All About Greens

About Greens

Green drinks get their name and color from leafy green vegetables. It is recommended to include greens daily in your blending regimen. I suggest rotating greens weekly to expose the full range of nutrition available in the varieties of greens. Also rotate because, over indulgence in any food can allow the build up of otherwise healthy levels of toxins. The darker the leaves, the more nutrients the vegetable usually has. Dark green leafy vegetables are, calorie for calorie, perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including Folate, vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins . They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. The fiber from greens allows our bodies regularly clear environmental toxins from the blood. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats. Blending value is made clearer with the understanding the many of the greens listed below are not palatable raw. Blending with ripe fruit can turn even the toughest bitterest greens into a tasty drink.

Few experience the full range nutrient rich greens in their raw form. Cooking greens reduces nutrient levels and preparation normally includes salts and oils. Greens that are palatable raw are normally consumed with oily dressings and salt. Blending offers the best option for getting nutrient rich raw greens in your daily diet.

Nutritional Value

This listing contains the most consumed greens in the US. The nutrient value ranking is based on 100mg servings which are then converted to cups. Nutrient values are for raw uncooked greens. See USDA Nutrition Database.

Nutrient Rankings

This table allows you to evaluate rankings by each nutrient. Grades are derived to comparing nutrient values to the top green for each nutrient.

Cumulative Nutritional Rankings

Kale is the overall leader in total nutritional value. Lettuce, the most widely consumed green is the least nutritious by far. Cumulative scores are averages of all nutrients, minerals only, and vitamins only.