OK to do green smoothies all the time?

[rawererin]

Just wondering, they're so easy to make and so delicious, when I know that's what I'm having for a meal it makes the meal a little easier for me, because it's already planned out.
Is it nutritionally sound to eat a diet of mostly green smoothies?
-green food powder and fresh greens make up the 'green' in green smoothie

[sfdreams]

I believe so...a woman by the name of Valerie Winters even did a green smoothie experiment--you can read her blog about it. I believe she left it up for people to read, although she has officially ended the experiment. Valerie Boutenko even sent a link to it in her most recent e-news.

I did a search at the banana, and found the thread that announced the end of the experiment. Not sure how to post it here---but if you search at the banana for "the green smoothie experiment" you will find it.

Hope this helps!! I agree--I love the smoothies and they are definitely easy. But I'm not sure if I could drink them all the time.

[StarFire]

Also -- VeganforLife is the 'green smoothie Queen!! She healed her thyroid thru green smoothies and raw foods...

here's a link to her testimony -- http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=26306

blessings on your journey!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/grin.gif

[Aleesha Sattva]

you sure could!!! think about it... lots of fruits and veges... mmmm good for YOU.

[eachpeachpearplum]

YES!

In addition to Alissa's Living on live Food please consider buying Victoria Boutenkos book Green for Life as it is a book she wrote about green smoothies exclusivly and it's a great read!

I swear by them for myself and both small children.

EPPP

[Anastazia]

Somewhere on the side of my blog is the link to valerie's green smoothie experiment.
Sshe gives a lot of detail, & it's very inspirational!
~Anastazia~

[EZ rider]

I did a search at the banana, and found the thread that announced the end of the experiment. Not sure how to post it here---but if you search at the banana for "the green smoothie experiment" you will find it.http://greensmoothieexperiment.blogspot.com/

[jacsam]

Have you read Victoria Boutenko's green smoothie book? I think you'd find it very interesting and you might even want to drink more of them. She does mention that you need to eat a variety of greens. Maybe one day you'll put spinach in your smoothie and the next day it will be Kale....she says that this way you won't get bored with them. It's a worthwhile read.

[Melindaxl]

I hope all of you are right because I have 3 smoothies a day and I make sure inleast 2 of them are green smoothies, sometimes I make the last one like a dessert ( bananas & carob or bananas & berries) This is the only way I can get enough fruit in my diet during the winter with enjoying it because the other fruits that are only reasonable is apples & oranges. I'll eat about a few of those a day, but that's about all I can enjoy!
Bananas I can only enjoy in a smoothie now because to me they taste too rich by them selves! I'm more into the fruits with more water in them like melons, pineapples, magoes & etc. I just hope this isn't decreasing my nutrients or anything!
Anyway have a great fruitful day! Peace!

Melindaxl

[boxerfamily]

In Victoria's book, she suggests that you rotate the greens because not only does it make your smoothies more interesting, but you body responds to the greens better if you switch them every few days. She bases her belief on the fact that primates in the wild consume many pounds of greens a day and rotate them naturally. They have far fewer health issues than humans, and it seems that if humans consumed more greens and rotated them for variety, we too would suffer from fewer ailments. Many people who go to green smoothies for healing have been very successful.

Green smoothies have helped me to control my diabetes. And for those who have known that my sugar went too low for a long time while raw and eating lots of fruit, I found the solution for me.....YAY! I need to use twice the recommended dose of hemp powder per smoothie to keep my sugar up where it needs to be. I went from 2tblsp./ smoothie to 3/smoothie and added another smoothie to my day.

I also find that I detox very smoothly on green smoothies(pun intended). I am considering giving an all green smoothie diet a try. I already have 3-4 a day. I just don't know how I will do one at work. I like them icy and straight from the blender. Anyone have any ideas?

[Melindaxl]

Boxerfamily, That's really great about your diabetes! My husband has type II diabetes! Could you give me some advice for him? I'm trying to let him see that meat and fats are wrong foods that's just going to cause more problems! He thinks that he can't live without meat with his diabetes! He's afraid that the fruits will be too much in sugar for him!
So could you please help me give him advice and let him see there really are people with diabetes that are controlling it naturally or even got it cured from eating a raw diet?

Thanks, Have a fruitful day!
Melindaxl

[boxerfamily]

Even though every person is different, I firmly believe that the raw diet is perfect for people with Type II Diabetes. It may take a little work on your part to find the right formula of protein, fat and sugar to meet your husband's needs but it is sooooo worth it.

Tell him not to worry about the fruit. The fruit sugars are so easily used by the body for energy that they didn't raise my blood sugars. In fact, mine were going too low. I had to combine my fruit with protein and/or fat. I prefer using hemp powder in my smoothies. I really like the one available on this site. It is inexpensive and blends in without making lumps. I have bragg's aminos liquid for marinating veggies and a nice herb/protein shake for salads also from Bragg's. I think keeping the protein intake high enough is key. Avocado, nuts, seeds, and sprouted beans can help with that but I needed a lot more than I thought I did.

