Get Your Body Back to Basics with the Power of Green

Get Your Body Back to Basics with the Power of Green

Popeye the Sailor has been an advocate for the power of green for years, and anyone else in the know will enlighten you on the health and nutritional benefits of green-coloured superfoods.

It seems that someone has certainly been listening. Take, for example, how many more greens now feature prominently in smoothie recipes and hip salad mixes. Kale and wheatgrass too, seem to have become part of the language around trendy coffee shops.

Green vegetables are an abundant source of vitamins, minerals and fibre, but they also help to alkalize the body. Alkalized foods play a very important role in our body makeup.

Foods can be broken into acid-forming and alkaline-forming. Most standard diets fall into the acid-forming category being rich in meat, processed foods and dairy.

Our body’s pH level is slightly alkaline, or 7.35 to be exact, and our internal mechanics work hard on the balance to maintain this healthy neutral alkaline zone. To keep up with the commonly high input of acid-forming foods, our body must make up for this by leaching calcium, as an alkalizing mineral, from our bones. Across time this could lead to a deficiency of bone minerals and, quite possibly, osteoporosis. It is also acts as a stressor for inflammation and boosted levels of the stress hormone cortisol, promoting damaging effects on your long-term health and well-being.

Comparatively, plant-based, alkaline-forming foods are rich in nutrients and antioxidants. You can slow the leaching of calcium from your bones by increasing your intake of these such foods. They also assist to combat free-radical damage and inflammation, providing support for healthy cellular regeneration.

So, let’s take a look at some easy-to-obtain green foods that play a starring role in the health arena, and their various advantages to your body.

1. Broccoli

The humble relative to the cabbage, broccoli is up there with one of the healthiest foods around. What’s even better, it is super easy to prepare and cook or can be eaten raw.

Nutritional factors:

• Helps to detox the liver and lowers cholesterol
• Rich in fibre, high in B-vitamins, vitamin K and A
• Offers up an enzyme that detoxes bad estrogen
• Packed with flavonoids that reduce allergies

2. Kale

Yes, you knew it was coming and here it is! Based on weight, kale is one of the most nutritional foods around. It’s recommended to steam kale before eating as the oxalic acid contained in kale can prevent mineral absorption.

Nutritional factors:

• Anti-inflammatory lowers oxidative stress and is a potent antioxidant

• Helps to lower cholesterol and has detoxification properties
• High in flavonoids, including quercetin and kaempferol
• Potential to assist with combating some cancers through its abundance of glucosinolates
• Contains vitamins A, C, K, B6, magnesium and calcium

3. Wheatgrass

A food best consumed as a juice due to its live enzymes. Simply process the wheatgrass, then strain it to remove the roughage, as wheatgrass in its whole state can be a little tough to digest.

Nutritional facts:

• Rich in chlorophyll, antioxidants, and live enzymes when juiced fresh
• Aids detoxification
• Speeds up the healing process

4. Spinach

Spinach has links to reducing the risk of chronic diseases like cancer. You can enjoy spinach in its raw state or added to a lot of dishes, and even as a topper on pizza!

Nutritional facts:

• A high source of B-vitamins, vitamins A and K, magnesium, iron and folate
• Helps increase red blood cell production, which in turn reduces anaemia
• Supports bowel function due to high fibre content
• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

5. Avocado

Packed with almost 20 alkaline minerals, vitamins, and healthy fats. Served straight up, it’s a great ingredient in many dishes and recipes including salads and smoothies. You can’t get any better dip than fresh avocado or guacamole.

Nutritional facts:

• Packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids
• High in B-vitamins, vitamins A, E, K, and C, minerals, magnesium, potassium, and iron
• Contains lutein, good for the health of your eyes

Other green foods that are easily accessible and worth considering include celery, parsley, cucumber, and matcha tea.

Matcha tea is also great when you need a boost to your concentration and memory, raise your energy levels, and help to speed up your metabolism. Bondi Beach Tea Co. offers little bags of this magic potion at the ease of a mouse click. Try a bag of matcha tea to kick-off your green-eating health plan!