Spinach Smoothie Fitness

Drinking spinach may sound kind of interesting, but when you add fruits to vegetables the taste takes on a different meaning. For instance, I like fruit smoothies, and in order to get the nutrition of some of the green vegetables that I don’t like, I add veggies to the fruit smoothie like kale. Here, is a spinach smoothie recipe and all the ways spinach helps us stay healthy for fitness routines.

Benefits of Spinach

Lower Blood Pressure

Spinach is rich in several minerals that your body needs, including potassium. Consuming foods that are high in potassium helps lower your blood pressure.

Healthy Eyes

Spinach is an excellent source of lutein,  an antioxidant known to protect against eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Studies have found that people who take lutein supplements are at a lower risk for macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness.

Improved Cognition

Lutein has also been shown to help preserve cognitive abilities. Studies of older adults have shown that those with higher lutein levels exhibited better verbal fluency, memory, reasoning ability, and processing speed than those with low amounts of the nutrient. 

Healthy Bones

Vitamin K is essential to bone health and growth, and spinach is packed with it. Eating just one cup of spinach fulfills the recommended daily amount of Vitamin K your body needs. 

Healthy Skin 

The vitamin A in spinach is used by your body to grow tissues, including the largest organ in your body, skin. Not only does Vitamin A support the skin’s immune system (preventing disease and damage), but it also helps skin stay hydrated, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Healthy Blood

Spinach is an excellent source of iron, which helps your body make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is needed to transport oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. This is why one of the primary symptoms of iron deficiency is heavy fatigue.

Spinach Smoothie

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp rolled oats 
• 2 Tbsp sliced almonds or 1 Tbsp almond butter
• 1 medium ripe banana
• 1.25 oz. frozen raspberries or blueberries (1/4 cup)
• 2 oz. frozen strawberries (about 2 large or 6 small)
• 1/2 cup cold water*
• 2.5 oz. fresh spinach (2 1/2 cups packed)
• 6 ice cubes
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon + 1/8 tsp vanilla extract – for blueberry version
• 1/8 tsp almond extract – for raspberry version

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a high speed blender (if using blueberries add cinnamon and vanilla, if using raspberries add almond extract). Blend until well pureed. Serve immediately.

Spinach smoothie great for super fitness!