If you’re looking for a drink that will help boost your weight loss efforts, green juice would be an option you might want to consider. According to Sporting Smiles contributor and registered dietitian and nutritionist Katie Tomaschko, MS, RDN, “Green juice is a great way to get in your vitamins and minerals via fruits and vegetables. They taste yummy, too!”
And in case you’re wondering, there’s really no right or wrong way to make green juice. Everyone has their own preferences and that’s okay. However, Tomaschko believes that there are certain ingredients a healthy green juice should have. Case in point: dark, leafy green vegetables. Keep reading to know more about why it’s an important ingredient for this specific beverage.
Dark, Leafy Green Vegetables
Obviously, you can't have green juice without the green vegetables. After all, that's pretty much what makes up its name. Tomaschko says, "This really varies on preference, but in my personal opinion, every healthy green juice should have one to two dark leafy vegetables, such as spinach or kale. Dark leafy greens are extremely healthy and a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, folate, vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium."
Additionally, dark leafy greens also help with weight loss and digestion because of their high fiber content. In fact, based on an article posted by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "Perhaps one of the most appealing benefits of dark green leafy vegetables is their low calorie and carbohydrate contents and their low glycemic index. These features make them an ideal food to facilitate achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight. Adding more green vegetables to a balanced diet increases the intake of dietary fiber which, in turn, regulates the digestive system and aids in bowel health and weight management. These properties are particularly advantageous for those with type-2 diabetes."
For some added flavor and health benefits, other ingredients that you could include in your green juice are citrus fruits (for vitamin C and anti-oxidant properties), ginger (for anti-inflammatory properties), and water rich foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, or watermelon (for hydration).
