10 Reasons to Drink Green

Are you keeping it green? Not only for the planet, but for your own wellness too. While you know that including fresh produce in your diet is important, most Americans fall drastically short on these health-empowering foods—especially dark greens like broccoli and kale. Well, if we don’t eat our greens, maybe we can drink them.

Green drinks have taken the nutrition world by storm as health-conscious people of all ages recognize what a clever, efficient solution they offer to get the benefits of numerous veggies in a snap. Once you incorporate protein and “good” fats, that green drink could well be called the perfect meal. Here are 10 reasons to enjoy "greens on the go".

Vegetable Transforming

It’s easy to get in veggie ruts. If you don’t skip them altogether, you may fall back on the same basic salad or steamed broccoli day after day. Not only can this be mundane, it can also prevent your getting the range of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals provided by a wider variety of options. So, outsmart veggie boredom and boost nutrients by mixing superfood greens into your morning shake. You’ll feel like you're eating dessert rather than Brussels sprouts.

Antioxidant-Rich

A hallmark of a good green drink is a range of powerful antioxidants such as green tea extract, spirulina, wheat grass powder, barley grass powder, and spinach and broccoli powder, to name a few. Antioxidants are true health heroes as they neutralize the dangerous free radicals that attack your cells on a daily basis. Without sufficient antioxidant protection, we’re far more vulnerable to cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, premature aging, and more.

Breakfast Problem Solving

Talk about getting a jump on the day. Kicking off your morning with a green drink that includes natural whey protein is a superb way to give your body and brain the energy it needs to function properly, helping you think clearly, operate efficiently and sculpt a lean body into the bargain. Numerous studies show adults and kids alike perform better in school and work when they eat a high-powered breakfast like this.

Kid-Friendly

This is a big one. We all know kids aren’t always quick to gobble their veggies. Even if they tolerate some, they may still lack the variety a wider range could offer, potentially shortchanging them on key nutrients. If you think you’d rather drink a luscious, sweet-tasting shake in lieu of cauliflower, that probably goes double for kids. Call it the "Green Magic Shake".

Appetite Reducing

Do you know people who "feel hungry all the time?" That feeling is often due to excessive refined carbs and sugar which send your blood sugar on a roller coaster ride that ends in a crash─a vicious cycle. Conversely, when you eat balanced, protein-rich meals, your body is able to absorb carbs steadily and burn them as energy rather than storing them as fat. A natural whey protein shake with green powder will maintain healthy blood sugar levels to keep you going long and strong.

Immunity Boosting

Did you know that most green superfoods have immune-boosting properties? Superfoods like spirulina not only help wards off colds and flu, they also combats cancer development by boosting your natural killer (NK) cell activity.1 Another example is green tea, which may enhance immunity while decreasing the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease.2

Detoxifying

What gives green foods their pigment? You guessed it─chlorophyll. According to Elson Haas, MD, in his book Staying Healthy with Nutrition, chlorophyll appears to provide intestinal nourishment and has been used to help detoxify and purify the body, the liver in particular. Chlorophyll has also been repeatedly shown to boost immune health.3,4

Energy Promoting

There’s a lot of truth to the adage that “what goes up must come down.” The caffeine rush from coffee, cola, or quick-fix “energy” drinks comes with a price. Caffeine operates as a stimulant by targeting the central nervous system and triggering the release of stress hormones. According to author Frank Lipman, MD, caffeine can tax the endocrine system and exhaust the adrenal glands, resulting in overall fatigue. When it comes to lasting vitality, green protein drinks beat caffeine hands down.

Acid/Alkaline Balance Correcting

Your internal pH balance has a direct effect on your health, optimizing the action of enzymes and promoting a healthy metabolism. However, prolonged abnormal pH leads to disordered metabolism and illness.5 Ideally, we would be consuming a diet of about 70% alkaline foods, such as fresh produce, and minimizing acid-forming foods like meat, sugar, alcohol and coffee. While we strive towards this goal, alkalinizing green drinks offer a valuable opportunity to help restore a healthy pH balance.

Vegetarian Allies

As more Americans choose to scale back on red meat and saturated fat, they often welcome tasty protein sources beyond the usual vegetarian staples like tofu and beans. Natural whey protein green drinks are ideal as they allow you to ramp up first thing with 40 grams of protein─free of lactose, saturated fat and cholesterol. So, when vegetarians are asked─yet again─where they get their protein, they have a great answer. And, more importantly, health and vitality to spare.

EnergyFirst 100% Natural Greenergy exemplifies the ideal green drink powder, with the equivalent of 5 servings of vegetables plus a host of vitamins/minerals─all in one small scoop─plus phytonutrients, probiotics, digestive enzymes, anti-cancer green tea extract, antioxidants, added MSM for joint health, and other strong immune boosting nutrients. Here’s to drinking green!

References

1 Cancer Sci. 2009 Aug;100(8):1494-501. Epub 2009 May
2 J Gastroenterol. 2000;35 Suppl 12:1-6
3 Mol Immunol. 2007 Jan;44(4):347-59. Epub 2006 Apr 17
4 Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2006 Apr;15(4):717-25
5 Br J Nurs. 2007 Sep 13-27;16(16):1016-21