Yes we are now officially in Spring. Spring has sprung, though my partner argues it’s not truly here until September 23, at the time of the spring equinox, but that’s another story!
As you may or may not know, my Eat Clean Reset Your Body 14 day programme is ready for you right now and I’d love you to join in the fun if you feel inclined (dare I say you desperately need?) to give yourself a makeover from the inside out.
Another way you can give yourself this kind of makeover is by including more greens.
I know you know eating greens are good for you but have you considered including these in your daily diet?
Hungry for Change is a website I admire so I’m very happy to share their fabulous info!
1. Seaweed
Often overlooked because it is not a land-dweller, seaweed is insanely good for you. While providing a whopping amount of vitamins and minerals, seaweed’s golden ticket is iodine. Iodine is found in very few foods and is essential to a healthy thyroid. With more people avoiding iodised salt for a slew of reasons, mild iodine deficiency is growing more common. When deficient, a person may have difficulty losing weight, feel fatigued, perhaps depressed — experiencing general thyroid malfunction. Whip up a tasty seaweed salad for lunch to keep your thyroid chugging along.
2. Micro greens
Move over regular arugula (commonly called rocket)! Micro greens are simply mini versions of your favourite produce, and man do they pack a punch! As “toddler plants,” they contain more vitamins and flavour than their mature counterparts. There is an endless variety of micro greens from which to choose, from mustard and watercress, to turnip and sunflower — each with a unique, tantalising flavour. As an added bonus, micro greens are crazy easy to grow in your kitchen, and will supply your meals with some tasty, uber healthy green nutrition.
3. Lacinato Kale (aka Tuscan/Dinosaur kale)
This is your grocery-store-kale’s dark, jurassic-looking cousin. With 100 percent of your recommended daily allowance of vitamins A and K, and 88 percent of your vitamin C requirement, the rich compounds of kale have been linked to cancer prevention. It is a little sweeter and nuttier than your regular kale, so go ahead and experiment!
4. Moringa
Recently growing in popularity, moringa is a leaf that is chock-full of goodies. It assists with blood sugar stabilisation, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, is loaded with energising and depression-fighting B vitamins, and containing 90 nutrients that benefit the human body. It is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant-rich. Cook with the oil, or flavour meals with the leaves. Never heard of it? Discover all of the wonders of moringa here.
5. Avocados
OK, so you may be pretty familiar with avocados, but they are so delicious and nutrient-dense that they deserve a mention. They are full of monounsaturated fats, which increase satiety and can assist with weight loss. Avocados are anti-inflammatory, blood sugar regulators, and may even prevent strokes. Buy them once for the high amount of potassium, fibre, B vitamins, and vitamins K and C; keep buying them for their glorious, creamy texture and your newfound obsession with guacamole.
Green foods are good for you, but they don’t have to be boring. Trying a new green every week can keep your meals interesting and your body healthy.
As you add more and more vegetables into your diet you’re actually crowding out other foods that may not be as nutritionally dense as veggies and you have the added bonus of less calories.
Avocados are my absolute favourite, and happy to admit I eat most days! Can you see the benefits of more greens in your diet?
Be Healthy, Happy & Amazing!
Caroline x