Green Smoothies

Green Smoothies ... Yummm!

I'm unfolding for you a great secret ... the secret of how to get life-giving greens and fruits into your diet (like 15 servings in one meal!) to give your body the nutrients to heal and preserve for a life of THRIVING, not just surviving.

It's the green smoothie ... and it's become my ADDICTION!!! My husband and I have one every morning. The kids have them when they have time. Our littlest has one if it has lots of "beanna" in it because he likes it sweet (who doesn't?).

Here's all you need to know to start making smoothies for yourself and your family. I'm going to tell you what vegetables and fruits go into them and then give you some of their healing properties.

here goes ... buckle up. It's going to be a fun ride!

Start with your dark greens (the healthiness thing on earth that can be put in your body -- trust me). You want at least three varieties. I'm going to list the ones I use most, but there surely are more to pick from.

ORGANIC spinach and/or green lettuce.

Spinach

A nutritional bonanza! This mild leaf wonder protects against cancer (especially lung) by preventing the body's cells from undergoing mutation. It decreases risk of cataracts, protects nerve cells, and helps prevent diabetes. It even helps prevent birth defects and heart disease. For those of you who need help coping with life, it has B2 (riboflavin).  It has calcium and magnesium which builds bones and teeth and lowers blood pressure.

Green Lettuce

All variety of looseleaf lettuces contain antioxidants ... more cancer help. This mild leaf is high in fiber which helps with the colon (yeah) and helps prevent rectal cancer. That's all I need to hear!

ORGANIC dandelion greens and cilantro

Dandelion Greens

This bitter green is bitter for a reason. Bitter herbs are good for the liver, which help the body detox ... getting rid of all those horrible binges on the bad stuff. They help fight cancer, boost immunity, thwart the aging process, build bones, teeth and blood. They help your body protect against heart disease. Ancient herbalists used dandelion greens as a liver tonic. It stimulates the production of bile, enabling the liver to do its job. It also helps the gallbladder. I only use about three leaves per batch because they're bitter. But they're powerful little guys and should be used! I eat the leaves but you can do what you want. The whole weed is edible.

Cilantro

This sweet but pungent leaf helps relieve problems with indigestion, gas, and diarrhea.  It contains gobs of nutrients like, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, manganese, Vit C, Vit B6-B2-B3, Vit A, Vit E, folate, fiber ... trust me, its good for you. 

ORGANIC Chard and Collard Greens

When using chard, collards, beet greens or any other large leaf, tear the leaf from the stalk and only use the leaf.

Chard

A member of the beet family... anyone related to beets has got to be healthy. This mild green is a good source of folate (that's the B vitamins that help fight lung cancer). Chard improves digestion, boosts energy levels, and corrects calcium deficiencies. It's also a diuretic and a laxative (weeeeeee).

Collards

This large leaf improves the function of the  glands and the nervous, respiratory, skeletal, and urinary systems. Girls ... it protects against estrogen related cancers, slows tumor growth, and may also prevent the metastasis of breast cancer. It protects against lung, colon and prostate cancers. It reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration. This wonder leaf can protect against osteoporosis and strokes as well as minimize the neurological damage resulting from a stroke.

My personal favorite -- so it gets its own picture. I use kale every day. I'm showing two varieties above.

ORGANIC Kale

Kale

This thick leaf, with almost no taste, is the best known cancer-fighting vegetable on the PLANET! It's the richest of all the leafy greens in carotenoids. It helps regulate estrogen and ward off breast, bowel, bladder, prostate, and lung cancers. It protects against heart disease and regulates blood pressure. It has gobs of calcium that the body can absorb better than milk or other vehicles. And ... it's contains more calcium than milk (ounce for ounce). So it helps with all the icky possible bone problems too! Heat can destroy a lot of the healing properties of Kale. But if you cook it, the chlorophyl properties aren't affected. So you can eat it both cooked and raw. 

I add these every once in a while to shake things up. You can add all kinds of herbs and roots that you like. If you use ginger, only use about a 1/2 inch and cut off the outer skin.

