Jennifer Thompson

Green smoothies, which are packed with nutrient-dense fruits and veggies, are gaining popularity for one main reason: They actually work. Even better, they're made from whole foods and they're totally affordable, even for a large family. In just five minutes, you can start making your own green smoothies. Get ready to see and feel a real difference in your health.

With a green smoothie in hand, you can drink your way to an excellent state of health. What will your green smoothie success story be? Here are just a few health benefits you can achieve:Lose weight: The fiber in green smoothies keeps you fuller longer. Leafy greens help stabilize blood sugars and reduce cravings.

Green smoothies are easy to make, but unless you have a super high-powered blender, you can’t just throw everything in at once and blend. To make a great green smoothie, follow these basic rules:Choose two or three different types of sweet or savory fruits, such as apple and banana or avocado, cucumber, and tomato.

You don't have to be on a strict vegan, vegetarian, or even raw food diet to enjoy the health benefits of green smoothies. And you don't have to eliminate any foods that you're already eating or enjoying. The idea behind green smoothies is to drink one smoothie a day as a complement to your current diet. With just that change alone, you should start to see results.

After you have the basic green smoothie recipe down pat, you can start branching out by adding superfoods for even more minerals, vitamins, chlorophyll, protein, or antioxidants. Look for 100-percent certified organic superfood products to avoid any low-quality added fillers. Here are some top superfood picks

Throughout the year, as the availability of different fruits and greens changes, so should your grocery list for green smoothies. Remember: Think local and in season first. Look for organic if it’s available and affordable. Check all produce for freshness. Be open to changing your list if any particular item doesn’t look fresh.

One of the most important times to focus on healthy food is when you’re recovering from surgery or cancer therapy. There is simply no better time to start adding green smoothies to your healing diet. Giving your body a boost of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins helps you get better faster, increase your energy levels, and support your body back to an excellent state of health, naturally.

When it comes to making a good green smoothie, there are some definite do’s and don’ts. Green smoothies are truly amazing, and if you make them right, you open your body up to a whole new world of energy-boosting nutrients that you may have otherwise struggled to get into your diet. Drinking a blended smoothie of fruits and greens is a high-power dose of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and a natural immune booster to keep you fit and healthy for life.

Green smoothies seem to be everywhere nowadays, from Hollywood to fitness trainers to talk shows to diet gurus. Male and female, young and old — people of all persuasions are drinking green smoothies. Here’s why you should be drinking them, too: They’re fast, easy, and affordable. You can make a green smoothie in less than five minutes, and doing so is really easy.