Green smoothies in the morning - why?

[cherries]

We have all day to eat greens why would anyone want to eat them in the morning? Is there some book that recommends this, how did this get started?

My theory is that greens are veiwed as healthier than fruit and people want to make sure that they get the good stuff, in much the same way that when we were SAD we tried to get a good breakfast.

I've read lots of authors Ann Wigmore, Fit for Life, Shazzie (in her first book Detox Delights) who recommend as light a breakfast as possible - nothing or fruit for breakfast.

So why?

[jordanjuju]

I've always thought that breakfast should be the "biggest" or more substantial meal of the day... and they should get smaller as the day goes on. I mean you have to jump start your body after it's 9-12 hour fasting period.

[Raw Yogini]

I drink GS in the morning because I feel like it's a good way to start my day and it's filling so I don't need to eat for several hours afterwards. This is just why I do, I don't know about any recommendations or anything else beyond my reasoning.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i agree with everyone who has posted.

your stomach meridian is activated around 7am... which is the best time to eat. also... a green smoothie is sooooo nutritionally awesome for your body... who wouldn't want to start their body off with something so wonderful... unless of course you just can't stomach something heavy in the morning. then have it around 10 :)

[Veganforlife]

Read Victoria Boutenko's "Green for Life" book. Chock full of valuable info regarding green smoothies!

[cherries]

I haven't read it, I figured that it was that book that started this. From what I've gathered, Tanya Zavasta also does greens in the morning? I don't have her book Quantum Eating yet.

What does everyone think about the fact that our bodies have spent all night digesting and assimilating the foods that we ate yesterday and building up our energy stores, do we really need to eat heavily in the morning?

[Zella Juice]

it keeps me from eating too much in the morning. I used to be a huge breakfast person. Now I just have juice with greens blended in.

I also have to type while at work..so I can type still with straw in mouth. :D

[Veganforlife]

I haven't read it, I figured that it was that book that started this. From what I've gathered, Tanya Zavasta also does greens in the morning? I don't have her book Quantum Eating yet.

What does everyone think about the fact that our bodies have spent all night digesting and assimilating the foods that we ate yesterday and building up our energy stores, do we really need to eat heavily in the morning?

A green smoothie is NOT eating heavily. The food is already broken down (cell walls) and it's ready for quick assimilation into one's body. In fact, the minute that smoothie hits your tongue? Your body is starting to use it!

The book that started this? This being green smoothies? That made me chuckle. Ann Wigmore is another one who's books you should read. This isn't something new. It makes sense to eat/drink like this.

[RawKnitster]

It's all very personal. Our bodies aren't on the same schedule.

I eat only fruit in the a.m. Greens or nuts in the morning give me indigestion. Eating after 9:00pm usually gives me a stomach ache.

Our digestive systems work 24 hours a day, but there are three 8 hour cycles when it operates at peak performance for that function.

The A.M. hours are for cleansing and elimination. The afternoon and early evening hours are when we should be eating, and the nighttime is for resting, digesting, and assimilating.

I feel best when I stick to those guidelines.

I can't remember where I got this theory from. If anyone knows, tell me. I'd like to go back and read it again.

[Raw Yogini]

Cherries, you certainly don't HAVE to do the GS thing in the morning. You can have one anytime you want.

[MiahTay]

It's all very personal. Our bodies aren't on the same schedule.

I eat only fruit in the a.m. Greens or nuts in the morning give me indigestion. Eating after 9:00pm usually gives me a stomach ache.

Our digestive systems work 24 hours a day, but there are three 8 hour cycles when it operates at peak performance for that function.

The A.M. hours are for cleansing and elimination. The afternoon and early evening hours are when we should be eating, and the nighttime is for resting, digesting, and assimilating.

I feel best when I stick to those guidelines.

I can't remember where I got this theory from. If anyone knows, tell me. I'd like to go back and read it again.

I first read this MANY years ago in a book called Fit For Life, by Diamond. And I do feel really good eating on this timetable but it's not always realistic for me.

