Instead of settling for your go-to strawberry-banana combo every time you need a cool and refreshing smoothie, try throwing some vegetables into your blender for a bigger beauty boost, inside and out.
“Green smoothies are extremely nutrient dense and include these vegetables that most of us just don’t eat enough of—dark leafy greens!” says Katrine van Wyk, a certified holistic health coach, yoga teacher and author of The Best Green Drinks Ever. These good-for-you greens (think kale and spinach) are lower in sugar than most fruits, so they won’t cause the same massive blood sugar spike. “The high fiber content also keeps you feeling satisfied for longer,” van Wyk adds.
You’ll also notice the effects of these nutrient powerhouses on your skin. The plethora of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in leafy greens help prevent inflammation, which can cause all sorts of skin issues from eczema to acne. Plus, vitamins such as C and E, carotenoids, lutein and other powerful phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables protect against cell damage that can cause wrinkles and even cancer.
Even if you wouldn’t call yourself a green juice person, trust us! We handpicked these specific recipes because they truly balance out the greener ingredients with just the right amount of sweetness. If the color weren’t a dead giveaway, you might even find it hard to believe they’re packed with so much green.
1Green Swiss Chard Smoothie
by Jim Perko, YouBeauty Culinary Expert
Makes 5 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups cleaned swiss chard, stems removed, leaves roughly chopped, firmly packed
1 cup green seedless grapes
1 Bartlett pear, core, stem and seeds removed
1 orange, peeled and quartered
2 bananas, peeled
1 teaspoon chia seed
¼ cup water
2 cups ice
Directions:
Place all ingredients in blender and process on low speed for 15 seconds, increase to medium speed, then high speed, and process for 45 more seconds or until well blended. The banana and pear must be ripe in any smoothie you make or it will not taste good. The orange needs to be completely peeled with the “pith” removed. The pith is very bitter and if you want small children to enjoy the smoothie, too, without added sugars, then this will make the end product sweeter along with the ripe fruit.
2Kale, Pineapple and Coconut Milk Smoothie
By Heather Bauer, R.D.
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients:
1 scoop Tera’s Whey Organic Bourbon Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
½ cup unsweetened coconut milk or coconut water
2 cups baby kale or baby spinach
1½ cups chopped pineapple
1 ripe banana, frozen, broken into chunks
Ice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients, making sure to put the liquids in first. Blend on high until smooth, about 1 minute.
3Kiwi, Spinach & Avocado Smoothie
By Katrine van Wyk, author of “Best Green Drinks Ever”
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups coconut water
1 cup spinach
2 kiwis, peeled
½ avocado, peeled
Directions:
Add all ingredients to the blender and blend well. For an even more filling and boosting drink, add a scoop of plain or vanilla-flavored pea protein powder.
4Immunity Green Smoothie
By Katrine van Wyk, author of “Best Green Drinks Ever”
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
1 cup coconut water
2 leaves romaine lettuce
½ green apple, such as Granny Smith
¼ cucumber
¼ avocado, peeled
½ lemon, peeled
½-inch slice fresh ginger
½ cup fresh parsley
1 serving probiotic powder or the contents of a probiotic capsule (follow instructions on the bottle)
3-4 ice cubes, optional
Directions:
Add all ingredients to the blender, except ice. If you have a high-speed blender you can leave the peel and core on the apple and cucumber. If not, you might want to remove them. Blend on high until all the ingredients have turned into a smooth liquid. Add ice cubes (if using) and blend for another 10 seconds. Serve and enjoy!
5Frozen Green Lemonade
By Katrine van Wyk, author of “Best Green Drinks Ever”
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
½ cup chilled mint tea
½ cup spinach
½ cup or 2 leaves romaine lettuce
5 leaves mint
1 lemon, peeled
5 drops or 1 packet Stevia
1 cup ice
Directions:
Add all ingredients, but only ½ cup ice, to the blender and blend well. Then add remaining ice and blend for a few more seconds.
