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Why Leafy Greens are so good for you and the Nutritional breakdown.

Not many foods can compare to the high nutritional value of leafy greens. Researchers are finding that eating your greens may be even more important than previously imagined. In putting together this article I found lots of quotes that stated “it was common for our ancient ancestors to eat up to six pounds of leaves per day”. Recent research shows that a gene that is essential for producing critical immune cells in your gut, responds to the food you eat—specifically leafy green vegetables. So eat your greens!

We now know that these greens are packed with an array of antioxidants and other disease-fighting compounds. Researchers also believe that these vegetables play an important role in controlling food allergies, inflammatory diseases and obesity, and may even prevent the development of bowel cancers (see Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for more on that).

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Here’s a nutritional breakdown of the top readily available leafy greens:

Kale:

  • Excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K
  • High in Calcium (for a vegetable)
  • Also supplies Folate and Potassium

Collard Greens:

  • Excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K
  • Good source of Folate, Manganese, and Calcium
  • Cancer preventatvive glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, sinigrin, gluconasturtiian, and glucotropaeolin)
  • Similar in nutrition to Kale but more chewy with a stronger taste

Swiss Chard:

  • Excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K
  • Good source of Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Iron and Vitamin E
  • At least 13 different Polyphenol Antioxidants, including Kaempferol and Syringic Acid
  • Unique source of Phytonutrients called Betalains (provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support)

Turnip Greens:

  • Excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K
  • Good source of Folate, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Vitamin E and Vitamin B6
  • Bitter taste linked to high Calcium (4x more than cabbage, 2x more than mustard greens)
  • High glucosinolate content (phytonutrients with cancer-preventing properties)

Spinach:

  • Excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K
  • Good source of Manganese, Folate, Iron, Vitamins C, B2, B6 and E
  • Showed evidence of significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer.
  • Glycoglycerolipids help protect the lining of the digestive tract from damage — especially damage related to unwanted inflammation.

Beetroot Greens:

  • Excellent source of vitamins A, C, E and K
  • Good source of Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Zinc, Vitamins B6

Valuable source of Lutein/Zeaxanthin (good for eye health)

Lettuce:

  • Excellent source of vitamin K. Vitamin K has a potential role in the bone metabolism where it thought to increase bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity inside the bone cells. It also has established role in Alzheimer’s disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in the brain.
  • Fresh leaves contain good amounts folates and vitamin C. Folates are part of co-factors in the enzyme metabolism required for DNA synthesis and therefore, play a vital role in prevention of the neural tube defects in the baby (fetus) during pregnancy.
  • Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant; regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.

So don’t over look the humble lettuce it’s my favorite green to have in the fridge . . .

How to Choose Leafy Greens

When choosing your greens, you should always look for leaves that are crisp. You want to hear a slight snap when you crack the stems. If they are wilted, soggy, or slimy, keep looking! Ideally, they have been stored in a cool place but watch out for greens stored in ice and the leaves will burn. Greens are loaded with water. Ice can crystallize the water and the greens may end up mushy by the time you get them home.

The leaves should smell fresh and, well, really green!

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Colour is also important. If you have a choice, pick the darkest leaves. Don’t worry about a few brown spots, that’s perfectly normal, especially at the farmers markets. However, if the edges are consistently brown throughout all the leaves they are not good. Last but not least, is smell. The leaves should smell fresh and, well, really green!

NOTE: Non-organic greens can be very high in pesticides. This is one of those items that are definitely worth buying organic.  It is to buy from a local grower when possible. Make sure your growers are practicing sustainable farming practices and not using heavy chemical pesticides and herbicides. If you can’t buy from a local farm or farmers market, then make sure to choose organically-certified greens at the grocery store. There’s no skimping on greens they should always be organic where possible.

Eat your greens! Add them to each meal in smoothies, juices, salads, use as wraps and serve with dips.

I do not suggest cooking greens . . . if they are not sweet enough to eat raw, then do not eat them at all. Once you cook leaves you loose the nutrients of them and the healing properties they hold.

How to get your child drinking and loving ‘Green Smoothies’ . . .

