Classic Green Smoothie
Makes about 2 cups (500 ml)
While we know it is important to eat lots of greens, some of us just don’t like the taste. Green smoothies are an excellent way to consume leafy green vegetables, because the (sometimes bitter) taste is neutralized by the fruit. This smoothie is sweet and nutty, with just a hint of vanilla. It provides potassium, provitamin A and vitamins C, E and K (to name a few), as well as biotin. It’s also extremely hydrating, restores electrolytes and is antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory.
Herbal Helper
Vanilla gives your smoothie a creamy, delicious taste, but did you know it also may help to prevent cancer? Recent evidence published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry indicates that vanillin, a compound found in vanilla, has been shown to suppress cancer cell migration and metastasis, although its mechanism of action is unknown. More studies are needed, but this does sound promising.
1 cup (250 ml) young coconut water
1 frozen banana
1⁄2 cup (125 ml) strawberries (fresh or frozen)
2 tbsp (30 ml) raw almond butter
1 cup (250 ml
) packed chopped spinach leaves (see Juice Guru’s Tips, below)
1⁄4 tsp (1 ml) alcohol-free organic vanilla extract (see Juice Guru’s Tips, below)
1. In a blender, combine coconut water, banana, strawberries, almond butter, spinach and vanilla. Blend at high speed until smooth. Serve immediately.
Juice Guru’s Tips
As you get accustomed to the pleasing taste of greens in your smoothie, we recommend increasing the amount of spinach to 2–3 cups (500–750 mL), which will amp up the nutritional value.
We recommend using alcohol-free extracts whenever possible, because alcohol is not part of a healthy diet. However, we do understand that only a small amount is used in extracts (to preserve the product), so choose whichever brand works best for you. We recommend using organic products to reduce your exposure to pesticides and other chemicals.
Courtesy of Juice Guru: Transform Your Life with One Juice a Day by Steve Prussack & Julie Prussack © 2016 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold.
This original article first appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
