How often should you rotate your greens?

[britaniefaith]

I've been trying to have atleast two green smoothies a day but I read that too many of the same greens can be toxic at one time. I am wondering how often you are suppose to rotate your greens? For instance if I make a big green smoothie with alot of spinach in the morning does that mean that later on I shouldnt have anymore spinach, not even in a salad? and same with kale? etc?? I'm just a bit confused about that.

*also*
other than spinach, kale, swiss chard and romaine can anyone recommend any other greens for smoothies? I never seem to notice anything else when I go to the grocery store... *edit* I just realized that on page 101 of Victoria Boutenko's "Green For LIfe" she gives a whole list of different greens! I dont know why I never seem to notice all of them when I am shopping though, maybe it's because I've been used to the "common" greens so much.

[RawChicky]

I just rotate greens daily. Kale one day, swisschard the next, etc. Other types of greens? Wow, there's a lot. What I use besides what you mentioned is: collard greens, red and green leaf lettuce, butterhead lettuce, dandelion greens, mustard greens, arugala, watercress, basil, bok choy, oh man I could keep going...I've found all those in my health food store too.

Helpful?

[britaniefaith]

I just rotate greens daily. Kale one day, swisschard the next, etc. Other types of greens? Wow, there's a lot. What I use besides what you mentioned is: collard greens, red and green leaf lettuce, butterhead lettuce, dandelion greens, mustard greens, arugala, watercress, basil, bok choy, oh man I could keep going...I've found all those in my health food store too.

Helpful?

oooh I see, so you could have kale in all 3 of your smoothies for ONE day but then the next switch to another green?? I thought rotating meant for each different smoothie you have on that day, you have to switch the greens...

[aililiu]

i dont think it has to be all as strict or regulated as that. i try to use variety but there are some staple greens that i use a lot... spinach almost every day, and i love kale. i just try to balance it out. and its fun to experiment. although, i have to say, i put collard in my smoothie the other week and almost died it was so gross, HAHA.

[RawVegan4Health]

I'm thinking 3 of the same kinds of smoothies each day followed by 3 of a different green the next day and repeating could lead to problems if you keep alternating those same greens each day. You could wind up having kale in your green smoothies 12 times per week that way, which would seem to be too many if you average that out. The guidance I got from Green For Life did not address it specifically enough to answer this question though.

My feelings were that if I had two smoothies per day that I needed 4 different greens. On Day 1 I would have Green 1 for my first smoothie and Green 2 for my second smoothie. On Day 2 I would have Green 3 for my first smoothie and Green 4 for my second smoothie. This way the most I could have of any particular green was 4 times in a week, which I would think meant I was rotating properly.

This could be a question to take to Victoria directly.

I have always kept for greens in my fridge Coleslaw Mix (white and red cabbage and some carrot), Baby Spring Mix (A load of different lettuce's), Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Parsley, Bok Choy and Shanghai Hai Meiu (whatever that is). Even having all this variety did not stop me from getting nauseous from green smoothies a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if it was the alkaloids or a bad green that caused the nausea. All I know is that I went about 5 days with noo green smoothies (except a couple tests to no avail) until I was OK with them again. By that time I tossed out all of my old greens and got new ones just to be sure. I haven't ahd any more problems since then and ahve been able to do a few days with 3 green smoothies per day since then.

[RawVegan4Health]

I sent an email to Victoria Boutenko to see if she can help shed some light on her feelings for proper rotation. I ahve always been curious myself so figured we may as well get some guidance from the Green Smoothie Queen hereself.:cool:

Here's what I sent in the email:

I have a question about rotating greens for green smoothies. I ask because I used a lot of various greens and felt I was rotating them sufficiently but got nauseous once and did not want any more green smoothies for about 5 days before getting to where I enjoyed them again. I am now back to normal and having 2 or sometimes even 3 per day again. Another person I am aware of also just got nauseous and is not wanting any more green smoothies.

We both know about rotating but are not sure we fully understand how much rotation is needed. Because putting it in words is diffiuclt, I outlined 3 rotation scenarios below. I basically used Scenario 2 and got sick. I am not sure what scenario the other person followed.

Scenario 1
Day 1 - Smoothie 1:Kale, Smoothie 2:Kale, Smoothie 3:Kale
Day 2 - Smoothie 1:Spinach, Smoothie 2:Spinach, Smoothie 3:Spinach
repeat

Scenario 2
Day 1 - Smoothie 1:Kale, Smoothie 2: Spinach, Smoothie 3: Spring Mix
repeat

Scenario 3
Day 1 - Smoothie 1:Kale, Smoothie 2:Spinach, Smoothie 3:Collard
Day 2 - Smoothie 1:Bok Choy, Smoothie 2:Cabbage, Smoothie 3:Spring Mix
repeat

[Rawkinlocs]

:confused:

I can understand about rotating greens....but do yall really think it warrants this much thought and concern...that it has to be a daily rotation??

