07/01/2021

Happy New Year everyone 🎉. I hope you’re doing super well and that you’ve had an amazing start. Well, I do not think I knew how incredibly handy this Green Monster Smoothie that I’m presenting to you today would come in. Because I may have broken my thumb. Yep, you heard right – I’m starting the new year off with a cast. And because that means that I’m very limited in terms of what I can do, this smoothie comes in super handy. You can actually create it with one hand 🤣.

Ginger, pineapple, cucumber, spinach, and hemp seeds in a glass

Jokes aside though, I have been trying to support myself as much as possible from a nutritional perspective during this time. For bone health, this also means getting in loads of vitamin K, protein, calcium, and vitamin C. All of which are things that you’ll find in today’s smoothie… and that I will tell you a bit more about in the “why this Green Monster Smoothie is good for you” section. In fact, it is all about bone health this week 😂.

Green Monster Smoothie being poured into a glass. The glass is placed on a grey background with spinach and hemp seeds scattered around

Along with nutrition and hydration, I have also been prioritizing getting loads of rest – just sleeping whenever I feel like it so that my body has the proper means to fully recover. So albeit my year has started a little different than anticipated, I am ensuring that I’m getting the proper rest needed now. I hope your year was off to the start that you were anticipating though 😉.

Why is this Green Monster Smoothie good for you?

Spinach

Spinach is a dark leafy green, which is a superpower for your health both in terms of nutrients, as well as antioxidants (you learn more about The Science behind Antioxidants here). Amongst others, Spinach is rich in vitamin A, C, K1, folic acid, iron, and calcium. Vitamin K1 is important in order for your blood to clot properly. It may also play a role in your heart health, as it may activate a protein that doesn’t allow calcium to set in your arteries (which can lead to plaque). As we have discussed many times before on this blog, vitamin C is vital in order to produce collagen. Collagen is one of the building blocks to add structure to your bones and keep them healthy. As an added bonus, it also allows our skin to look younger. Who does not want that?!

In addition, Spinach is a great contributor to your eye health. It contains carotenoids, which are turned into vitamin A within the body. Spinach also contains several antioxidants that are particularly beneficial for your eyesight and keeping them healthy. Please bear in mind that Spinach is part of the Dirty Dozen. If you have the means, try and buy this food organic in order to receive the full benefits!

Hemp Seeds

Mighty, mighty rich Hemp Seeds. These little seeds are a true powerhouse. First of all, they are a complete plant-based protein, which is excellent if you are either vegetarian or vegan. They also contain the perfect amount of omega-three to omega-six fatty acid ratio. Amongst others, omega-three fatty acids are important for bone metabolism. They can help with calcium balance and decrease potential inflammation in the bones in animals. However, further testing or studies with regards to these results in humans need to be conducted in order to draw final conclusions. Hemp seeds are also a great source of fiber. As we have discussed many times before, fiber is excellent in order to help our bowel movements to be in flow, to ensure that our blood sugar levels remain stable, and contribute to our overall gut health.

Ginger

You guys know I love, love, love Ginger. It is one of my favorite anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial spices. Ginger contains something called “gingerol”. Which is really the substance that is responsible for most of Gingers’ medicinal properties. Ginger is a great remedy against nausea and may help with morning sickness during pregnancy. It can also help to manage pain during that time of the month. But, Ginger is also used to manage different kinds of pain. For example, studies have shown that Ginger significantly reduced pain in patients with osteoarthritis. In a conducted study, those who were taking Ginger were more likely to stop treatment due to feeling better, than when they were on a placebo. In addition, Ginger may also help with managing fasting blood sugar levels, especially in people with diabetes. Whereas this research was only done with a small control group, the overall direction looks promising. As you can see – Ginger is an absolute powerhouse in terms of its medicinal benefits on the body! What is even better is that it can easily be incorporated into many dishes 🤩.

How can I adjust this recipe to my dietary requirements?

This Green Monster Smoothie is both vegetarian and nut-free. It is also either vegan or paleo, depending on the type of protein powder you’re using. So this whole food smoothie can truly be enjoyed by everyone!

Green Monster Smoothie in a glass on a grey background with scattered spinach and hemps seeds in the background

And there you have it for this week! I hope you enjoyed the first recipe of the new year. If you are after additional smoothie recipes, you can find further delicious inspiration with my Chocolate Beet Smoothie, my Pumpkin Spice Smoothie, and my Strawberry Pink Peppercorn Smoothie. Please let me know in the comments below or over on Instagram what you think and how you’re liking the smoothie! I will speak to you all next week 🤗 .