Drinking Greens for Healthy Natural Hair

Drinking Greens for Healthy Natural Hair

There are a lot of great reasons to drink your greens either in smoothie or juice form.  But my hair has been in need of some major TLC and repair.  Greens are packed with vitamins, minerals, and water.  The hydrating power of greens is what my hair and body need in this triple digit climate I live in. This is also why I’m protective styling with Marley Twist. My diet is full of fresh fruits and veggies but with the latest kale craze. I thought I would take it up notch by trying kale smoothies. I wanted to see what all the hype was about.

4 Things I Learn About Drinking Greens for Healthy Hair

Take the Stalks Out

The first time I tried a kale strawberry smoothie, I couldn’t get over the texture. I am not at all a texture person.  Usually textures don’t bother me BUT the toughness of the kale and strawberry seeds were too much.  I have since learned the importance of removing all the stalks of kale for a smoother smoothie.

Keep It Simple

Once I got the right consistency it was finding the perfect kale smoothie recipe.  I like to keep it simple that means two ingredients maybe three excluding my liquid of either water or almond milk. Every time I asked for a simple recipe people would list 5-6 ingredients. And I’m sorry but I’m not going to be blending up 5-6 ingredients every morning.  Really! Ain’t no body got time for that. *Sweet Brown voice* I like to blend kale and apple. Its the perfect combination.  Spinach easily blends with any fruit or veggie blend as well.

To Decrease Bitterness Add Lemon or Ginger or Use Tender Baby Kale

I haven’t tried adding lemon or ginger, yet. But I hear this is the best way to decrease the bitterness of the kale.  But I also know that fresh baby kale are less bitter. I have found them to be the best for kale smoothies.

There’s a Difference Between Juice and Smoothies

I have downed kale juice with no problem.  I just needed a pinch of salt or lemon juice and its all good. But smoothies are little bit more difficult to gulp down.  Until I can fit a decent juicer in my budget, I’ll stick to spinach smoothies that are easier to blend with various fruits and veggies.  They are also more tender.  This makes them easier to swallow in smoothie form.

The Classic Green Recipe via Refinery29
Kale, apples, and lemon. It doesn’t get much better than that (at least that’s what your skin, hair, immune system, and internal organs think). This traditional combo is one of the best ways to benefit your bod, prevent illness, and glow from the inside out. For those phobic of the hearty kale flavor, toss in some green grapes, which pack a punch of sweet-and-tartness that make this health-bomb a real treat. If you’re not yet sold, just put it to the test. Try this knockout green smoothie every morning for two weeks. If you don’t notice a change in your appearance, energy, and digestion, get back to us. You may be a robot.

Ingredients:
3 large kale leaves, plus stems
1/2 Red Delicious apple
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup green grapes

Chop everything into manageable pieces, throw it all in a powerful blender or smoothie maker, and add additional water or juice if you have trouble breaking the stems down. Kale is a particularly tough green so you may need to let it run for an additional minute (tip: Stop and start a few times to let it settle and incorporate).

Drink This For: Omega-3 and 6, Folic acide, Fiber, Protein, Carotenoids, Glucosinolates, Vitamins K, A, and C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Copper, Manganese, Calcium, Iron, Phytonutrients, Antioxidants, Selenium, Citric Acid, Flavanoids, and Folate.