The Green Smoothie
The green smoothie is something that is making it's way around the world in all sorts of circles! Health fooders are not the only ones to drink in the benefits of leafy green vegetables. I have seen recipes and articles about green smoothies every where from raw food sites to sites dedicated to overcoming illness to sites written by carnivores that love the fresh taste and health benefits of this wonderful, drinkable meal! Many people want to find a way to eat more greens. And in the case of the green smoothie, a delicious way to eat more greens!
Although "green" is in the name, green smoothies come in many colors! Purple, red, orange (well, orange-ish), nearly black and many shades in between. The key to the green smoothie is the fact that it has some sort of leafy green in it!
You can start with recipes found here or on another site, or just go in your kitchen and make a smoothie out of whatever fruit and leafy green you have around! But for best results, start with a recipe here and then begin to create your own! Believe me when I say green smoothie disasters can happen!
Whats so great about greens?
Leafy greens, from light green in color, to dark green are a dynamite way to take in vitamins like A, C and K, minerals like iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium and phytonutrients like lutein in spinach and beta carotene in collards ad spinach. Greens are also very low in sodium, pretty much carb free so they won't spike your blood sugar levels, and they are fiber rich and act like a brush to help clean out the digestive tract.
I can not say enough about greens. In the early stages of incorporating green smoothies into your diet, you can start off with fewer greens to fruit. Say, 30% greens 70% fruit. But be sure to add more and more as your tastes become acquainted with the green flavor! You'll want to eventually have more greens than fruit. believe me when I say your body will crave the greens!
When should I drink my green smoothie?
Make your green smoothie the first meal of the day. I recommend drinking a nice tall glass of water with 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it first thing, then prepare your smoothie. Even if you are the type of person that does not get hungry until 11 or 12 prepare it early so it is ready to go. You may also prepare it the night before so it is ready for you when you need it. If you drink it, you may have your tea or coffee after your water. Continue to hydrate with water if you wait until later in the day to eat your first meal.
When changing eating habits and if green smoothies are new to you then this is VERY IMPORTANT: As soon as your mind begins to wander towards thoughts of food drink your smoothie. If you allow the mind to think on food for a while (a while could be as short as 2-3 minutes) it will become harder to drink your smoothie as your monkey mind will reach for that next "banana". (The banana is whatever you are used to eating; Bagels and cream cheese, bacon and eggs, fast food breakfasts, donuts, etc.) Do not allow the monkey mind to control you! Remember that YOU control your mind. The mind does not control YOU! (or does it ;)
Once you drink your smoothie, you are golden! This is your first step in changing your life. Your life WILL CHANGE, just by changing your breakfast. This is, hands down, the single most important dietary change you can make.
You put water in your smoothie?
I remember when I introduced the green smoothies to my sister: She was looking to lose the last 10 pounds she had gained from pregnancy and she was having a tough time doing it. She tried for a couple of years and just couldn't get rid of those few pudgy pounds! When she asked me about it, I told her to start her day with the smoothie. I prepared one for her; avery simple one. Spinach, banana, flax seed and water. "WATER?" she asked. "You put water in your smoothie?"
You see, her idea of a smoothie, as is the same for thousands of people, is fruit, some type of juice (probably orange), and yogurt. Done. Smoothie.
(tongue clicks...) no, no, no. Please do not put dairy in your smoothie. To keep the reason why simple, I will say dairy and fruit do not digest and eliminate well. There are many other reasons, but I will not go into them now. (later)
She couldn't believe the water. And in the beginning she often used carrot juice to sweeten her green smoothie. None the less, juice and all, she lost her 10 pounds in less than 3 weeks. Just by changing breakfast. She gave up the bread, butter, eggs and cheese and had her smoothie. Now she drinks her smoothies with water instead of juice and LOVES them. Like I said, your body will begin to crave the greens and your day will not be the same without your delicious, nutritious, green, power smoothie!
Although "green" is in the name, green smoothies come in many colors! Purple, red, orange (well, orange-ish), nearly black and many shades in between. The key to the green smoothie is the fact that it has some sort of leafy green in it!
You can start with recipes found here or on another site, or just go in your kitchen and make a smoothie out of whatever fruit and leafy green you have around! But for best results, start with a recipe here and then begin to create your own! Believe me when I say green smoothie disasters can happen!
Whats so great about greens?
Leafy greens, from light green in color, to dark green are a dynamite way to take in vitamins like A, C and K, minerals like iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium and phytonutrients like lutein in spinach and beta carotene in collards ad spinach. Greens are also very low in sodium, pretty much carb free so they won't spike your blood sugar levels, and they are fiber rich and act like a brush to help clean out the digestive tract.
I can not say enough about greens. In the early stages of incorporating green smoothies into your diet, you can start off with fewer greens to fruit. Say, 30% greens 70% fruit. But be sure to add more and more as your tastes become acquainted with the green flavor! You'll want to eventually have more greens than fruit. believe me when I say your body will crave the greens!
When should I drink my green smoothie?
Make your green smoothie the first meal of the day. I recommend drinking a nice tall glass of water with 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it first thing, then prepare your smoothie. Even if you are the type of person that does not get hungry until 11 or 12 prepare it early so it is ready to go. You may also prepare it the night before so it is ready for you when you need it. If you drink it, you may have your tea or coffee after your water. Continue to hydrate with water if you wait until later in the day to eat your first meal.
When changing eating habits and if green smoothies are new to you then this is VERY IMPORTANT: As soon as your mind begins to wander towards thoughts of food drink your smoothie. If you allow the mind to think on food for a while (a while could be as short as 2-3 minutes) it will become harder to drink your smoothie as your monkey mind will reach for that next "banana". (The banana is whatever you are used to eating; Bagels and cream cheese, bacon and eggs, fast food breakfasts, donuts, etc.) Do not allow the monkey mind to control you! Remember that YOU control your mind. The mind does not control YOU! (or does it ;)
Once you drink your smoothie, you are golden! This is your first step in changing your life. Your life WILL CHANGE, just by changing your breakfast. This is, hands down, the single most important dietary change you can make.
You put water in your smoothie?
I remember when I introduced the green smoothies to my sister: She was looking to lose the last 10 pounds she had gained from pregnancy and she was having a tough time doing it. She tried for a couple of years and just couldn't get rid of those few pudgy pounds! When she asked me about it, I told her to start her day with the smoothie. I prepared one for her; avery simple one. Spinach, banana, flax seed and water. "WATER?" she asked. "You put water in your smoothie?"
You see, her idea of a smoothie, as is the same for thousands of people, is fruit, some type of juice (probably orange), and yogurt. Done. Smoothie.
(tongue clicks...) no, no, no. Please do not put dairy in your smoothie. To keep the reason why simple, I will say dairy and fruit do not digest and eliminate well. There are many other reasons, but I will not go into them now. (later)
She couldn't believe the water. And in the beginning she often used carrot juice to sweeten her green smoothie. None the less, juice and all, she lost her 10 pounds in less than 3 weeks. Just by changing breakfast. She gave up the bread, butter, eggs and cheese and had her smoothie. Now she drinks her smoothies with water instead of juice and LOVES them. Like I said, your body will begin to crave the greens and your day will not be the same without your delicious, nutritious, green, power smoothie!