ORGANIC Ginger and Mint

Ginger

This root has a strong, spicy, sweet flavor. It's the most widely used medicinal herb on the planet. It's been proven to help with nausea, morning sickness, upset stomach, indigestion, vomiting, motion sickness, and cramps. It can help with the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Ginger can destroy bacteria, including Salmonella, which causes food poisoning. Ginger helps lower blood pressure, reduce fever, prevents internal blood clots, reduces cholesterol, aids circulation, and eases asthma symptoms. I told you it was cool!

Mint

The flavor of mint is sweet and cooling (you all knew that). It eases insomnia, upset stomachs and nervous tension. It helps the body break down fat by stimulating bile flow. It has been shown to increase the number of phagocytes, cells that are capable of destroying pathogens, bacteria, and cancer cells.

That's the end of the vegetables. You can use all kinds though. Try ...

Beet Greens

Cucumber

Avocado (makes it very creamy)

Celery

Green Beans

etc, etc, etc,

Now it's time to add the fruit, the yummiest part of your smoothie. I recommend using at least two fruits. I usually use about four but you can experiment and come up with what you like. I'm showing the ones I use most, but go for what you like. Just use organic if you can!

ORGANIC dates, bananas and mangos

Pitted Dates

I like sweet ... and dates give me a great amount of nutty sweet goodness. They also have a laxative effect and are linked to lower rates of cancers, especially pancreatic. Dates can be stored in the refrigerator for up to eight months, so go get a bunch. Keep them air tight because they absorb the odors around them. 

CAUTION ... if you have been prescribed monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) AVOID EATING DATES because it can create a life-threatening rise in blood pressure.

Bananas

Bananas can provide nutrients vital to people with alcoholism, hypertension, hemorrhoids, heart disorders, high cholesterol, ulcers, diarrhea, potassium deficiency, high blood pressure, edema, and intestinal disturbances. Bananas are good for the nerves, muscles, liver, and kidneys, and they feed the good bacteria in the colon. They also help to lesson pain, aid sleep, and enhance immune function. I like them frozen, so get a bunch and don't worry if they go ripe. Just throw them in the freezer.

Mangos

These beautiful, tropical little sweeties are tasty but difficult to peel. Just peel the outer skin and then cut off chunks of fruit around the pit. It's worth the work. Mangoes aid poor circulation. They help reduce inflammation, digestive problems, fever and pain. It's one of the top sources for beta-carotene and has a very high Vit C content.

ORGANIC pears, kiwi, pineapple and apple

Pears

These sweet little beauties are my favorite ... probably because they contain a lot of natural sugars. They are useful in treating inflammation of mucous membranes, colitis, chronic gallbladder disorders, arthritis and gout. They can be beneficial in lowering high blood pressure, controlling blood cholesterol levels, and increasing urine acidity. They are good for the lungs and stomach. They are a great laxative as well. The fiber ... thus the laxative ... can help cut down on the number of cancerous colon polyps. 

Kiwi

This fruit is pretty tart, so pare it with other sweeter fruits. It contains pectin, a soluble fiber, which helps to control blood cholesterol levels. Kiwi is also useful in controlling high blood pressure. One large kiwi has only 46 calories and supplies more than twice the recommended daily dose of Vit C - more than on orange. It has Vit K and potassium as well.

Pineapple

I'm all about the fresh pineapple. Do the work to cut the little critter up and it will be so much tastier ... and better for you. This fruit helps to cleanse the body, aid digestion, purify  and thin the blood, prevent blood clots, increase circulation, aid menses, and regulate the glands. It is useful in the treatment of obesity, cancer, inflammation, influenza, common cold, sore throat, edema, allergies, bronchitis, pain, diabetes, rheumatic disorders, tendonitis, respiratory ailments, heart disease, high blood pressure, muscle disorders, arthritis, and liver and kidney ailments. Whew!

Apples

One apple has about 3.6 grams of fiber ... very cool. This amount of fiber is enough to contribute substantially to colon health if eaten daily (Happy Colon!) ... "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" may have something to it! Apples are a good treatment for chronic enteritis, prostate problems, intestinal infections, inflammation of the colon, goiter, gout, diarrhea, arthritis, herpes, and acid stomach. Apples can detoxify metals in the body and protect against heart disease. They clean the bladder, protect against radiation exposure, lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure, maintain circulatory and intestinal health, and stabilize blood sugar. 