I mean, how many (before the whole green smoothie "craze" began) ate the same greens in their salads often/daily (until they just simply grew tired of it) or have a shot of wheat grass daily? I think that because we are headed down the right path (and by choosing to eat all or mostly raw we are definitely headed down that path) our bodies are wise enough to let us know when it's time to change things up. Perhaps the combination and the greens of choice will begin to taste funny or weird or perhaps we will just get tired of it and then know that it is time to change up.

As Rawvegan4heatlh stated, Victoria's book did not go into deep enough detail concerning this - but also consider this (since much of her research was on how close we are to chimpanzees)...would they (the chimps) be THIS concerned/worried over how often they are rotating what greens they eat or...will they simply eat what is available to them and moreso follow the leading of their own intuition?

I'm sorry if my words are not welcomed in this post...but I just felt compelled because this is just too much stressing and it stresses ME to see yall stressing so much over this "diet"! :) I mean, before raw, many of us ate a lot of the same foods daily whether it was that daily cup of coffee or that daily usual breakfast or lunch with no qualms. Just drink the smoothies and change up the greens maybe weekly or something. That's what I do. I'll go shopping for the week and maybe get two types of greens and then the next trip, I'll try and get a different variety. But I'm sorry...I will not force myself to drink smoothies from something that tastes bitter and awful and that I have to gag as I drink it (i.e. dandelion greens or mustard greens or cilantro)...I get the ones that appeal to me and I happen to love (in my smoothies) celery, parsley, kale (3 varieties - green, Italian/Dino, and red/purple), baby leaf spinach, sometimes chard and that's about the sum of it.

[RawVegan4Health]

LOL! Rawkinlocs I hear ya!:D Seriously, I was concerned when I no longer wanted green smoothies anymore, even though I had felt I rotated them. I even got some different greens and did not like them either. After asking for advice here the advice I got was to stop eating them! DUH!:D I'm still rotating pretty much the same as I did before. I don't want to make it a chore either. I'm just lazy, has nothing to do with trying to make raw easy!:o

I just thought it would be nice to have guidance on this since this question has been asked before with varying results. I am sure that there is no absolute right or wrong way here anymore than with many other aspects of raw. I just thought those who want to know should at least have some sort of guidance they can feel comfortable with.

Maybe Victorias response will be something similar to what you said.:D That's cool with me.

[elfinbaby]

I don't stress about the rotation. What I took away from Green for Life was that if you used the same lettuces every day you would get tired of the smoothies. For instance, she talks about how your body begins to crave them after awhile but if you are using the same lettuces, your body may cease to crave them in the same way.

I haven't reread the book in awhile and I know my post isn't in total agreement with those of you who have become nauseous after drinking such a variety of greens. I have no idea why it would happen. Maybe the greens you're choosing are too "stout"? That's the only time I get nauseous - when I force myself to drink something that doesn't taste good just because it's good for me. Like kale - blech. I've tried it several ways and although I can get it down, I don't like it.

I try to vary my greens - french sorrel, lambsquarters, spinach. But right now, that's about it. It's my choice. I'm doing fine. And actually I do french sorrel 2 X a day with something else. I may throw the random Kale or whatever in in the name of the "varying policy" but the other greens just don't taste as good right now. I'll move on when I'm ready.

[garden granny]

I change mine about once every week, I'll just buy one bunch of greens and when I'm done with them I'll buy something different - that works for me.:) I usually only have 1 green smoothie a day, and that's always in the morning. But, it's usually about 5 to 6 cups and lasts me most of the morning.

[Chocolate'cado_pudding]

I have put: lettuce (red, green, baby mix, and romaine), kale (3 kinds), spinach, collards, dandelion, argula (sp?), beet tops, radish tops, chickweed, young fir tips, carrot tops, swiss chard (2-3 kinds), wheatgrass, barley grass, raspberry leaves, and violets in my smoothies.

I don't have any rotation plan or schedule, I buy what is on sale, cheapest, most appealing, or pick greens from our yard. I mix small amounts of bitter greens (fir, dandelion, etc.) with other mild greens like lettuce. If I don't like the taste I add more fruit until I do like it :D

Hope this helps!

[Sunshine9]

Ya I don't think about it at all.

personally i like to have 3-5 types of greens in each smoothie I make. My current fave has lambs quarters, kale, dandelion, and spinach with some apples & berries.

I mean, maybe if you ate 3 pounds of the same green daily for six months you might have a reaction, but I don't think it's a big deal. I know people who have been juicing kale daily for years and never had a negative repercussion.

i believe alissa imparts the wisdom - listen to your body.
Raw food should always be easy and fun!