"Green for Life" book - any comments?

[English Tracy]

I have ordered Victoria Boutenko's book and the reviews on Amazon seem very positive. Can't wait for it to arrive.

I would love to have comments from anyone on whether he/she has experienced noticeable health benefits from consuming green smoothies on a regular basis. I am currently overweight (again) and am trying to head back to the raw 'straight and narrow' and think these smoothies may be the way to go.

Also, what green smoothies have made a difference to you i.e. recipe please!!

Thanks.

Tracy

[RawVegan4Health]

I have definitely noticed many benefits since going raw. Green smoothies were a major part of my going raw. I have had one to two green smoothies every day since March 19th. Since this change I have lost an estimated 28 pounds. I say estimated because I did not start weighing myself until April 8th. However, my weight loss has steadily been an average of 2.75 pounds/week since I have started weighing myself on a weekly basis.

For a list of health improvements I personally experienced, here is a link to a page in my personal blog that lists health improvements I have noted.
http://rawvegan4health.blogspot.com/2007/04/what-changes-have-i-experienced.html

As for recipes, the formula Victoria lists of 60% greens, 40% fruit seems to be spot on. I use 3 to 4 handfuls of greens, and 3 medium size fruit. Vary the greens from day to day. All of this is explained in the book.

My favorite recipe is 1 handful coleslaw mix, 1 handful spinach, 1 handful baby spring mix, several sprigs parsley, 1 apple, 1 pear, 1 banana, a tbsp or so of flax seed, and about 1 to 2 cups of water.

[Stina]

Hey, I'm not totally Raw but I do have a green smoothie every day because I've grown to love them so very much; it's grown to be the foundation of my diet. Despite still eating some junk food, the lines in my 35-year-old face have diminished and my period cramps have lightened up. My energy is better, more stamina, and I definitely feel more cheerful drinking them; my brain chemistry is like, "Thank-you!":)

[purelyorganicproducts]

My favorite recipe is 1 handful coleslaw mix, 1 handful spinach, 1 handful baby spring mix, several sprigs parsley, 1 apple, 1 pear, 1 banana, a tbsp or so of flax seed, and about 1 to 2 cups of water.

How do you cram this all into the blender? Do you do fruits and veggies separate then mix? This is one of those logistical quandries I always have and wonder how other people handle.

Thanks!

[Princess Elaine]

Oh, your gonna love that book...one of my all time favorites and I give it as a gift to friends along with Alissa's book...they've both changed my life.

Green for life explains why we should blend our greens and recipes are in the back of the book and for me...I followed one once and for the rest of the time I just make it up as I go....I probably have more greens then 60%... In my old blender (32 ounce size) I'd use one green apple, the rest greens...a staple one is celery, cucumber and green apple...then I change it up with namu shoya, cilantro, lemon, parsley, one or all ...I use kale, collard greens, spinach...

I've been drinking them for about 6 or 7 months and can't go a day without one...I love them...I use other fruits too, yet green apple seems to be my favorite...

My fruit smoothies I use all the other fruits...and often like them one at a time...

Enjoy the book, you won't be able to put it down...

Love,
Elaine

[garden granny]

I have just finished reading Green for Life, and am now reading 12 steps to Raw Foods. The best thing I've read in a long time, very informative and interesting stuff. I have already been drinking green smoothies for about 6 months every day, and I feel full of energy, my skin has a natural glow, and thank goodness I am in very good health. I walk an hour every day also. I'm in my 50's too. :D

[RawVegan4Health]

Well, in my brand new Blend-Tec blender that I have only had less than a week, they pretty much all fit except for sometimes the banana. I say sometimes because the handfuls are not an exact measurement!:p In my old blender, which could hold 6 cups, I had to blend the greens and water first, then add in the fruit. I chopped the fruit to make it easy on the blender to assimilate.

