Why Are Green Vegetables Important?

We’ve all heard it said that we should eat our greens. Green vegetables are a great source of nutrients, but many of us aren’t getting nearly enough in our daily diet. Most recommendations suggest we consume between 4-8 servings of vegetables a day but few people report actually eating this amount.  Aside from not eating enough greens, we are faced with other factors that rob us of the great nutrients vegetables provide:

            *Our soil is depleted and contains less minerals than it once did

            *We grow fewer varieties of foods, leaving us with reduced nutrient diversity

            *Our modern lifestyle depletes our body of nutrients more quickly

We could all benefit from the nutrients in greens, but since many of us don’t get them through diet alone, greens powders can be a good way to get a variety of nutrients in a single serving.

The ingredients in green superfood powders vary from product to product but normally contain grasses, green vegetables, sea vegetables and selected herbs which are included for their antioxidant and phytochemical properties.  Kale, spinach, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, kelp, wheat grass, barley grass, and alfalfa grass are all common ingredients in a quality greens powder.

So what benefits do these power-packed greens supplements provide to our bodies?  Let’s take a look at 5 of them:

Rich in vitamins & minerals — The abundant vitamins and minerals in green superfoods come from whole foods and supply a wide range of trace electrolytes which help cellular functioning.

Source of antioxidants — Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage and disease within the body.

Alkalines the body —  Illness thrives in an acidic environment and concentrated greens help keep the body in a more alkaline state.

Enhances detoxification —  Chlorophyll (the green pigment in plant foods) helps to cleanse the blood, binds to heavy metals, and encourages the removal of toxins from the body.

Boosts energy — This high supply of powerful nutrients is easily absorbed by the body and provides immediate energy to cells resulting in a natural energy boost without sugar, caffeine, or other unhealthy stimulants.

Greens powders can be a great way to pack in dense nutrients when you are short on time or simply lack the motivation or desire to prepare another salad.  You can add them to smoothies or baked goods or even a pancake recipe. These superfoods can help fill the void that many of us have from less than optimal vegetable consumption, but don’t let yourself off the hook entirely.  Whole greens still provide great benefits, so add a serving of greens powder for a boost of nutrients, but don’t skip the spinach salad.  All of these greens together will increase your energy, vitality, and overall great health.