Blessings,
Heather

[Eva]

I have whatever I desire. Usually I run in the morning, so right after I run I have some fruit. Then I shower, get dressed and ready for the day.

By that time, I have usually already digested the fruit I had and am feeling the signals that I am hungry again. Then, I have the green smoothie on most days, but I have had fruit on occasion too. I find that the green smoothie digests as easily as fruit.

[Zella Juice]

yeah.. at this point for me it's all about staying raw. I have been able to eliminate some things that are raw that cause me problems. When my body is ready for me to do things on the correct schedule then maybe I will try it. I hate being confined to one way of eating. I want to enjoy..not be miserable because I am eating the wrong thing at the wrong time.

[JennaBoBenna]

I never eat in the morning. I almost always wait until noon-ish to eat. that's when I get hungry. If I eat anything earlier I feel really ill :(

I usually have a GS at noon for lunch (but i call it breakfast :) )

[cherries]

Yes, I know I don't have to have a green smoothie in the morning, I was just edjumacating myself as to the sources of this concept and I had a concern that this practice might make people discouraged with the raw food diet if they felt that they had to eat greens smoothies in the morning just because someone said to.

And I know that they kind of started with Ann Wigmore, but in her book Recipes for for Longer Life she says that she serves watermelon for breakfast for the nine months out of the year when they are in season. Now she was big on not eating anything else with watermelon so I don't think that she would eat green smoothies for breakfast. But I could be wrong, they do wheatgrass juice at 7:30am at the Ann Wigmore institute now. But perhaps this is for people trying to get over diseases and healthy people would eat differently or perhaps they've changed things after Wigmore died, I've heard that they are down on fruit in general.

I'm sure some people like zellajuice said need it at this time and newbies might benefit from it.

Anyone ever go from a habit of eating fruit in the morning to greensmoothies in the morning?

[Aleesha Sattva]

You could read "Greens for Life (http://www.timelessspirit.com/MAY08/review1.shtml)" by Victoria Boutenko... this is where the concept comes from.

[Eva]

cherries -- for a couple weeks, I was doing just that. I was just eating fruit in the morning, no green smoothie. It was great for a few days, but then I found that I wasn't feeling as clean and light as when I had the GS. So, that's why I'm back to the way I'm doing it now.

Comparatively, I'm having more success with FIRST having 1-2 pieces of fruit, then having the GS as soon as I have the next hunger signal (which is usually only 30 min or maybe an hour later). This feels better than just fruit in the AM and feels slightly better/more natural than when I would have the GS as my first food. I have no idea why.

I rarely sleep in too late, but when I do, I find that I crave a salad rather than a smoothie. So strange.

[Aleesha Sattva]

cherries,

you will find that your tastes and desires change all the time. i used to eat nothing for breakfast. then i started eating fruit... then green smoothies, now it's juice. it changes... most importantly you need to go with the flow... listen to your body. if it wants green smoothies, then give it green smoothies. if it wants fruit, then do that.

there is no hard a fast rules in raw... none (except to eat raw)... even the % of what some people consumes is different. i know for me personally that 100% works best for my body. i know drinking juice is what my body wants right now... hence why i am fasting.

sit in the stillness of Self... you will know what's best for you (((hugs)))

[Eva]

there is no hard a fast rules in raw... none (except to eat raw)...

Well said!!

[RawKnitster]

Thank you, Heather. I did read Fit for Life many years ago...way back when I first started looking for answers to my health problems. Just for fun, I'll see if the library still has it, bet they do.

[linda7276]

Comparatively, I'm having more success with FIRST having 1-2 pieces of fruit, then having the GS as soon as I have the next hunger signal (which is usually only 30 min or maybe an hour later). This feels better than just fruit in the AM and feels slightly better/more natural than when I would have the GS as my first food. I have no idea why.



This is exactly what I do, a piece of papaya, or some other light and juicy fruit like an orange, which digests rapidly and opens the appetite, then as Eva said within a half hour or as soon as I feel the hunger, I make my gs...works for me.

