Start Your Day With A Spinach Smoothie

Carol Food, Wellness
I originally wrote this post in 2016 but have updated it with more info and photos.

Why eat spinach?

I love baby spinach. Spinach is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat.   It is a super food loaded with tons of nutrients in a low-calorie package. Dark leafy greens like spinach are important for skin and hair, bone health, and provide protein, iron, vitamins and minerals. Just do a search for the word spinach and you will see pages of articles  on the health benefits of spinach. Just eating one serving of spinach a day can make your brain 11 years younger.  A diet rich in leafy green vegetables help prevent cognitive decline according to recent research.   It slows the aging process.

Spinach is extremely high in vitamins A and K. This not only helps your eyesight and cognitive function but also could prevent hip fractures. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston found that a woman’s chance of breaking a hip could be cut by almost a third with a daily intake of 109 micrograms of vitamin K . That’s the equivalent of a mere one cup of cooked spinach per day.

Some people, who buy baby spinach in the plastic containers, worry that the exposure to light in the grocery case could diminish the nutrient value in spinach. According to The George Mateljan Foundation, recent scientific study determined that “the overall nutrient richness of the baby spinach when exposed to constant light was actually higher than the overall nutrient richness of baby spinach leaves kept in total darkness.” So that is one less thing to worry about.

Research has also indicated that spinach can help prevent prostate cancer. Out of all the vegetables included in the study only spinach seemed to reduce cancer risk. Expect more research in this area.

For leafy greens, I occasionally eat kale, collards, or chard but my real favorites are spinach and romaine lettuce.  If I am not in the mood for the smoothie, I can scramble eggs with a handful of spinach. It makes a wonderful salad. I’ve even added it to a stir fry. It’s great in so many dishes.

A smoothie for breakfast or afternoon snack

This year I am reaffirming my goal to make a green smoothie daily. A green smoothie with baby spinach is my favorite.  The ingredients are simple and affordable: juice or almond milk, peanut butter, banana, mixed berries, chia and flax seeds and spinach.  It’s tasty and provides 3 full servings of fruits and veggies in the morning.

My take on a green smoothie has developed over the last few years of reading and experimenting. It works for me but  you can adapt it to meet your taste and needs. I start with a cup of organic vanilla almond milk. If you desire, you can start with a milk of your choice.  I add a dash of organic cinnamon and turmeric – two great spices for health. Then I put in greens with peanut butter.  Options for protein are chia seeds or protein powder. My final addition is  some frozen or fresh fruit – frozen banana with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries or cherries. I have gone through stages of the fruits I choose. A little frozen banana makes the smoothie so rich and smooth and berries make it special.

Spinach Green Smoothie

Use organic when available, makes approximately 1 serving

Pin
Print

Spinach Smoothie

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword avocado spinach smoothie, breakfast smoothie, green smoothie, spinach amoothie
Servings 1

Ingredients

  • 1 cup vanilla almond milk or milk of choice
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1 tbsp protein powder or 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
  • 1 banana peeled quartered and frozen
  • 1/2 cup frozen berries or other fruit
  • 1 tbsp flax seed meal
  • Shake of cinnamon and of turmeric, optional

Instructions

  • Blend spinach, milk, peanut butter, flax seed, and protein powder together in a blender until smooth
  • Shake cinnamon and turmeric into mix (optional)
  • Blend frozen banana with mix until smooth

I hope this information will give you the incentive to make a green smoothie and add more spinach to your diet for both taste and health benefits.

For more information:

Eating Just A Serving Of Spinach Every Day Could Make Your Brain 11 Years Younger, Huffington Post

Eating Green Leafy Vegetables Keeps Mental Abilities Sharp

Spinach: Health Benefits, Uses, Precautions

This post was featured at:

Comments

Thanks for the visit. Get exclusive free printables & all the news straight to your mailbox!

Subscribe

* indicates required

Please see my Link Parties page for the parties where this post was shared.

Carol

I was raised in Tennessee but have lived in Florida for many years. Love my small home in the Tampa Bay area and its developing garden. My decorating style is eclectic - some vintage, some cottage, all with a modern flair. Pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Spent many years in social services but am happily retired.

25 thoughts to “Start Your Day With A Spinach Smoothie”

    1. If you don’t like green smoothies, make a fruit smoothie with spinach added. Adjust recipe to fit your taste.

      Reply

  6. I started adding spinach and cauliflower to my fruit based smoothies. I’m not a huge fan of the “green” smoothie taste but I do find adding veggies to the fruity flavor of the other smoothies I make adds nutrition without changing the flavor much.

    I tried almond milk but really couldn’t manage the taste. Most of my smoothies are made with lemon water.

    Reply

  7. Your photography of the smoothie looks very beautiful! I have not tried a spinach smoothie before so I need to try out your recipe which included very healthy spices.

    Reply

  15. Great info and recipe! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party. Can’t wait to see what you bring to the new party tomorrow! Have a great weekend.

    Reply

  17. YUM, looks good, my kind of smoothie! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 9 where I comment on and share on social media if share option is available, open February 1 to 26.

    Reply

I love to make new friends and get to know you.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.