Getting your child to drink ‘green smoothies’

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Going crazy on extra greens on your first smoothie attempt will not win you green smoothie loving children. Baby steps are the key to making a smooth transition to developing a taste for greens in your child’s smoothie, especially if your child is not used to vegetables or a picky eater. So make those first few smoothies creamy with a lot of fruit and just a hint of green veggies. Then with each smoothie you serve, add a little less fruit and a little more green leaves and build up to more nutrient dense greens. Your goal is to pack in your child’s daily needs for green vegetables into a smoothie. Job done mums!

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A great way to transition your child to a “Natural Living Lifestyle” is removing their cereal/toast/eggs/pancakes with a nutrient dense green smoothie.

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This fruit and green packed breakfast gives their body energy without needing lots of digesting or causing inflammation so it doesn’t cause energy drops mid morning. Their brain gets fired up before school, It’s high in minerals so their body gets all it needs and taste yum too!

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To make this:
Per child~
• 2-3 frozen bananas or 1 cup frozen berries (to cover the green colour)
• 2 cups + water or coconut water
• 1/2-2 cups of spinach/lettuce/dandelion/greens/herbs
• 1/4-1 tsp spirulina/barley grass/chlorella powder
• 1/4-1/2 cucumber
• option is to add in celery too once the child gets used to them
• If you’ve upped the greens and powder then add a date or 2 in to keep it sweet and for extra minerals.

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⭐️note that the Ingrediant’s start with less greens. I suggest starting at almost just bananas and coconut water with a tinge of greens and building up as your child gets used to the taste and colour.

⭐️for children with sensory processing state thinner and make it thicker till they get used to drinking from a straw.

⭐️for kids who don’t like the colour try dark glasses or lids or flowers at the top of the glass or fancy decorated straws. Try a few different ways till they taste it and then build up the flavour and nutrients.

 

A Great smoothie recipe to start with:

  • 1 cup frozen blueberries (the more berries you add, the more purple it looks not green) 
1 banana or 1 apple, 
1 cup almond or hemp milk or coconut milk
 or 1 cup coconut  (try celery or cucumber juice here too as soon you will want to stop using fats in smoothies for better digestion see the link below for why) 
1/4 cup fresh baby spinach or lettuce. Building up the amount of lettuce and spinach or any soft tender greens.The truth about fruit . . . and Food combining and why is it essential for health!-chart.

The fibers are liquefied making the nutrients absorb super easy. Studies have shown that children and adults alike generally accept a new food by the 12th try so keep at it muma’s!!

Some Tips:

  • Make yourself a green smoothie, and they may wonder why their smoothie is not the same color as yours.
  • Be a health role model for your kids. If they see you eating healthy they will want to do it too.
  • Try having a smoothie out at a healthy café or wholefoods as often kids like what other people eat more than what their mums make. All choose a different type and compare the tastes.
  • Get them to choose a new smoothie cup and straw to take ownership over their new healthy lifestyle. Add flowers on top so they can not see the colour.
  • Let them measure out the coconut water or add the ingredients into the blender and safely press the button and watch it wiz around. They are much more likely y to drink something they have made. Even start with them helping you make your first and then say would you like one?
  • Top their smoothies with extra goodness like  coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds or goji berries or flowers. Serve with a nice straw and spoon and make it a special treat.

For the kids who will not go near any vegetables and anything green:

Start with making a banana milk (1 banana blend with 1 cup water) then each day or week depending on how slow you feel is right add some lettuce like coz. This will not change the colour much but get some much needed nutrients in tot your child. Once they are ok with that add spinach which will change the colour but they would be used to the taste by now.

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Your goal is to get to smoothies made with filtered water ONLY with fruit and loads of greens. No fats no milks and with barley grass powder and herbs like coriander for maxima detoxing and cellular health . . . every day even twice a day. I believe you will if you set your mind on it!

Why Leafy Greens are so good for you and the Nutritional breakdown.

Good luck and remember they sense your fear and emotions – if you are hesitant and scared they will not go for it. Be confident and set an example by eating well yourself. Monkey see monkey do. Kids can not buy their own food, so only stock the best at home and choose only the best when you are out. If you are suffering with self sabotage and food binging and cravings. Contact me to coach you to break free of these . . . like I did.

Try my super detox green smoothie here too: Green Detox Smoothie and my heavy metal detox buster smoothie here too: Heavy metal detox buster!

🍌GOOD LUCK and remember monkey see monkey do so eat your greens too! 🍌

Much love and thanks Hannah xx