Smoothies, especially green smoothies are a great addition to a healthy diet.
Our Fruity Green Smoothie Recipe is thick, smooth and really delicious!
Fruits and vegetables are the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet and dark green leafy vegetables lead the list. In fact, at the top of the list number one through five are leafy greens.
This luscious smoothie is made with organic ingredients, tender baby spinach, pineapple, dairy-free yogurt, bananas and a touch of agave.
Bananas are basic in most smoothies, provide body and sweet flavor and are packed with potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. I slice and freeze bananas as soon as they become extra ripe. That way, I always have them on hand for a smoothie!
Pineapple chunks and pineapple juice add more than just tasty tropical flavors, this delightful fruit also offers significant health benefits. Rich in Vitamin C, consuming pineapple may assist in weight loss and has been shown to help decrease fat formation and increase the breakdown of fat.[1]
Pineapple contains a mix of enzymes called bromelain. Studies have shown that bromelain can reduce inflammation and nasal swelling, and is recognized as a safe therapeutic agent in a variety of ailments, such as bronchitis, sinusitis and arthritis.[2]
The popularity of consuming beverages that contain vinegar for its weight-loss benefits has been validated by science and this powerhouse smoothie gets its boost from Marukan Organic Rice Vinegar.
It is the acetic acid in vinegar that has been shown to have a variety of benefits for fat reduction, Marukan Rice Vinegar is higher in acetic acid than other similar vinegars and the mellow flavor of this traditionally brewed vinegar make it the perfect choice for our smoothie.
Studies suggest acetic acid may promote weight loss in several ways.
Acetic acid improves metabolism,[3] lowers blood sugar and decreases insulin,[4] which promote fat burning, suppresses appetite[5] and reduces fat storage.[6]
Chewing is a good mechanism for grinding the food we eat, but blending is better in terms of digestive efficiency and nutrient absorption.
When we blend these powerful ingredients into a smoothie, we are taking foods with the most nutrition, breaking down cells and depositing nutrients into the bloodstream. This Fruity Green Smoothie is packed with healthy benefits and the best part is how absolutely delicious it is!
Marie Oser is a best-selling author, writer/producer and host of VegTV. Her latest book is The Skinny on Soy. Follow Marie on Facebook and Twitter
[1] El-Shazly SA, Ahmed MM, Al-Harbi MS, Alkafafy ME, El-Sawy HB, Amer SAM. Physiological and molecular study on the anti-obesity effects of pineapple (Ananas comosus) juice in male Wistar rat. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2018;27(5):1429–1438. Published 2018 Apr 11. doi:10.1007/s10068-018-0378-1
[2] Rathnavelu V, Alitheen NB, Sohila S, Kanagesan S, Ramesh R. Potential role of bromelain in clinical and therapeutic applications. Biomed Rep. 2016;5(3):283–288. doi:10.3892/br.2016.720
[3] Sakakibara S1, Yamauchi T, Oshima Y, Tsukamoto Y, Kadowaki T. Acetic acid activates hepatic AMPK and reduces hyperglycemia in diabetic KK-A(y) mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Jun 2;344(2):597-604.
[4] Fushimi T1, Sato Y. Effect of acetic acid feeding on the circadian changes in glycogen and metabolites of glucose and lipid in liver and skeletal muscle of rats. Br J Nutr. 2005 Nov;94(5):714-9.
[5] Frost G, et al. The short-chain fatty acid acetate reduces appetite via a central homeostatic mechanism. Nat Commun. 2014 Apr 29;5:3611.
[6] Yamashita H. Biological Function of Acetic Acid-Improvement in Obesity and Glucose Tolerance by Acetic Acid in Type 2 Diabetic Rats. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016 Jul 29;56 Suppl 1:S171-5.