The Real Reason You Should Be Rotating Your Greens More Often
You love a good green smoothie. You especially love certain leafy greens in your green smoothie. In fact, you love one particular green smoothie recipe so much, you're sticking with it! But, as it turns out, consuming the same greens on a regular basis may not be good for your health. So, as much as you love that smoothie recipe, you need to think about rotating your greens.
But how can it be bad to eat the same greens every day when they're so good for you? Aren't they called "superfoods" for a reason? This is true, but there's also more than just vitamins and minerals in that kale and spinach leaf.
Chances are there are natural toxins in some of the greens you're consuming. As a defense mechanism against predators, plants put out chemicals to prevent being eaten in large quantities and to protect their species (via Happy And Raw). One of the primary toxins is oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is an organic compound that makes certain plants have a sour or bitter taste. While these compounds in low amounts are not harmful and are eliminated through your urine, they can be dangerous for people who are on raw vegan diets, or have medical conditions. Ingesting too much oxalic acid could potentially produce kidney stones and reduce your ability to absorb minerals (via Healthline).
Other reasons why you should be rotating your greens
While it's a good idea to rotate your greens to avoid a build up of oxalic acid, there is another important reason why rotating your greens more often is beneficial.
Different greens have different nutrients that your body needs, so it makes sense to mix things up a bit. Kale is very high in calcium, for example, while spinach is higher than kale in iron and folate. Romaine is a green you'll want to consider if it's not part of your diet because it's a great source of potassium (via Solluna). Beet greens and Swiss chard are both great sources of Vitamins A, and arugula has an alphabet soup of vitamins, including Vitamin A, B, C, and K, plus folate, potassium, and calcium (via Masterclass).
For the healthiest results, consider rotating your greens on a weekly basis. Note the family type, though, when you make your choices. Eating a different green in the same family type will just repeat the same kinds of vitamins and toxins (via Raw Blend). And don't forget to enjoy the process of testing the different combinations. You may just end up discovering your new favorite smoothie.