Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Green Smoothie - A Great Way to Start Your Day

Note: Scroll down for a great daily smoothie recipe!

For many people, sacrificing a hot breakfast for a cold green smoothie can be difficult at first. However, for most people, the benefits of this sacrifice will pay off greatly. Of course results aren't guaranteed, but  with so many servings of powerful fruits and veggies, a green smoothie is a great way to start your day!

While I like to avoid hard set "rules" in dieting in favor of an intuitive and balanced approach, I also believe that some things can generally be seen as healthy. One of these things is a green smoothie, which can be an energizing and delicious meal option to incorporate into your life. Again, this isn't necessarily a rigid daily rule to follow, but rather an understanding of the benefits that green smoothies can bring.

Dr. Brooke Goldner has had amazing success healing people of a variety of terrible and debilitating diseases. She healed from lupus on a high raw vegan diet, and recommends green smoothies as a staple to her program.
Dr. Josh Axe helped his mom heal from cancer in an amazing story, and he promotes starting every day with a kale green smoothie.
For my smoothies, I do not include canned or jarred ingredients, as they have almost always been pasteurized and therefore do not retain many of the living enzymes found in fresh produce. Frozen fruits, on the other hand, are generally still in their unprocessed original state.  

Kevin Gianni was one of the more influential raw vegan pioneers around the years 2000-2010. He ended up eventually adding animal protein into his diet, yet he still recognizes the power of a green smoothie as a part of a balanced diet. Check out this amazing interview where Gianni continues to affirm the power of a green smoothie!

In the below interview, Arnold Kauffman interviews Elaine, who claims to have had more success with green smoothies than with traditional cancer treatments for her mouth cancer! Of course, this was her decision and I'm not prescribing anything on this blog. Yet I find her story to be very inspiring.

Brenda, the "Real Food Rebel," beat a terrifying infection of parasites and lyme disease that left her totally debilitated and even suicidal. In her own words, "When I was very sick and going through heavy lyme and parasite cleansing I often did a green smoothie fast for a day or two. I would eat as much smoothie as I wanted and it really helped to clear the body of die-off toxins. Go ahead and give it a try" (Link)!

Feel free to vary your smoothie to what works best for you. Here are some possible ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen pineapples. 
"Pineapple contains compounds that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are linked to cancer. One of these compounds is the enzyme bromelain, which may stimulate cell death in certain cancer cells and aid white blood cell function" (Link).
  • 1/2 cup of frozen wild blueberries

"Blueberries are the King of antioxidant foods. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage your cells and contribute to aging and diseases, such as cancer" (LINK).

  • One Banana
Bananas are a rich source of potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber. 
  • 1 Cup of Carrots: Beta-carotene is said to aid in the treatment or prevention of the following health problems: Age-related macular degeneration, Arthritis, Asthma, Cataracts, Heartburn, Heart disease, High blood pressure, Parkinson's disease and Psoriasis (Link).

  • 1/3 cup of Omega 3 Seeds (chia and/or flax)
- "Flaxseed is a rich source of healthy fat, antioxidants, and fiber. The seeds contain protein, lignans, and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA or omega-3. The nutrients in flaxseed may help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease." (LINK)
- "Despite their small size, chia seeds are full of important nutrients. They are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, rich in antioxidants, and they provide fiber, iron, and calcium. Omega-3 fatty acids help raise HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart attack and stroke" (Link)

  • 4-6 cups of organic mixed greens (Kale is best)
  • Enough filtered water to create a smooth consistency. 

  • Optional: sugar free coconut yogurt

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