I do what I want when I want though....period, No Rules, just do it MY way.

[Revvell]

I'm finding it interesting that people eat a "piece" of fruit. I tend to eat the whole thing so, if you eat a piece of pear, peach, plum, etc. send the rest to me, 'k? :D

Oh! And I drink smoozies which is sort of like eating and I know I "should" chew even though it's already "chewed" but, well, *shrugs* I dunno. I guess I'm still a guzzler.

[lizzyrose]

am I the only person who does NOT get full from Green Smoothies!??!!

I'm finding that I'm more satisfied from drinking juices!

[linda7276]

I'm finding it interesting that people eat a "piece" of fruit. I tend to eat the whole thing so, if you eat a piece of pear, peach, plum, etc. send the rest to me, 'k? :D



LOL!!!

Lizzyrose, GS usually make me so full some days that I can barely eat anything else, but I think they are power packed too...I add a mixture of greens, spinach, kale, romaine, organic greens, bok choy, parsley, etc...then usu a banana, a "piece" (for Revvell..hehe) of pineapple, a kiwi, and/or an apple, and hemp protein, maca, cocoa, cinnamon, green powder(Alissa's), water....who could eat after that...Hahaha. I often divide that into two drinks over the day...and somedays don't have anything else. Oh yeah, dried coconut, hemp seeds, the list goes on....so yep I'm full.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I'm finding it interesting that people eat a "piece" of fruit. I tend to eat the whole thing so, if you eat a piece of pear, peach, plum, etc. send the rest to me, 'k? :D

Oh! And I drink smoozies which is sort of like eating and I know I "should" chew even though it's already "chewed" but, well, *shrugs* I dunno. I guess I'm still a guzzler.

that's cause you are special!

i won't be sending you any fruit... when i'm eating... i eat the WHOLE thing... never a piece. yup, i've even been known to polish off a watermelon... as long as it's not too big LOL

[lizzyrose]

LOL!!!
I add a mixture of greens, spinach, kale, romaine, organic greens, bok choy, parsley, etc...then usu a banana, a "piece" (for Revvell..hehe) of pineapple, a kiwi, and/or an apple, and hemp protein, maca, cocoa, cinnamon, green powder(Alissa's), water....who could eat after that...Hahaha. I often divide that into two drinks over the day...and somedays don't have anything else. Oh yeah, dried coconut, hemp seeds, the list goes on....so yep I'm full.

NO WONDER... I usually do just about three handfuls of spinach, and then about a cup of blueberries, a peach or something like it, a TB of Hemp, a piece of ginger and that's about it. I need to start loading it up!

[Eva]

LOL! That's a twinkie little GS!!! I go through at least a kilo of greens in two days usually, plus about 10-15 pieces of fruit in there. And that's just for the morning drink, I usually don't want another GS. Sometimes I throw in coconut oil, flax seed, other basic stuff, but never as crazy as Linda's! Wowee! If I have cacao on the rare occasion, I like it best with some maca and almond mylk. Mmmmm.

[linda7276]

NO WONDER... I usually do just about three handfuls of spinach, and then about a cup of blueberries, a peach or something like it, a TB of Hemp, a piece of ginger and that's about it. I need to start loading it up!

Yep, I guess you can say "it's in there" LOL. Well no wonder you're hungry, I'd be hungry too...there are days when I just make a "light" smoothie, would be something like you describe here, and then I eat fruits and a "monster" (biggest serving bowl in the house)...:p salad for dinner, and boy is that ever good, and you name it, it's in there...oh and thank you I must remember to throw some ginger in my GS next time, yum. I do put it in my salad. Have you tried cinnamon? OMG that's really good. I did that to cover up the Hemp protein which I'm not crazy about.

I like to break it up a bit so I don't get bored, and make sure at the same time that I get all of my greens too.

