder
Adding a scoop of greens powder to your daily smoothie is one of the easiest ways to get in a few extra servings of veggies, alkalize your system, and boost energy levels.
Look for a mix thats processed from the juice of the plant to get the most nutritional bang for your buck. Add a scoop or two to your next green smoothie and enjoy!
Check out these 11 Green Smoothie recipes from Yuri Elkaim.
3. Hemp Seeds
Rich in essential fatty acids and bursting with high-quality protein, hemp seeds make a great addition to any smoothie. They also promote digestion by providing fiber and contain a hefty chunk of vitamin E, potassium, and phosphorus.
4. Bee Pollen
5. Mesquite Powder
6. Lucuma Powder
7. Chaga
Blend Greens And Freeze In Cubes
If you don’t have a lot of space in your freezer, you can take the fresh spinach and blend with a small amount of water until the mixture is smooth. Then freeze in ice cube trays and store frozen cubes of greens in an airtight container in the freezer. I used to do this when we lived in a condo and didn’t have an extra freezer in the basement!
Also Check: Smoothies For Kids To Make
Can A Smoothie Replace A Meal
While eating a smoothie as a meal could be a healthy option, in order to make it nutritious, its important to make sure the smoothie contains a mix of foods that would be similar to a meal, says Andrews. If someone just blends up some fruit, I wouldnt say thats an adequate meal, he says. But add vegetables, seeds or nuts, kefir or yogurt and possibly some protein powder, and this would be similar to foods that make up a meal.
A well-rounded smoothie usually has 1 to 2 tablespoons of fat, 1 cup of fruit, a handful or two of greens and 1 cup of protein, Hammer says. How much you eat depends on what else youre eating that day, as well as how youre eating your smoothie as a meal or as a snack notes Andrews.
To make one of Andrews favorite breakfast smoothies, combine 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen cauliflower, 1 to 2 leaves of kale, 1 to 2 cups of unsweetened non-dairy milk, 1 to 2 spoonfuls of mixed seeds , 1 scoop hemp protein powder and some granola.
Should You Buy Organic
A recent report prepared for the European Parliament in partnership with a professor at Harvard outlined the dangers of pesticides found on conventional produce.5
Even if you thoroughly wash your produce, it still may contain traces of pesticides, which are associated with a wide range of physical and neurological problems.
Of course, organic produce is more expensive, but in many cases, its worth it.
Some fruits and vegetables, like spinach, are notorious for their high levels of pesticides. As a general rule, you should always choose the organic option for the leafy greens youll put into your green smoothie. They usually arent significantly more expensive than conventional greens and if youre going to be drinking them daily in your green smoothies, you want the cleanest and healthiest option possible.
Keep in mind that conventional produce is still a better option than processed food or animal products.
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Whats The Healthiest Way To Eat A Smoothie
When you are eating a fruit or vegetable in its whole original form, your body is breaking everything down itself, says Hammer. Digestion starts with the process of chewing, adds Andrews. Smoothies dont involve chewing. Essentially, the blender does the chewing for you, he says.
That means some people might notice that they feel a little bloated when they drink a smoothie quickly. Smoothies can have a lot of calories, Andrews says, and the more calorie-dense a beverage is, the longer it will stay in the stomach, he says. To help slow you down, Andrews suggests eating a smoothie with a spoon, like you would a whole-food meals.
Are Green Smoothies Really That Good For You
In a word: YES!Green smoothies are usually packed with fiber, which can help lower cholesterol and glucose levels. This can help keep you feeling fuller for a longer period of time. It also can help regulate your body’s natural cleansing processes.
Green smoothies are also simply an easy and delicious way to make sure you’re getting the fruits and veggies your body needs. Most of the ingredients in green smoothies provide important nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folate and potassium.
Of course, this all depends on what you put into your green smoothie.
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How To Make A Super Green Smoothie
The keys to making a green smoothie recipe that tastes EXCELLENT are:
- The right mix of fruits
- Adding a satisfaction factor ingredient like nut butter
- Picking greens that are mild enough to suit your own preferences
This smoothie incorporates all of the above. It scores full marks on the nutritional scale and the taste-test scale.
Three Vegetable Smoothie Recipes
One of my nutrition goals is to make sure to fuel my body with nutritiously dense foods.
One of my favorite ways to get in some quick, easy, and healthy nutrition is with smoothies! I know adding vegetables to smoothies can still be a little taboo for some, so I wanted to create 3 veggie-packed smoothie recipes for beginners.
First of all, I promise you cant taste the veggies, and you wont even know that theyre there.
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