Benefits Of Eating Dark Leafy Greens
Im sure youve heard that greens are good for you, but did you know that greens are high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc and vitamins A, C, E and K? Theyre also crammed with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. The benefits of leafy greens are amazing. Here are a few:
- Blood purification
- Promotion of healthy intestinal flora
- Promotion of subtle, light and flexible energy
- Lifted spirit and elimination of depression
- Improved liver, gall bladder and kidney function
- Cleared congestion, especially in lungs by reducing mucus
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Sample Of Healthy Banana Smoothie Recipes For Weight Loss
Coming up with a healthy smoothie to help you slim down is not as straightforward as it seems. There is so much you need to learn about smoothies in addition to the ingredients you could use. You also will need information on the correct measurements, servings, preparation methods and so forth.
Similarly, you do not just settle on any recipe you find online, regardless if it has a million reviews. Before you settle on, for example, that banana and oatmeal smoothie for weight loss, you have to consider various elements.
As such, this concept becomes quite tricky for beginners. If you are just starting, consider the following banana weight loss smoothie recipes. They can help you get rid of excess weight. However, before that, ensure you do the following:
Ingredients In A Spinach And Strawberry Smoothie
This smoothie is super simple to make it’s only four ingredients! Here’s what I blended in this green smoothie:
- Almond Milk: I love adding plant-based milk to smoothies as a way to boost nutrition and the creamy factor. Use store-bought or homemade, whichever you prefer!
- Spinach: This strong leafy green is loaded with nutrients PLUS provides fiber to help your body break down the natural fruit sugars in this beverage.
- Strawberries: The antioxidant powerhouse of this smoothie, and a great way to add vitamins A and C to your day.
- Banana: A creamy addition that is slightly sweet and helps this smoothie blend well.
As always, feel free to add a scoop of plant-based protein powder to give this smoothie a protein and healthy fat boost. Doing so gives you extra energy, keeps you full longer and is a great way to turn this smoothie into a meal.
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Using Spinach In Smoothies
Spinach is probably one of the most popular smoothie greens. Many people love to add spinach to their smoothies because it has a very subtle taste that blends well with other ingredients so it becomes pretty much undetectable, except for its green hue!
When it comes to using spinach in smoothies, I recommend starting with a little and then moving to larger amounts once you are used to it. Start with 1/4 cup per serving and increase to as much as 1-2 cups per serving of smoothie.
For this recipe, I used 1/4 cup of spinach as I wanted to keep the smoothie color pink.. I am an eat-with-my-eyes kind of person so when it comes to smoothies, I like to maintain an appealing color tone. Adding more spinach to this smoothie is totally fine but the color will become less pink and more of a green-brown tone.
Providing You With Necessary Vitamins And Minerals
Daily intake of bananas can supply your body with some essential vitamins and minerals like potassium. A medium ripe banana contains 422 mg of potassium . The daily recommendations for adult females are 2, 600 mg while males need 3, 400 mg.
Eating such a fruit daily can help you slowly meet up on your potassium requirements. In addition to potassium, this fruit also gives your body magnesium, Vitamin C, iron, phosphorus and calcium. These are essential in the body to ensure it is properly functioning.
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Strawberry Banana Kale Smoothie
This is a good strawberry weight loss smoothie to start your day off with, its easy to make and contains a lot of powerful nutrients. It also tastes really good, too.
Kale is known as the king of superfoods. Its one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet, and its flavor blends very nicely with the banana and strawberries.
Kale is very high in antioxidants, vitamin C, and has even been known to help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Can You Lose Weight Drinking Spinach Smoothies Or Green Smoothies
It does help in cutting down the fat, but there are better plans than relying on just a smoothie.
Having only smoothies three times a day is okay, but there are better ways to maintain good health.
The smoothies, if made in the wrong way and included in your daily diet, can cause harmful effects on your health, such as turning anemic.
Make the smoothie using the right ingredients that are low in calories, good in fiber and protein, provide other essential nutrients, and substitute the smoothies for one or two meals.
The third or other small meal can include another healthy recipe other than a smoothie with a balanced diet.
Green smoothies or spinach smoothies, of course, are a healthy option and help us a lot in the weight loss journey, but having only smoothies every day is not a healthy option as a body looks for other nutrients for its proper functioning.
If you want to quickly lose weight using only green smoothies, make them correctly by adding good fiber, protein, and healthy fruits and veggies and replace them with meals regularly.
Having meal-replacement green smoothies or spinach smoothies can reduce or burn fat, but not a good idea to be on a green smoothie diet every day without including other essential nutrients.
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Strawberries And Bananas Smoothies Faq
Hopefully this article has answered all of your questions but if it has not this sections should help answer them.
As you have seen, making smoothies can be very easy. I recommend not adding too many ingredients at a time when trying out new combinations. You can always add a new ingredient tomorrow, then another after that.
