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Elixir Wellness: Top 10 Leafy Greens.

naturalelixir
Apr 13, 2016
4 min read

If you do one thing this week, get your greens in! Eating a diet rich with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is the best way you can feed your body and benefit from all of the essential nutrients it needs to thrive! Leafy greens in particular give a really high dose of vitamins and minerals, which you can eat in abundance everyday help maintain a hip and healthy bod! Green vegetables are naturally low in sugar, high in fibre and enzymes which are fantastic for maintaining healthy digestion and weight.

BE A GREEN MACHINE!

Easy to digest - less discomfort and bloating!
Very low in sugar - better weight management!
Highly nutritious - hello energy!
Promotes healing - Supports immunity!
Enhances beauty - Glossy hair, glowing skin and strong nails!
Keeps you full and prevents sugar cravings.
Anti-inflammatory - prevents inflammation in the body!
Delicious and very versatile for all diets - dairy free, vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, gluten free… YOU CAN EAT IN ABUNDANCE! No restrictions ;)

OUR FAVOURITES FROM THE GARDEN:

Kale - Skin smoothing Vitamins A and C, Vitamin K for healthy blood, contains more Calcium than milk and supports liver detoxification.
Watercress - Rescues hair, skin and nails with Vitamins A, C and K, Repairs DNA damage from the sun and a natural detox aid.
Spinach - Promotes skin cell renewal from Vitamin A, reduces inflammation and bursting with chlorophyll for healthy blood oxidation. Fantastic source of Iron. Eat with Vitamin C containing foods such as lemon juice to help absorb the iron!
Swiss Chard - Full of hair strengthening Biotin (Vitamin B7). Biotin helps the body utilise protein which prevents hair loss, breakage and damage. Also contains Vitamins E, C and K and Calcium for strong bones youthful skin.
Parsley - A powerful blood cleanser and source of Iron. This fragrant herb is packed with Vitamins A, C, B12 and K for strong bones, immunity and healthy nervous system as well as aiding the flushing out of toxins.
Collard Greens - Full of beta-carotene and Vitamin C for maintaining glowy skin and collagen production. Contains Vitamin K and folate which contribute to healthy blood and circulation.
Romaine Lettuce - A low calorie leaf bursting with Vitamin A and B’s. Contains iron, folate and silicon for luscious hair skin and nails. A whole head of Romaine is only 100 calories and has 8g of protein!
Beet Greens - A concentrated source of Vitamins A, C, K, pantothenic acid and protein. Pantothenic acid is fantastic for healing the adrenal glands. Mineral rich including iron, postassium, phosphorus and calcium.
Broccoli - An inflammation fighter and regulates detoxification throughout the body. Full of bone supporting calcium and capillary strengthening vitamin K.
Arugula - Also known as rocket, the peppery leafy salad green. A bitter digestive aid which stimulates digestive enzymes when chewed before a meal! Boosts detoxification and protects against UV damage.

Here are some tips to help you incorporate more greens into your diet. Perhaps you don't like the taste, or haven’t really cooked with them before. Here’s what you can do for a healthier lifestyle.

Juice them! We get our cold pressed juices from Pure Earth.
Disguise them into smoothies. Bananas, medjool dates, berries and apples will hide the taste if you don’t like the flavour of greens.
Throw them into your favourite curry or casserole.
Stir fry them with coconut oil.
Steam them.
Bake them.
Whizz into dips and sauces, like pesto, guacamole and hummus.
Use as a base to colourful and wholesome salads.
Blitz them into soups, you would never know they are there!
Eat a handful of rocket as a starter. Rocket is a natural bitter, which stimulates digestive enzymes and the digestive system to help digest your meal.
Dehydrate them! make kale crisps for a delicious crunchy snack.

How much do I need to eat a day?

Try to incorporate a couple of portions (1 large handful) of greens with each meal. For example, adding spinach and kale into your morning smoothie and having or extra portion go greens than normal with lunch and dinner. You can steam some broccoli with some sweet potato or make a big leafy salad with lots of colourful vegetables.

Once the habit of including more greens kicks in, it will be second nature. A lot of people tend to use meat, fish or pasta as the main part of the meal, then what grains/ carbs to put with it, then finally a small handful of greens on the side. Whereas, we we go by what will go with our greens! For example, we like to have a gorgeously big green base, like a spinach, watercress and rocket salad, then add the extras and make it tasty. For example, quinoa, hemp seeds, peppers, tomatoes, hummus, black beans, sauerkraut, sweet potato and avocado with a tahini drizzle!

Lets not forget…

Asparagus. Courgette. Cos lettuce. Rocket. Lambs lettuce. Ice Berg Lettuce. Green beans. Broad Beans. Garden Peas. Sugar Snaps. Basil. Coriander. Chives. Celery. Fennel. Sprouts. Cabbage. Dandelion Greens.

OTHER SOURCES OF SUPERGREENS!