Green Smoothie to Avoid Joint Pain
Video by Dr. Justin Thompson
Do you struggle getting your daily fruits and veggies in? Or perhaps you have noticed that when your diet is fluctuating, so are your aches and pains? We have another smoothie recipe for you to help avoid joint pain! This smoothie helps you get higher levels of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and vitamin K. The smoothie of January is a simple take on a classic fruit combination. Mixed berry is a flavor profile that is a namesake. This smoothie only requires 3 or 4 ingredients! All you need is spinach, an avocado, and a bag of frozen mixed berries. This is an efficient way to get your dose of fruits and veggies in. When picking a bag of mixed berries, for this smoothie I went with one that was heavy on the blackberries! Blackberries have many health benefits which will be outlined below by the highlighted research. One cup of blackberries has over half the daily recommended level of vitamin C! A single cup of blackberries has around 8 grams of fiber as well! As I said before, this smoothie is simple but has plenty of awesome benefits! Give this smoothie a shot and let us know what you think! As always, we are here to help in any way we can. We recognize that the healing process must be facilitated from the inside and outside. That is why we stress eating well! It helps your body heal while helping your body get to a physiological homeostasis.
Research
“Like vitamin C, manganese plays a key role in the formation of collagen. The enzyme that helps manganese form collagen, prolidase, also helps wounds heal properly”
“In addition to their now well-known antioxidants effects, dietary supplementation with berry fruits also has direct effects on the brain. Intake of these fruits may help to prevent age-related neurodegeneration and resulting changes in cognitive and motor function”
“Manganese may help prevent osteoporosis, manage blood sugar levels, and reduce epileptic seizures.”
“Most case-control studies have found an inverse association between dietary vitamin C intake and cancers of the lung, breast, colon or rectum, stomach, oral cavity, larynx or pharynx, and esophagus. Plasma concentrations of vitamin C are also lower in people with cancer than controls”
Recipe
- 1-2 generous handful of greens (spinach, arugula, kale)
- 1 avocado
- 3-4 cups of frozen mixed berries or frozen blackberries
- 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder (optional)
- 2-3 cups of water or almond/coconut milk (optional based on desired flavor and consistency)
- Daily dose of essential Nutrients
Resources
Gonzalez OA, et al. (2013). Antibacterial effects of blackberry extract target periodontopathogens. DOI: 0.1111%2Fj.1600-0765.2012.01506.x
Higdon J. (2021). Manganese. lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/manganese
Marshall G. Miller and Barbara Shukitt-Hale. Berry Fruit Enhances Beneficial Signaling in the Brain. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2012 60 (23), 5709-5715. DOI: 10.1021/jf2036033
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
Our Message
If you’re looking for a Chiropractor near you that you can trust, choose one who will not only get rid of your back pain, neck pain, or headaches but who will also guide you to living a healthier lifestyle to keep you out of pain. Our Chiropractors located in St. Louis Park, near the corner of MN-100 S & Lake Rd./Westside Dr., will teach you what the research says about how and why we should eat a better diet, move more and have more positive thoughts. By improving these areas of our lives we can become healthier and stay out of pain!