Green Smoothies

You're Drinking your WHAT?!?

Most of us know the value of eating raw/living greens, but the thought of eating salads everyday is just plain boring. Really, how many ways can one prepare a salad and not get tired of it? Lets face it, the combinations are limited.  And then there is the chewing. We've all heard it, we should chew our food until it is liquid "mush" before swallowing and having another bite. This ensures that it is properly digested and we are able to absorb the nutrients properly. Chewing greens is especially important because the nutrients within the greens plant are contained with outer cellulose. The cellulose is extremely tough in order to survive. To release all the valuable nutrients from within the cells, the cell walls need to be ruptured to release the nutrients of the green plant. OMG, this could take an hour just to finish a meal!  I don't know about you all, but I"m a busy gal. I don't always have time to sit for an hour or so for a nutritious meal.

I WANT to Eat Healthy, but where do I Start?

So what is the solution if you're trying to eat healthy and avoid the temptations of fast food hell?!? As with most things in my life, I needed a solution, put the energy out to the universe, and voila - I was sitting in my shared massage office waiting for a client, when I came across a book on our bookshelf called Greens for Life, by Victoria Boutenko. Ah! The power of MANIFESTATION! I love it!

Victoria found that GREENS were the missing link in human nutrition. Through the research she found on wild chimpanzees, was their 40% green diet.

Chimps consume approx:

• 50% Fruits
• 40% Greens And Blossoms
• 9% Pith, Bark, Seeds
• 1% Insects And Animal (once in a while)

Standard American Human Diet consists of approx:

• 60% Rice, Potato, Bread, And Pasta
• 5% Greens
• 5% Vegetables
• 1% Fruits
• 25% Animal Protein
• 4% Oils

Typical Raw-Foodist Diet consists of approx:

• 45% Fruit
• 18% Vegetables
• 16% Nuts And Seeds
• 15% Avocados And Oils
• 6% Greens 

According to Victoria Boutenko greens are the primary food group that match human nutritional needs most completely.

 

Enter Green Smoothie

The most simple, fast, easy way to get our greens. I call it Liquid Sunshine in a glass. Maybe you are asking just what a green smoothie is. The answer is rather simple. A green smoothie includes two main ingredients - fruit and greens.  Blend this up until smooth and you have a nutritious meal loaded with an abundance of vitamins, minerals antioxidants, phytonutrients, amino acids (the building blocks of protein), and chlorophyll. They are also full of fiber which your body needs for proper waster elimination.

Of course this has to be tasty if you're going to drink it right? After all they do look a bit like pond sludge, but don't be fooled, they taste AMAZING. Typically, for newbies, the ration is 60% fruit to 40% greens. As your taste buds adjust, you will want to add more greens and less fruit. 

 

Benefits of Green Smoothies

People that have added green smoothies as a regular part of their diet report:

* more energy
* less body aches and pain
* normalized blood sugar
* reduced or "cured" insomnia
* increased libido
* clearer thought
* better vision
* regular bowel movements
* less acne
* less illness
* easy weight loss
* reduced craving for coffee and caffeine

... and the positive benefits goes on.

Do I need a fancy blender?

Oftentimes the difference between:

"GROSS! A green smoothie"

and

"Yummy! Pour me another" is not the recipe but rather the texture. Chunky smoothies are not always palatable.

However, no worries, a good old regular blender will get you started, you will just have to put your ingredients in slowly, add more water and blend for a longer time. However, once you become a green smoothie addict like me, you’ll be dreaming of the ultimate green smoothie machine, the Vita-Mix or Blendtec Blender.  I have both, and personally I prefer the Vita-Mix. Both will take you to SMOOTHIE heaven. But like I mentioned before, a regular household blender will get the job done!  DO NOT let your old blender stop you. Your health must be affordable!

Green Smoothie Challenge

Alrighty my new green smoothie converts. Are you ready to put this info to the test? Ready to make a change? Then what are you waiting for? Sign up now for my Green Smoothie Challenge. Lets get GREEN and LEAN together!  When you sign up, you'll get my new ebook with over 50 green smoothie recipes and tips and a calender to track your progress. You'll also receive daily emails and videos from me with more tips, inspiration and information to help you stick to the challenge.  For more information visit my Green Smoothie Challenge Posting.

Sign Me Up!