Going Green On The Inside

I’ve got a secret to share with you.

No matter what point you may be at in your pursuit of good health, this is something you’ll want to hear. But brace yourself, because not only is this secret easy, it won’t cost you much either. Trust me.

It’s called the green smoothie.

Perhaps you have heard of this revolutionary phenomenon. Personally, I was inspired by Victoria Boutenko in her extraordinary book called Green for Life.

In any healthy diet it is always suggested that we consume more greens- spinach, swiss chard, kale, romaine, dandelion, etc. You have heard, read about and perhaps occasionally consume these sometimes intimidating “creatures.”

But let’s face it, there are only so many salads one can consume, never mind how much dressing must be slathered on some of them in order to get through a bowlful.

Is there a better way? You bet!

Try tossing that salad into the blender along with fruit, either water or juice and you’ve got a nutritionally-dense glass of glory, loaded with vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids -- 50 per cent being Omega 3’s -- enzymes, fiber, chlorophyll and antioxidants.

Genius!

Here’s why: First off, when we simply chew our greens -- unless we spend minutes of intense grinding with each mouthful -- we simply cannot break through many of the tough cellulose walls which hold the bounty of nutrients, which means we’re not getting the full absorption of these nutrients. Blending effectively breaks down and “chews” our food for us and we receive 100 per cent of the benefits.

Second, blending condenses what seems like a mountain of greens to a very small amount of liquid, which makes eating up to a half of a pound or even a pound per day much easier. This makes the ruffage even easier for our bodies to digest. Plus, it tastes amazing and is low in fat.

For anyone looking to lose a little weight, greens, more than any other food group, match our nutritional needs most completely. With regular consumption of green smoothies the body becomes nourished and, as a result, cravings and overeating diminish.

No matter what your diet, a green smoothie at least once a day will improve your health.

So my challenge for you is this: Incorporate a green smoothie into your diet once a day for one month – and, if you’re so inclined, read Green for Life for more inspiration. Energy, weight loss, a desire to eat healthier foods, a better night’s sleep, reduced stress levels and overall joy may be some of the side effects you’ll experience … and the more you consume, the better.

As my favorite time of year approaches, with its rich colors and the aroma of the crisp air, I am reminded of fresh new beginnings. In many cultures around the world autumn is a time of cleansing and renewal. A very beneficial detox or cleanse that can be done without the use of pills, powders, potions and difficult fasts is to simply consume nothing but yummy green smoothies for seven days. Trust me, this will “reset” your system -- normalize digestion and appetite, elevated energy levels, give feelings of lightness and clearness, produce pleasant body odor, clear tongue coating and more -- and help prepare you for the busy and festive seasons ahead.

Have a grocery adventure. Discover new fruits and new dark green leafy things and blend together to create some raw magic! To help get you started, here are some tasty recipes:

• Mulled Orchard Smoothie

• Tropical Smoothie

• Berry Dream Smoothie

And very soon you will be creating your own concoctions! A word of warning: do not be alarmed if you are out walking Fido and the dandelion leaves cause you to salivate. It happens. You will begin to crave greens.

Reference:
Boutenko, Victoria. Green for Life. Raw family Publishing: 2005