[linda7276]

LOL! That's a twinkie little GS!!! I go through at least a kilo of greens in two days usually, plus about 10-15 pieces of fruit in there. And that's just for the morning drink, I usually don't want another GS. Sometimes I throw in coconut oil, flax seed, other basic stuff, but never as crazy as Linda's! Wowee! If I have cacao on the rare occasion, I like it best with some maca and almond mylk. Mmmmm.

Twinkie, did you say twinkie...haha...makes me think of those Suzy Q's I used to love when I was in high school...omg when I see them in the store they bring back those memories, but I bet they're made of all chemicals, gross.

Well it all started after reading Green for Life, where Victoria says to eat 1-2 POUNDS of greens a day, that's a LOT of greens, I think I'm close...I do have days when I add a lot of fruit too...and coconut oil, love that stuff, and I can't remember who told me to add the cocoa...but wow that's awesome too...the cinnamon too...I have to get a nut bag so I can make the almond milk, I just recently got my first bunch of raw Almonds from Alissa...and they remind me of the ones we ate as kids, before everything under the sun had to be pasteurized. I have to get a coffee grinder too, cuz those flax seeds come out the way they went in...sorry, TMI...cuz I forgot to mention that I add those too, and hemp seeds too...mostly to my salads.

[cherries]

Thanks everyone for your responses. You know one thing that no one mentioned at all and which I had been suspecting was a major reason for green smoothies in the morning was that they couldn't make green smoothies at work so they would eat them before work. So I guess that work is not an obstacle to green smoothies.

I doesn't matter when you eat them I suppose, eventually your body will tell you when it wants to eat and what. That's assuming that you are listening to it and not someone else!

[Aleesha Sattva]

my hubby takes green smoothies with him to work every day. as well as having one before he goes. :)

[Vaclare79]

I think celery counts as one of the greens right?

[Veganforlife]

I think celery counts as one of the greens right?

Sure! But you want to make sure you are doing leafy greens as well!!!

[GlimR]

This really is pretty simple....In Fit For Life, the reason Harvey Diamond says to eat fruit till noon is because it is the most easily digested food, provides quick energy to get you going and is assimilated quickly by the body. My green smoothies are primarily fruit blended with greens which are ALSO very easily digested. Adding them does not compromise the digestibility factor of the fruit.

Some days I eat fruit, some green smoothies, usually both over the course of the morning...neither are heavy...both are very easily digested.

The reason to add greens to smoothies in the morning is that we don't get enough...leafy greens are so beneficial that the more we eat the better off we are but they are time consuming to eat in large quantities, are often not chewed thoroughly enough and blending them in smoothies allows one to get the abundant benefits of more greens, partially broken down and of sufficient quantity to be most beneficial to the body.

Simple~

[Pedro Kroger]

As many people said, you don't need to have GS in the morning. Some people like to eat a lot in the morning, others like to each little, or nothing. You should find what works for you. I really enjoy a green smothie in the morning, in fact, I'm drinking one right now :-)

(with me is the opposite, I don't like to have GS in any other time except in the morning)

[linda7276]

This really is pretty simple....In Fit For Life, the reason Harvey Diamond says to eat fruit till noon is because it is the most easily digested food, provides quick energy to get you going and is assimilated quickly by the body. My green smoothies are primarily fruit blended with greens which are ALSO very easily digested. Adding them does not compromise the digestibility factor of the fruit.

Some days I eat fruit, some green smoothies, usually both over the course of the morning...neither are heavy...both are very easily digested.

The reason to add greens to smoothies in the morning is that we don't get enough...leafy greens are so beneficial that the more we eat the better off we are but they are time consuming to eat in large quantities, are often not chewed thoroughly enough and blending them in smoothies allows one to get the abundant benefits of more greens, partially broken down and of sufficient quantity to be most beneficial to the body.

Simple~

Great post!! :)

[gingincal]

Anyone ever go from a habit of eating fruit in the morning to greensmoothies in the morning?


Well, my GS has fruit in it, so I'm still having fruit for b'fast. I just use it as a vehicle to up my daily greens intake. Love GS anytime!