Top 15 Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipes
Here are some of my favorite strawberry banana smoothie recipes. Always feel free to experiment with new ingredients, just try to avoid adding too much extra sugars.
If youre looking for green smoothie recipes scroll down to the bottom where I have added 3 new recipes, or feel free to add in a cup of baby spinach to any of the 15 recipes below.
Spinach has partly no flavor, so it wont change the flavor of your smoothies strawberry banana will naturally do the heavy lifting in the flavor.
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Tips To Make The Beast Strawberry Banana Greek Yogurt Smoothie
- Dont add sugar- I have seen many smoothie recipes that call for extra sugar / sweetener. It kinda baffles me though Why would you need sugar if you are using fresh fruits as the base of this healthy strawberry smoothie. If you follow the exact steps to this recipe your smoothie should be perfectly sweetened without any added sugar.
- Dont use ice I am purposefully using frozen fruits to avoid using ice. I always feel like ice waters down my smoothies and thats not something I like. Using frozen fruits allows your smoothie to be thick and creamy with strong fruit flavors.
- Make it dairy free- If you are lactose intolerant or are simply vegan, you can make this smoothie fit your needs by using oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk or even almond milk as well as a dairy free yogurt to maintain the creaminess of this strawberry banana smoothie.
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Common Questions About Spinach Smoothies
Are Spinach Smoothies Healthy?
As with anything, it really depends on what you put in it. If youre blending cookies, ice cream, but adding spinach I wouldnt really call that healthy.However, if you add spinach, a fruit, and a protein like greek yogurt or protein power with a touch of sweetener , then yes! Spinach can be totally healthy.
It tastes too much like spinach, can I use less?
Absolutely. I actually recommend starting with 1/2 cup of spinach to not shock your tastebuds too much when you first try spinach smoothies. I dont want to turn you off from them. If thats too much, try 1/4 cup and work your way up. Make this recipe work for you.
How can I make it sweeter?
The banana does add a lot of sweetness but if you need a bit extra add a teaspoon or two of sweetener of choice .
Do spinach smoothies help with weight loss?
The only thing that helps with weight loss is being in a caloric deficit. Smoothies take up a lot of volume in your stomach, so it does help you stay full and the fiber in the spinach and fruits only help the cause. If youre concerned about weight loss and are unsure of where to start, check out my nutrition coaching and I will help you with that.
Do I need an expensive blender to make it work?
Not at all. I have a Vitamix and I love it but since this smoothie recipe is pretty easy to blend you could use your regular blender .
Can I use protein powder instead of greek yogurt?Can I drink smoothies every day?
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Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie Ingredients
To make this delicious and healthy smoothie you need only 7 ingredients! These whole-food, natural ingredients bring in sweetness , creaminess, a little tartness, and a touch of earthy flavour. The frozen fruit gives us a thicker consistency without needing ice cubes but some fresh fruit works too.
Heres what youll need:
- Baby Spinach frozen spinach is okay too but youll want to thaw and drain it first.
- Pure maple syrup
- Vanilla almond milk soy milk, coconut milk, coconut water, regular milk, or even orange juice will work fine too.
- Vanilla plant protein powder or unflavoured collagen peptides
The powder in this smoothie is optional but I highly recommend adding it. The protein helps to make the delicious smoothies more filling, balances the natural sugars from the fruit and pure maple syrup, and brings in all the benefits that protein does, making these healthy smoothies a well-rounded, well-balanced meal or snack.
Delicious topping suggestions:
- almond butter or nut butter like peanut butter
- tropical fruit like sliced pineapple or coconut
Five Spinach Smoothies That Promote Weight Loss
Written by
26 May, 2022
Spinach smoothies are good alternatives to manufactured drinks. Sodas, far from helping you, only lead to weight gain and pretty much sabotage any plan you may have to improve your health.
There are many recipes for green smoothies out there. Some are sweeter and others fresher, so theres something to suit every taste. Are you ready to try them? Continue reading then!
Being overweight and obese are two of the leading causes of heart disease, circulatory problems, and diabetes. Thus, maintaining a healthy weight is now one of the top goals for many people around the world.
To attain this goal, said people usually stop consuming overly-processed food and industrial beverages. This is because, as we mentioned earlier, theyre overloaded with sodium and sugar.
These people also seek to improve their health through various diets, many of which include healthy beverages such as spinach smoothies.
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How To Freeze Banana For Smoothies
- Start by peeling the banana and cutting the banana into coins.
- Place the banana on a wax paper or parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Freeze the banana on the baking sheet for 2-3 hours until frozen solid.
- Transfer the frozen banana coins to a freezer safe bag and label with the date. These will last about 1 month in the freezer.
How To Blend This Healthy Smoothie Recipe
This spinach smoothie is very easy to blend. Just add all of your ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
You can add more or less liquid depending on how thick or thin you like your smoothies. I usually start with 1/2 cup and add more if needed.
