Why Greens might be the answer to avoiding the Flu this season

Want to avoid the Flu? And recover faster? We have the answer: Greens!

Immunity is largely supported by your digestive health, and your digestive health needs Greens. Okay, let’s be real, there’s more to it than that. But seriously- Eat your Greens!

Winter has almost come to an end (yay!), but we’ve noticed that the dreaded cold and flu is still going around. So what can you do to prevent getting sick, and how can you decrease your recovery time if you’ve succumbed to it?

Listen Up!

Disease Prevention & Recovery- with Nutrient Dense Foods.

Green plant foods are the most powerful tool we have to prevent and recover from diseases. All types, especially the dark, leafy varieties are an amazing source of nutrition and are rich in Vitamins A, C, E, K and B, and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus, to support us to maintain healthy bodies.

Chlorophyll- The Life Force
Green plants contain chlorophyll, which is what makes life on earth possible. It’s the molecule that absorbs sunlight and converts it into energy within plants. The oxygen we breathe comes from the chlorophyll in plants, and it's actually almost identical to haemoglobin- the molecule that carries oxygen around our bloodstream. This means that when we consume chlorophyll (from Greens!), it becomes part of our blood, giving us the ability to carry more oxygen around our entire bodies. 

Detoxifying- Cleanse and Recover
The chlorophyll in greens acts as a natural detoxifier by purifying and cleansing our blood, binding to harmful toxins and impurities such as heavy metals, pesticides and environmental pollutants, and flushes them out of our bodies. Greens also a high water content, which is fantastic for helping us stay hydrated.

More Energy and Glow – Feel Better
Not only do green veggies kickstart our body’s automatic and natural cleansing system, they enhance our energy levels, improve our organ function and our circulation- especially to our extremities, and overall, they help you glow from the inside out- who wouldn’t want that!?

Our tip: eat lots of fresh, green veggies each day!

If you are battling the cold or flu this season, eating greens isn’t going to fix it overnight. Let’s keep it real. It’s also extremely important to make sure you drink loads of water, as well as getting a whole lot of rest and sleep, which gives your body the chance to repair and rejuvenate itself.  

Our Tips for Avoiding the Flu by eating Greens: 

  • Pack a handful of baby spinach and a few scoops of avocado into your morning smoothie
  • Add some celery, cucumber and silverbeet into freshly squeezed juices with apples, oranges, carrots and ginger, which allows the nutrients to be immediately absorbed into your bloodstream. 
  • Toss some leek, peas, kale and broccoli into a pan with eggs for a nutritious omelette, or stir them through brown rice or pasta, topped with some extra virgin olive oil. 
  • Coat brussel sprouts in coconut oil and Himalayan salt or sea-salt and roast them in the oven for an amazingly crispy texture.

Quick Shopping Tip:

To get the most benefits out of eating green veggies, it’s best to buy ones that are grown locally, whether from a farmers’ market, local fresh produce shop, or even grown yourself in your own backyard. This ensures that they are fresh and still full of life and nutritional goodness! 

Still need some inspiration? Here’s the shopping list!

Artichokes, Asian greens, Asparagus, Beans, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Cabbage, Celery, Cucumber, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Peas, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Sugar snap peas, Zucchini

Hope this information inspires you to grab some greens when you’re next out shopping! Maybe you can add them to our Green Smoothie recipe with KOJA Chia Seed & Coconut! Check it out here

Know someone that loves their greens or needs to love their greens more!? Share this post with them using the Share button below.

 

Heidi x

ABOUT HEIDI:

Heidi is a Sydney babe who's recently moved to Melbs, to join the KOJA team! She is very passionate about holistic health and inspiring others to live natural lifestyles. Her interest in the connection between our physical body and our emotional health lead her to study BodyMind Nutrition. She is currently training to become a Life Coach, Holistic Counsellor and Complementary Therapist.