Most of us don't manage to get enough leafy greens in our diet. Can you imagine trying to eat a whole bunch of spinach in one salad! Green smoothies are fast becoming the hero of my diet and keep me rockin.
More than half of all the food I’ve had in last few weeks have been green smoothies. I have so much more energy and clarity and less cravings for starchy foods, alcohol and other nasties. In fact I am suddenly not drinking coffee - which is such a suprise and a blessing. I am now craving more fresh greens and when I went out on the bike with Jack yesterday I was salivating looking at all the beautiful green grass - crazy huh?
What do I mean by green smoothie? Here is one of my favorite recipes: 1 bunch spinach, Carrot Tops, Celery, Beetroot Leaves, 1 banana, handful blueberries, 1 apple or pear and water, spirulina Macca Powder and bee pollen. Blended well - high speed blender like a Vitamix is best. This smoothie looks very green, but it tastes sweet and delicious like fruit.
You can use any leafy green vegetable - silverbeet, parsley and any fruits mango, berries, - I always find banana is the best for adding sweetness to the greens - I try and have a ratio 0f 80% green to 20% fruits.
You can add anything else you want. I add spirulina for an extra boost of cholorophyll, berries for anti oxidants, Macca a great hormonal balancer for women and bee pollen is a great source of protein and a natural antibiotic. Chia seeds are also great for an extra protein/fibre boost.
Why are Green Smoothies so good?
FIBRE
Green smoothies are easy to digest. When blended well, most of the cells in the greens and fruits are ruptured, making the valuable nutrients easy for the body to assimilate. Green smoothies literally start to get absorbed in your mouth.
Green smoothies, as opposed to juices, are a complete food because they still have fiber. Consuming fiber is important for our elimination system. If the sewer ain't working to get rid of all the dead cells and toxins then the body can get clogged up with all the shit. Fibre is the magic sponge raft that absorbs and carries all the crap away - literally. If it hasn't moved through me within 12 hours - I start to worry!
HOMEOSTASIS
The extraordinary ability for the human body to repair itself. Homeostasis is the physiological process that keeps all substances in the body at the level necessary for optimal health. Optimal Homeostasis depends upon the performance of the endocrine system. The glands of the endocrine system and the hormones they secrete influence every cell, organ and function in our body. These hormones regulate mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, sexual function and reproduction. If the glands do not secrete the proper amounts of hormones, homeostatic balance in the body can shift and disease can start. Greens provide all the essential nutrients, including vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, minerals and trace elements critical for good health and Voila! - If the endocrine system is secreting the correct hormones to provide homeostasis then the body can heal itself of any ailments. Goodbye Period Pain!
ALKALISE
Being over acidic leads to increased discomfort in the body and eventually to nasty diseases like cancer :(
The body’s natural metabolic processes produce acidic waste. This cellular waste needs to be neutralized in order to be safely eliminated without damaging tissues of the glands and organs responsible for detoxifying the body. Acidity encourages decomposition, decay, disease and energy loss. Most of us maintain high acidity because of “acid-causing” lifestyle characteristics that include, but are not limited to, diet, stress and a toxic environment. Prolonged pH imbalance decreases the body’s ability to absorb protein, minerals and other nutrients, decreases energy production in the cells, decreases the body’s ability to repair damaged cells and detoxify heavy metals.
Foods that contribute to an acidic level are meats, white rice, cheese, coffee, alcohol, pasta, breads, sugar and chocolate. Foods that help reduce acid levels are vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. You need about 70% diet of alkaline foods to maintain your ph balance.
CHLOROPHYLL
Liquid sunshine! A molecule of chlorophyll closely resembles a molecule of human blood. Chlorophyll is a miraculous healer it works hard to cleanse all our organs and destroy internal enemies, like pathogenic bacteria, fungus and cancer cells and many othersI could bang on forever about green smoothies and I would advise anybody for any reason to give it a go to prevent, heal and make life happier.
Green smoothies are easy to make, and quick to clean up after. To prepare a green smoothie takes less than 5 minutes, including cleaning. Green smoothies have proven to be loved by children of all ages, including babies of six or more months old. Of course you have to be careful and slowly increase the amount of smoothies to avoid food allergies.
When you consume your greens in the form of green smoothies, you can greatly reduce the consumption of oils and salt in your diet and lose weight.
Regular consumption of green smoothies forms a good habit of eating greens. After a few weeks of drinking green smoothies, most people start to crave and enjoy eating more greens. Eating enough greens is often a problem with many people, especially children.
While fresh is always best, green smoothies will keep in cool temperatures for up to three days, which can be handy at work and while traveling.
Start playing with green smoothies, send me your recipes. I was playing this fantastic new album from Electric Mary Long Time Coming with bonus DVD Live at The Gaelic Club Sydney - rockin out while I made my smoothie today.
I got most of my info and you may find many more amazing facts about green smoothies in Victoria Boutenko’s book, Green for Life.