If you find that your smoothie is too thick, add a little more liquid until it reaches the consistency you like. And if its too thin, add a little more frozen fruit or greens until it thickens up.
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Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothies In Minutes
Its time for another simple, delicious, and healthy smoothie recipe!
This nutritionally balanced strawberry banana spinach smoothie is packed with a mix of whole food ingredients containing all of the macronutrients and loads of micronutrients . The spinach takes a classic smoothie combo of strawberries and banana up a notch with a dose of green goodness.
I love the flavour of this satisfying smoothie and its just so easy to whip up, even for the most novice smoothie-makers!
Here Are Some Faq Questions That Are Popular On The Web:
1. Are Strawberry Smoothies good for you?
The short answer- yes most of the time.
Strawberry smoothie recipes can be extremely healthy for you! Strawberries have a number of amazing healthy properties.
Here is a quote from the article above:
Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, manganese, folate and potassium, as well as several other vitamins and minerals. Theyre very rich in antioxidants and certain plant compounds that have heart health benefits and may help control blood sugar.
2. How many calories are in a Banana Strawberry Smoothie?
The calories in a smoothie can vary, as you probably saw above in the 15 different recipes.
If you are looking to cut calories I recommend the following recipe changes:
Here is a quote from the above article:
Depending on how its made, a 12 ounce serving contains around 188 to 210 calories, is usually low in fat, and contains a good amount of protein . They can be higher in naturally occurring sugars, so its important not to add more sweeteners than is necessary to sweeten it. Use no sweeteners if possible.
3. Are McDonalds Strawberry Banana Smoothies good for you?
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Healthy Strawberry Banana Smoothie For Weight Loss Tips
Strawberry banana smoothies are great for weight loss as they are high in nutrients needed for metabolism and high in fiber! But, a lot of people tell me that they get so hungry only an hour after drinking a smoothie. There are 2 main reasons you get hungry after drinking a smoothie. The first reason is that in order to trigger your fullness factor, you need to chew. Chewing signals your brain that you are eating. The second reason you are probably getting hungry so quickly is because you need more fat or protein in your smoothie. Try adding full fat yogurt or eating something on the side with it.
If you are worried about staying full here are some things that help:
- Eat a handful of nuts with your smoothie. When you actually CHEW your food, rather than just drinking it, your body recognizes this as eating something of sustenance. This is more likely to trigger the fullness factor.
- Make a slice of multigrain or whole wheat toast. This is the same idea as above. Plus, whole grains keep you full MUCH longer than processed grains because it takes your body longer to break down these hearty fibers.
- Add old fashioned oats to your smoothie. Adding more fiber to your smoothie gives it more bulk. All of that fiber is going to make the smoothie stay in your system longer, which leads to feeling full for longer.
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How Does A Spinach Smoothie Improve Your Weight
OK, lets consider how this vegetable can benefit those who are trying to lose weight before getting into the recipes.
Spinach is rich in fiber so it promotes proper digestion and intestinal transit. Also, it contains proteins, iron, potassium, vitamin C, A, E, and beta-carotene, as well as folate and fiber.
In addition, estimates indicate it contains between 93% and 95% of water, which, as we said above, means its a vegetable rich in fiber.
As you can see, you must incorporate smoothies into a well-balanced diet, taking into account the needs of your body, of course. At this point, some of you might still be thinking: why would anyone want to drink a spinach smoothie?
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Strawberry Banana Smoothie Benefits
Strawberry banana smoothies are a sweet, cold drink typically made by blending together just 3 ingredients: strawberries, bananas, and milk. Sometimes yogurt, almond milk, soy milk or ice is added to improve the creaminess and thickness of the recipe.
The main fruits in a strawberry banana smoothie recipe provide a lot of nutritional benefits.
This Healthy Strawberry Banana Smoothie Is Made With Fresh Fruit Yogurt For Protein And A Little Juice Smooth Creamy & Perfect For Breakfast Or A Snack
Smoothies are such a great quick and easy, healthy breakfast and you really cant go wrong with this strawberry banana smoothie. Its super creamy, naturally sweetened, and both kids and adults love it. Plus, its a great way to refuel and get back to eating a little healthier without compromising flavor. Use your leftover strawberries for a nice light Strawberry Shortcake or a Copycat Starbucks Pink Drink!
STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIEFollow Real Housemoms on Pinterest
Its always a little tricky to have a healthy breakfast in the morning, but I think smoothies are one of the best ways to do it. Just pop the ingredients in the blender, then blend until its smooth and creamy. Theyre also great to grab on the go because after all, drinking a smoothie while driving works a whole lot better than having avocado toast or scrambled eggs.
After all the indulgence of the holidays, I always feel like my body needs a little reset. So come January, Im always looking for healthier options which is precisely where the idea for this smoothie for weight loss recipe came about.
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