Although there are plenty of benefits to starting your day with a spinach smoothie, they can often be high in sugars. In this post we look at the health benefits of a spinach smoothie and whether or not they can be enjoyed regularly.
Are Spinach smoothies good for you?
A spinach smoothie can be a healthy start to your day and there are a number of benefits to consuming one for your breakfast – they help to increase fibre intake, contribute towards your 5 a day, boost your vitamin c levels, keep you feeling energised and may help alleviate some common health conditions such as high blood pressure.
But are they good for you?
Provided they are mixed with the right ingredients, spinach smoothies are good for you. When made with at least 70% veggies, a little fruit and some other ingredients such as almond milk, chia seeds, almond butter, yoghurt or protein source you get a highly nutritious drink.
Spinach smoothies are also rich in zinc, B vitamins, folate, calcium and more. Studies have also shown that spinach helps to maintain brain function, clarity, and memory.
What mixes well with spinach?
You can put almost anything into a spinach smoothie. But you’ll find that liquid such as water, milk, milk alternative, fresh or frozen fruit, vegetables, chia seeds, nut butter, protein powder and an additional topping such as granola or cacao nibs mix well with it.
Do Spinach smoothies help you lose weight?
Smoothies can absolutely help you lose weight when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Incorporating a nutrient-dense smoothie into your daily diet can help you lose weight by keeping hunger levels at bay thanks to the amount of fibre and protein they contain.
It is worth noting that a spinach smoothie alone won’t magically make you lose weight, consuming a balanced diet and reducing your portion sizes will help you do that, however, smoothies can aid weight loss by:
Keeping hunger at bay
A spinach smoothie is a great way to keep you away from the snack cupboard between meals. Making a green smoothie that consists of mostly veggies, one or two pieces of frozen or fresh fruit and a protein source such as greek yoghurt can help you feel fuller for longer.
Stabilise your hunger hormones
Adding a protein source to your spinach smoothie such as plain Greek yoghurt won’t only keep your hunger at bay, it will also help to suppress your hunger hormones and kick any unhealthy cravings to the curb!
Keeps cravings away
Delicious smoothies can help you to crowd out junk food. That’s right, by increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, you will be less prone to feeling hungry throughout the day meaning you won’t crave junk food as much.
Can I use frozen spinach in my smoothie?
In short, yes you can use frozen spinach in your smoothie. And research suggests that using frozen spinach is actually better than using fresh spinach. That’s because the nutrients in raw spinach deteriorate from the moment it’s picked.
Vegetables that are frozen shortly after being harvested will have more nutrients than spinach leaves that are fresh, and the great thing about them is that they have an enhanced flavour and texture profile too.
Whether you opt for frozen or fresh spinach in your spinach smoothie, it doesn’t really matter. Both count towards your daily intake of fruit and vegetables, so consuming either of them is a good thing.
Spinach smoothie recipes
While eating a spinach smoothie as a meal is an incredibly healthy and delicious option, in order to make it nutritious it should contain a mixture of foods that will fill you up.
Green smoothie recipe
This easy smoothie packs in plenty of nutritious ingredients such as spinach, banana and protein to provide you with a fantastic energy boost.
Ingredients
250ml water or milk (I like to use unsweetened almond milk)
1/2 small frozen banana
1 cup of pineapple (fresh or frozen)
A handful of baby spinach (organic where possible)
2 tbsp plain greek yoghurt
1 scoop of your favourite protein powder
A handful of ice cubes
Method
- Pour the milk into a high-speed blender
- Add the frozen banana, pineapple, ice cubes and baby spinach and blitz until smooth
- Once smooth add the remaining ingredients and blitz until you have a milkshake-like consistency
- Pour into a glass and serve
Tropical spinach smoothie
This tropical fruit smoothie is packed full of antioxidants to provide you with a delicious and refreshing snack or breakfast. It’s something that the whole family can enjoy as it’s the perfect balance of flavours. It makes for the perfect treat to enjoy on a hot summer’s day when you want something sweet yet healthy!
Ingredients
250ml fresh orange juice
2 cups spinach
Half a green apple
A handful of tropical fruit
2 tbsp greek yoghurt
Method
- Place all ingredients into a high powered blender
- Blend on high until smooth, then add ice
- If too thick, add more orange juice
- Serve in a tall glass over ice and enjoy immediately
#Funky5 Breakfast Smoothie Challenge
My #funky5 smoothies are a nutritional powerhouse to equip your body on busy manic days, busy workouts and life’s stressful situations.
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