I would have your husband keep close track of his blood sugar on his current SAD diet. (A bagel makes my sugar go sky high.) Fasting, one hour after each meal/snack, before the next meal/snack. I know it sounds like a lot but it is the only way he will see how what he is eating is affecting his body.

Then, ask him to try raw for a short time, maybe a week. Do the same testing so that he can see how the raw diet affects his body. I am confident that he will see a big change in his sugar levels. It make take a lot of tweaking to get the fruit/protein/fat mix just right for him, but he can CURE himself. It is all in his hands. I know this is controversial and I am speaking mainly from my own experience in going raw after living with Type 2 for 10 years on medicine for 6. My doctor herself took me off the medicine because the raw diet was enough. I also watched a web cast of a "reality show" that studied diabetics on a raw diet and exercise plan who lived in a house together. I got the link from these forums but I can't remember where. I know someone will post it for me. :p Maybe if your husband watches that, he will see what happened to those people.

Best of wishes!!!
Lori

[rawererin]

I hope all of you are right because I have 3 smoothies a day and I make sure inleast 2 of them are green smoothies, sometimes I make the last one like a dessert ( bananas & carob or bananas & berries) This is the only way I can get enough fruit in my diet during the winter with enjoying it because the other fruits that are only reasonable is apples & oranges. I'll eat about a few of those a day, but that's about all I can enjoy!
Bananas I can only enjoy in a smoothie now because to me they taste too rich by them selves! I'm more into the fruits with more water in them like melons, pineapples, magoes & etc. I just hope this isn't decreasing my nutrients or anything!
Anyway have a great fruitful day! Peace!

Melindaxl

what kind of base do you use for your banana and carob smoothies? water?

[Revvell]

Here's the response I gave to you in another thread where you stated doing green smoothies:

"Consider this ~ bones need pressure to stay strong. Green smoothies and fruit alone wont give them this. You need to chew something hard to give your jaw bones strength or you'll be finding your gums receding and your teeth falling out."



Revvell

[Melindaxl]

Thanks, Boxerfamily for your help! That will help prove to my husband alot because he's been a diabetic that long too!
Revelle, I do eat alot of non-sweet fruits (like a whole spagetti squash or egg plant or both) and vegetables ( like a cup of carrots & a cup of celery) a day, a big salad ( like inleast 6 cups worth) and some ligher fruits like oranges and apples! The smoothies are just a snack to go along with giving me an energy boost of getting more fruits in me, some treats for the day and a flavored drink besides water! There not really all I have, I still have alot of whole foods daily!
rawererin, All I have in my smoothies is bananas, carob & water, bananas, spinach & water or bananas, berries & water! These are my 3 favorite smoothies! I use 5 bananas, 2 cups of water & very little of carob, berries & greens!
Thanks again all of you for your help! Have a fruitful day!
Melindaxl

[Zuri]

Here's the response I gave to you in another thread where you stated doing green smoothies:

"Consider this ~ bones need pressure to stay strong. Green smoothies and fruit alone wont give them this. You need to chew something hard to give your jaw bones strength or you'll be finding your gums receding and your teeth falling out."

Revvell

Victoria mentioned this in her book and gave a website that sells .....I don't remember what they're called...but you chew chew chew to work the mouth muscles and teeth, hence hopefully stopping any problems.

[RawMistress]

Victoria mentioned this in her book and gave a website that sells .....I don't remember what they're called...but you chew chew chew to work the mouth muscles and teeth, hence hopefully stopping any problems.

Very interesting.
You can always chew wax gum.
Not sure where to get it anymore. Our HFS sold it in Chicago but not here.

[Revvell]

Victoria mentioned this in her book and gave a website that sells .....I don't remember what they're called...but you chew chew chew to work the mouth muscles and teeth, hence hopefully stopping any problems.

Yeah, I got one. Would rather chew carrots. :)

They're mostly sold for children so wont necessarily work for adults methinks.

[Melindaxl]

Boxerfamily, can I ask you one more thing? My husband said that the only way he would get interested in this diet, is if you improved on you A1C! See my husbands A1C is at a 12 right now which is really high! So can you tell me if your A1C has made much improvement! Which I think if you made that much improvement in you bloodsugar, surely you did with the A1C! Anyway can you explain to me and my husband what the raw diet did for your A1C! Thanks, again! Have a fruitful day!

Melindaxl

[boxerfamily]

Before my first time on the raw path last spring, my A1C was 9. In the summer it was down to 6.5. I still had a ways to go but that was after only 1 month raw. I had done the master cleanse prior to that. (I have since realized that detox is smooth and effective on raw and no mc was necessary for me)

I haven't had a new blood test since going raw again, but I expect my next one will be similar to the last one. A1C is just an average of 3 months of blood sugar, so if his day to day is lower, his A1C will go down too. 12 is really dangerous. He needs to do something very urgently. I hope with everything in me that he tries the raw path. I will keep you both in my heart and thoughts. Thank you for striving with him. The more people who try the raw lifestyle to cure diabetes, the more the word will get out and people will stop dying.

Take care!:)
Lori

[Melindaxl]

Thanks Boxerfamily for your help & support! It means alot! I'll do everything I can to encourage him to the raw path and I'm sure your prowerful words will inleast get him thinking!