Benefits of Super Greens

Crunchy Christian Podcast

Want to know more about the benefits of super greens? Join Julie Polanco on this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast as she discusses green leafy vegetables, why you need them, and some sneaky ways to get more in your diet.

What are Super Greens?

All green vegetables are not super. That’s not to say that they aren’t nutritious, but they may not be super nutritious. Lettuce, for example, is green and has trace minerals, but it is not a super green. Super greens tend to have a lower water content and contain more vitamins and minerals by weight than other greens. Super greens include dandelion greens (which we covered in a previous episode), mustard greens, arugula, spinach, kale, collards, and chard. We will focus on the benefits of super greens spinach and kale as those are most eaten among all the super greens. They are also the most widely available, unless you forage.

Benefits of Super Greens

Nutritional content

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins A, K, and Folate. It also contains a fair amount of Vitamin C. It is also a good source of Manganese, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, and Omega 3 fatty acids. And while spinach is an excellent source, kale is an even better source of vitamins A, K, and Folate. It has much more vitamin C, even more than an orange. And, it also has a fair amount of B vitamins, copper, and calcium in addition to containing the same minerals that spinach does. In addition to a good amount of omega-3’s, it also contains a high amount of omega 6 fatty acids. Other greens have profiles similar to that of spinach. How do these nutritional benefits of super greens help your body? Let’s find out!

Greens Help Slow the Aging Process
There are so many amazing compounds found in wild greens that help slow aging, it’s hard to know where to begin. The high amounts of folate and vitamin K help the body thrive and replace cells. Superb antioxidant quantities, similar to those found in berries, are also present, helping prevent and heal damage to the cells. Fatty acids, in particular omega-3’s, round off the anti-aging benefits you can get by simply adding more greens into your diet.

Greens Are Great for Your Heart
Greens are such a powerful food group, they help prevent heart disease in myriad ways. The high fiber content helps keep the cholesterol levels in your body down, and greens naturally help regulate blood pressure, keeping the heart healthy. Greens also help regulate harmful hormones in the body that are known to cause thickening of the blood. By lowering this, greens help prevent blood clots.

To learn about additional benefits of super greens, listen in on the podcast!

Sneaky Ways to Get More Benefits of Super Greens in Your Diet

Juicing/smoothie

Spinach Green Smoothie

This smoothie is more of a classic recipe for a green smoothie, though there is a lot of room for customizing it according to your preferences. Spinach is used as the main greens for the smoothie, which are always a good superfood. However, if you want greens specifically in-season during the fall, kale is another great option. Add to that some ground flax seed, an apple or other sweet fruits that are in season during this time of year, and a frozen the banana. If you use a frozen banana, it can usually replace the ice. You may also need to add a little water.

Super Spinach Green Juice

Simply take about a cup of spinach and juice it with a sweet potato and a decent sized apple. This is another great morning drink that will not only energize you, but help you protect your blood sugar levels as well.

Green Salad

Take kale or spinach as your base, both known for being iron packed superfoods. Then you can add a fruit-based dressing made of blueberries or a green goddess dressing packed with even more green vegetables and oils. Avocado slices can add an even bigger kick to this type of salad, keeping with the green color theme and giving you a superfood that holds multiple benefits.

Discover a few more ideas on the podcast!

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