[portiz]

I have been drinking green smoothies for about 3-4 months now. I've noticed that I don't shed as much hair; I'm more energetic in the mornings; I don't tend to eat junk snack foods (cookies and crackers from work); I don't bruise as easily; and my cramping is nil.

I have a regular blender that fits everything in it. I always cram a handful of whatever greens I may have (sprouts, spinach, romaine lettuce) at the very bottom, then top it off with fresh and/or frozen fruit.

I always buy fruit in bulk. I never waste it either. When it gets ripe, I peel, wash, and separate in ziploc quart size bags to have ready for a smoothie. I've also thrown in the greens if I've had them in the fridge for longer than a week. This way, (since I'm always running late in the morning) all I have to do is grab a bag from the freezer and throw the contents in the blender...and viola!!! BREAKFAST!!

[rawbeliever]

I'm currently living on almost nothing but green smoothies. I drink three or four quarts of green smoothie a day, and maybe have some whole fruit as well. I feel fantastic. My energy has skyrocketed (and, mind you, I was high raw before, for some time.) My skin looks great. I've definitely lost weight. And I got my period this morning and didn't even realize it! It's usually heralded by hideous cramps.
here's the link to Valerie Winter's blog. She's been doing nothing but green smoothies for over two months: http://greensmoothieexperiment.blogspot.com/

but, yeah, Victoria Boutenko is just fabulous. I want to get her book 12 steps to Raw Foods.

[Kitty]

I absolutly love green smoothies. My stable green smoothie is just some fresh orange juice, with one or two banana's and a whole bag of spinach, and a spoon full of coconut oil. Its sooo yummy. And very sweet but I have a sweet tooth so its prefect for me. Its either that or a few bananas with a cup or two of water and a whole lot of mint leaves.. mmmmm :D

[Veganforlife]

I have at minimum one green smoothie a day, sometimes two. And yes, most definitely have noticed a health improvement. Especially since adding Alissa's green powder and Hawaiin Pacifica Spirulina (www.naturalzing.com) every day. My thyroid has healed as have my lifelong migraines. I'm talking 53 years of migraines and 6 years of a non-functioning thyroid. Yes. Most definitely green smoothies helped tremendously. When I first went raw I did not do these and when I first started making them, I didn't add enough water and ended up with green glue - YUCK, until I learned how to make them. I love Victoria's book. So informative. So yes, yes, yes!!! GS's are the way to go baby!!!

[sherahtaylor]

I LOVED this book - it really inspired me to eat lots more greens! I'm currently shooting for 1lb a day in smoothies or salads. One thing I noticed is that it really took alot of my cravings away when I had at least one big bunch of greens in a smoothie each day. It feels like I'm drinking life.

[Veganforlife]

I LOVED this book - it really inspired me to eat lots more greens! I'm currently shooting for 1lb a day in smoothies or salads. One thing I noticed is that it really took alot of my cravings away when I had at least one big bunch of greens in a smoothie each day. It feels like I'm drinking life.

YES! So true. My cravings really left when I started drinking GS's. AND I absolutely love you saying "if feels like I'm drinking life". Victoria would LOVE that. You are!!!

[Naiad]

YES! So true. My cravings really left when I started drinking GS's. AND I absolutely love you saying "if feels like I'm drinking life". Victoria would LOVE that. You are!!!

I had been reading food blogs (bad idea!) and really craving a fancy cupcake. After my raw cocoa smoothie this morning, no more cravings :cool:

I find that green smoothies are the single best thing for giving me energy. When I don't drink them, I feel lethargic... when I do, I can spend hours at the gym :p

I don't have Greens for Life, but, I do have 12 Steps. Victoria is awesome and her mantra of GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES is always in my head, making sure I add plenty into my daily diet :)

[RawGoddess13]

Green 4 Life is a GREAT book! Actually anything you can get your hands on by Victoria, her husband, or children is wonderful information.

The best recipes are usually ones that you create yourself. Any whole fruits and/or freshly extracted juice blended with any dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, romaine & even green weeds.