[cherries]

Breakfast ideas from Ann Wigmore's book, The Hippocrates Diet and Health Program. She does recommend green drinks in the morning! What was also surprising is her use of sprouted wheat cereals.

Try to eat three meals each day, including breakfast of watermelon rind juice and watermelon red meat if available. If not, substitute apple or pear sauce or other fresh fruits in season, or take a green drink made from a variety of sprouts, greens, and vegetables. p.4 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA4,M1)

I also recommend the continued use of one to three glasses of mineral-rich green drinks made from vegetables, sprouts, and greens, and small amounts of wheatgress juice. This might translate as sprouted wheat cereal with seed milk for breakfast p.5 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA5,M1)

Watermelon juice is an effective diuretic that is used every morning at the Institute for breakfast p.35 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA35,M1)

Breakfast is the ideal time to use fruits. They wake you up, clean your stomach of residue from previous meals, and give you energy to burn. p.42 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA42,M1)

blended with some warm water and raisins, sprouted wheat makes a great breakfast with a lot of "fire power" to get you through a long day. P.51 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA51,M1)

These smooth, thick fruit soups are often served in place of a vegetable meal at the Hippocrates Institute. They are best eaten alone or with a fruit salad, and they make an excellent breakfast. They do not mix well with vegetable meals. P.121 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA121,M1)

Apple - Pear Sauce Recipe for breakfast P.129 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA129,M1)

For breakfast have grain cereal, watermelon, dried prunes or seed milk. P.156 (http://books.google.com/books?id=XVjcQlXwhKIC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=ann+wigmore+breakfast+watermelon&source=web&ots=yQeZ8Jjl2Y&sig=MnLTqMWHphv_cQOnvkmKp4WgcWU&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA156,M1)

[cherries]

Try to eat three meals each day, including breakfast of watermelon rind juice and watermelon red meat if available. . .

Watermelon juice is an effective diuretic that is used every morning at the Institute for breakfast

So why would she use a diuretic in the morning? I think that this means that the watermelon is absorbed and pushes the old fluids out along with their toxins and also that there is a net loss of fluid? So this would effectively change the fluids in the body? I think, I don't understand diuretics.

So why juice watermellon rinds? I've been just throwing them away (but now that I know what they have, GASP, I can't BELIEVE I did that). They have silicon, in fact, I was reading one website that said that watermelon need to be grown in silica-rich soil for them to grow a good rind! I've been saving my cucumber skins and adding them to smoothies because they are high in silicon, but this looks like a much better and bigger source for silicon. I don't know if I'd want it first thing in the morning, I think I'll save it for later in the day. Do the watermelon in the morning and juice the rind at night, that way I get a diuretic flush twice!

http://www.areclinic.org/articles.asp?ArticleID=7&src=m
The rind has a high silicon content; in Chinese medicine it is used to treat diabetes and hypertension.

http://www.smartskincare.com/nutrition/silicon.html
"Silicon is an essential trace element required for the formation and maintenance of the connective tissue. In particular, silicon increases tissue levels of hydroxyproline, one of the key amino acids required for the synthesis of collagen and elastin."

David Wolfe (author of Eating For Beauty) promotes silicon!
http://www.subtleenergysolutions.com/newsletter-davidwolfe.html
"Emphasizing minerals in the diet is a keystone to rejuvenation and the super immunity we all need in these days of urban pollution. Wolfe particularly likes Silicon, saying that instead of getting silicon implants, we should be getting silicon in our diets. "Silicon is a conscious mineral, seemingly possessing a form of intelligence," claims Wolfe. "While it's no secret that we attribute our modern economic advances to silicon technology, one of the world's greatest beauty secrets is that silicon possesses many hidden healing properties."

EDIT: actually I've done further reading and silica seems to be everywhere, especially in unprocessed foods, it's not even in the nutritional databases! So the only people who might be deficient, would be those eating mostly processed foods and even those might be getting some because it's in grains too.