Silly question about green smoothies...

[RawSinger]

I've been making green smoothies on a regular basis for a while. I add the usual ingredients: bananas, frozen strawberries, baby spinach, water, ice and sometimes, another fruit and/or another green. Recently, I've noticed my smoothies getting really foamy on the top after they've been sitting in my glass and/or the blender for a little while (maybe about 10-15 minutes). Why is this? I've been using a VitaMix for quite some time now and I know it's a high-powered machine. Could the VitaMix be the culprtit? For instance, could it be blending too much air into it perhaps?? I'm sure I'm probably reading too much into it but I really don't like foamy smoothies :( I try blending them up again for about 20 seconds and that keeps it creamy for a short time. Then it goes back to being foamy within a few minutes (so maybe it is the amount of air in there :confused: :o ?) I hate admitting this, but I've dumped out most of my smoothie quite a few times because the foaminess was just unappetizing to me. Anyone have any ideas??

[souldanzer]

If you add a tiny little bit of fat/oil at the very end and blend it in, the foam will disappear. One half teaspoon of oil is enough. Works with seeds as well.
I don't like the foam either :o

Souldanzer

[Veganforlife]

Shake it up and drink it...:D

[RawSinger]

If you add a tiny little bit of fat/oil at the very end and blend it in, the foam will disappear. One half teaspoon of oil is enough. Works with seeds as well.
I don't like the foam either :o

Souldanzer

I'll remember that about the oil. Unfortunately, the oil will just solidify and break up into little pieces in my smoothies because I use a lot of ice (I know this from experience). What kinds of seeds taste good in green smoothies?

[souldanzer]

I know that coconut oil will solidify if the smoothie is cold, I haven't experienced this with other oils (but then I don't usually use ice in my smoothies). Maybe try flax oil, hemp oil, etc.? Personally, I use DHA/EPA oil or Evening Primrose oil. I think avocado and coconut meat (young & mature) works as well.
Also, when you add the oil, do it at the very end, have your blender running at low to medium speed while you add it and then immediately stop the blender - I've managed to use coconut oil and ice like this without it solidifying.

As for using seeds, I usually add one half to one tablespoon, preferrably soaked, of flax, hemp, poppy, sesame, ... A vitamix will blend them right in, otherwise you might need to grind them first. A warning: they will thicken your smoothie!
I don't care much for sunflower and pumpkin seeds in my smoothies, but that might be personal preference.

Foam-less green smoothies are so much tastier :D

Souldanzer

[RawSinger]

I know that coconut oil will solidify if the smoothie is cold, I haven't experienced this with other oils (but then I don't usually use ice in my smoothies). Maybe try flax oil, hemp oil, etc.? Personally, I use DHA/EPA oil or Evening Primrose oil. I think avocado and coconut meat (young & mature) works as well.
Also, when you add the oil, do it at the very end, have your blender running at low to medium speed while you add it and then immediately stop the blender - I've managed to use coconut oil and ice like this without it solidifying.

As for using seeds, I usually add one half to one tablespoon, preferrably soaked, of flax, hemp, poppy, sesame, ... A vitamix will blend them right in, otherwise you might need to grind them first. A warning: they will thicken your smoothie!
I don't care much for sunflower and pumpkin seeds in my smoothies, but that might be personal preference.

Foam-less green smoothies are so much tastier :D

Souldanzer


Oh, God bless you!! Yeah, I used coconut oil in my smoothie. It ruined it! Thank you for your thorough response. Do you think hemp powder would work to reduce the foam? Isn't hemp powder just ground hemp seeds? Ah, maybe I'll just buy some raw hemp seeds. I know hemp is super good for you. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hate the foam!! I thought it was inevitable :rolleyes:

[souldanzer]

You're so welcome! :o Glad I was of help.
Yes, you can use hemp powder and it will reduce the foam. I prefer the seeds taste-wise but I'd say give it a try and see how you like it.

Souldanzer:)

[juliebove]

Avocado oil will solidify. I bought some a couple of weeks ago and was told to keep it in the fridge so it will keep longer. Alas, it wouldn't pour out of the bottle.

[iluvmangos]

What kinds of seeds taste good in green smoothies?

I like pumpkin seeds in green smoothies. It's been awhile since I've done it, so I don't remember exactly how much I used. I think it was just a tablespoon, but it might have been a couple. I've put hemp seeds in smoothies before, too, but they don't impart any flavor to the smoothies that I've noticed. The pumpkin seeds give it a nice flavor.

[Curleedst]

Someone shared a method of simply using a strainer to strain off the foam. The drink looked delicious afterwards b/c I do not like the foam.

[hellosusanc]

I recently started drinking something I call James Ray's Breakfast Shake. (I read about it in “Harmonic Wealth” by James Ray. There is actually a whole section on the physical body and he offers up some great ideas that have worked for me.)

It does take a little while to get used to. The taste was a little intense for the first week, but like all things, once my body recognized how healthy it was and it started craving it!

Blend together a handful of bok choy, a handful of napa or Chinese cabbage, one large carrot, as many berries (fresh or frozen - James likes blueberries and raspberries) as you like, and a full glass of water (12 to 16 oz.) You can also mix in protein powder or supplements.

a James Ray fan