Science Says Green Is The New Black

At the turn of the 2000s the term appropriately coined ‘superfood’ was conceived to group nutrient powerhouses that pack large doses of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals – many of whose names take an elocution class to pronounce. Kale, spinach, broccoli and plant-based supplements like spirulina, maca powder and flaxseed burst onto the nutritional stage in the form of juice, bars and powders due to their increased nutritional benefits that can help bolster your health.

What’s more is that a plant-based diet has the potential to influence many aspects of human health, and most importantly, promote alkalinity within the human body. Research has demonstrated that the net acid load of the typical Western diet adversely affects osteoporosis risk, cardiovascular disease, obesity and overall well-being, and part of the cure is improving alkalinity within the body. Part of this process is about creating more of an oxygen-rich environment, improving your immune system, reducing free radicals and inflammation which in turn slows down the aging process.

So how can you best reap the benefits of the good greens?

Making The Most Out Of Your Smoothie
Getting the most out of your greens has long been the topic of debate between consumers and the health industry with an influx of cold-pressed juices, green powder and superfoods breaking out onto the breakfast menu.

So What Smoothie Suits You?
Green juice (and other colored juices as well) are packed with nutrients from fresh produce allowing your body to soak up the nutrient-rich vitamins and minerals without putting in the leg work to break them down. Since the veggies are partially digested, it allows our enzymes to bathe and absorb these mineral quenching by-products, resulting in prosperous health benefits. However, blending isn’t always best with many health nuts noting that juicing can kill off live enzymes and vital nutrients from the produce, making it less nutrient dense than before.

Powders, on the other hand, do much of the same job, and in some cases more – especially if the green powder also uses a variety of different produce like green tea powders (loaded with antioxidants), spirulina (rich in B vitamins and iron) and others that can help boost the nutrient content of the powder. These studies are further backed by nutritionist Teresa Boyce who says,

“A green powder supplement is like a multivitamin on steroids. They offer you all the vitamins and minerals of a ‘multi’ but with the added nutrients such as probiotics, prebiotics, detoxification nutrients and disease protective antioxidants.”

However, powder products aren’t always the proffered choice with many compromised by the addition of fillers like lecithin, fibers, pectin, rice bran and flax, weakening the positive health effects of the greens.