That's enough for the fruits. But there are tons more to choose from.

All types of berries

Peaches

Apricots

Melons

Citrus

Grapes

etc, etc, etc,

ADDITIVES

Many people stop here. You just put the fruits and vegetables in a blender, add water, blend long enough for it to be completely smooth and then enjoy a delicious and nutritious meal. I like to add a few more healing properties for my particular needs. You can try these or just stop here. It's up to you. 

Aloe Vera Juice, Omega 3-6-9 Fatty Acids, Mangosteen Juice

Aloe Vera Juice/Gel

Aloe has been found to "turn on" the immune system by activating macrophages. It provides enzymes, vitamins, and minerals the immune system needs to function properly. It has been proven to support healing in the intestines and colon as well.

Omega 3-6-9 Oils (fatty acids)

I use a 3-6-9 blend, but you can use any source you want. Here's a mini-breakdown.

Omega 3 - promotes brain and eye development, is good for arthritis, helps to prevent abnormal heart rhythms, improves immune function, and reduces blood clotting. It's found in pumpkinseed, flaxseed, canola, soybean and walnut oils.

Omega 6 - The essential omega-6 fatty acid linoleic lowers total blood cholesterol levels as well as levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol. 

Omega 9 - This oil is not an essential fatty acid, because humans can produce limited amounts. It is found in almost all natural fats. Large concentration are found in avocados, macadamia nuts, apricot seeds, almonds, and olive oil. It helps to prevent cancer and boosts the immune system.

Mangosteen Juice

This asian fruit is one of the most powerful antioxidants you can find. The rind is where most of the antioxidants are found. The rind, fruit and pulp are mixed together to create a healing juice, better tasting and more absorbable (kind of expensive though). I'm just learning about this fruit, so just google it to get more info if you're interested.

I love these three additives and use them all the time.

Milled flax, coconut juice and a nutrition powder

Organic Cold Milled Flax

This powder makes the smoothies thicker and give me more energy over time. Flaxseed needs to be ground for absorption, but get it cold milled so heat doesn't break down the nutrients. You can also grind it yourself. I use a little coffee grinder. They are a great source of omega-3 linolenic acid - the essential fatty acid American's are most deficient in. Flaxseeds are effective as a laxative and as a soothing agent in inflammatory respiratory problems. They contain protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, Vit C, Vit B3, folate and Vit E.

Coconut Juice

The coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. But I use it mostly because I LOVE the taste. 

Nutrition Powder

First of all, this is NOT a protein powder. It's a nutrition powder that delivers essential amino acids, phytosterols, vitamin E complex, a broad complex of vitamin B and the 120 naturally-occurring antioxidants - including gamma-oryzanol. It's a meal replacement. I recommend that you only use this addidtive if you're planning to use your smoothie as a full meal ... which I do. It's not cheap. I'm sure you can find other powders in health food stores. But if you want to look into the Rice-n-Shine, here's the website: www.ITVventures.com.

NOW FOR THE WATER!

The water is a very important part of your smoothie. Don't use tap water ... chlorine and all kind of other junk can be found in tap water. Don't pollute your pure and beautiful smoothie! Use a purified or Ph-balanced water. I use Kangan water. It's a bit of a pain to go pick it up at a health food store, but it's by far the best water you can put in your body ... full of antioxidants without the acids your body doesn't need. If you want to learn about Kangan water, google it. You'll find a wealth of informtion.

CAUTION ... don't take time-released drugs with Kangan water.

That's about it!

If you're serious about your health and getting your veggie/fruit doses in, DO THE SMOOTHIES. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel. And the weight starts coming off to-boot! My husband drinks them for breakfast and lunch. I drink them for breakfast and sometimes dinner. My 4-year-old drinks them for breakfast (yes, we have to do a count-the-sips game to get it all down), and my teens are drinking them more now as they get over the green color. It's worth the effort to provide your family their nutrition!

Send me comments if you have questions. 

For more smoothie ideas, google GREEN SMOOTHIE or to go Youtube for millions of other people who share my addiction. Happy Smoothies ... and HAPPY COLON!