Green juice- its power, such amazing benefits, how it helps in weight-loss, I heard and read it all. However, I never thought of making it a part of my diet until I gained weight.
Green juice is a popular health drink, no doubt about that. But is it really worth the hype? Does green juice burn fat? These questions bothered me too, so I planned on experiencing it first hand and started drinking this healthy drink every morning on an empty stomach. What is the harm in trying?
Just 3 weeks into it, and I started seeing so many changes in me. It’s incredible what just one glass of green juice every morning can do to your body & your overall health. I am a witness indeed!
Before we delve into it, let me tell you why this is a drink that every health enthusiast is rooting for nowadays.
Why Green Juice?
Green juice is basically a drink loaded with all the healthy green veggies such as spinach, mint, celery, cucumber, kale, broccoli and more. It is packed with all the essential nutrients and keeps your body hydrated too.
Our body’s nutrient absorption capacity is at its peak in the morning. Why not load it with some intense healthy nutrients. It will absorb them well, making you glow inside and out. Imagine when the first thing you drink in the morning fuels your body with such nutrients, how it is going to affect your health & your lifestyle.
How Drinking Green Juice Every Morning Changed Me!
Reading about all the benefits of green juice, I decided to give it a try. And, let me tell you I am hooked. Why? Because I could actually see and feel the changes within me. Here is what happened in just 3 weeks of having a glass of green juice on an empty stomach every morning.
1. I lost weight
Well that is the first thing I checked after just a week of incorporating this juice in my routine. I was shedding kilos, slowly, yes, but still I was. And that too without any strenuous workout regime or dietary restrictions. Within a few weeks, I had lost almost 3 kgs which is not a mean feat as I did not change anything else in my lifestyle or routine.
2. No more bloating
You know how at the end of the day, when you are done with all the meals, you take a look at yourself in the mirror and you can literally see that you are bloated. This is normal, as we have a lot of meals in the day which interrupt our digestion and thus cause bloating. My daily intake of green juice reduced that to a significant extent. I hardly had any bloating tummy, which made me look and feel better.
3. My skin glows
There is a natural glow on my skin. Green juice is basically a detoxifying juice. When consumed on an empty stomach, it helps in taking out the toxins from your body. It goes without saying that the less toxins inside you, the healthier and brighter you look and feel. I can see how my skin looks and feels. Less blemishes, much brighter. It could take you a few weeks to see that change, but when you do, you will be glad for that green juice!
4. I have more energy
I feel much better and healthier from within. And, as a result my energy levels have improved. I am hardly tired or lethargic which was not the case before. When you drink a nutrient-rich juice first thing every morning, it automatically gives way to better digestion, better energy levels, and better hydration throughout the day.
What’s my go-to morning drink?
It is a juice made with all the leafy green vegetables. You can pick one vegetable or two or three – whatever suits your taste. Majorly green juice is made with
- Spinach
- Mint
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Cucumber
While spinach, kale and broccoli are nutrient-rich, cucumber, celery and mint aid in hydration.
I make my juice with spinach, mint & cucumber. It is easy to make. Here’s how :
- Spinach
- Handful of Mint
- 1 or 2 Cucumbers
- Small piece of Ginger
- Few slices of Apple (just for a little taste, you can skip it if you want).
Grind it all in a grinder or a juicer. Sieve it with a nut milk bag. Top it up with a few lemon drops and you are good to go!
Why a nut milk bag? Because fibres of these veggies are not easy to digest. You want a juice that helps in your digestion, consuming fibres in the morning would make that difficult. A nut milk bag easily sieves the watery part of the juice leaving everything else behind. You can use these fibres to add to some dish later, or even as a compost for your plants.
What else should you know?
There were several questions in my mind when I started drinking green juice and I did some in-depth research to get the answers. Here, I am putting it all together for you :
- I am a tea/coffee person. I need my tea/coffee in the morning. How can I incorporate green juice in my diet without missing my morning cuppa?
Here, the only thing you need to remember is there should at least be a gap of 1.5-2 hours between your green juice and your next meal, whatever it may be. So suppose you have your juice at 6 in the morning, then by 7.30-8 you can have your tea or coffee.
- What is the best time to drink green juice?
The best time to drink green juice is early morning on an empty stomach. However, if you cannot have it early in the morning, then you can have it during noon or evening keeping a 2-3 hour gap between your juice and your lunch/dinner.
- Is it ok to drink green juice everyday?
I researched a lot on this question. Green leafy vegetables are rich sources of oxalate which if consumed in excessive amounts can harm the kidney. You can have green juice everyday, but just one glass. Drinking green juice in moderation is the key to a healthy you.