Concern about preparation of green smoothies

[Yon Little Pig]

Whenever I saw the term "green smoothie" on a site or blog, my eyes would roll and I'd just keep going. I thought, raw greens & fruit; that is unusual. But recently just by happenstance I read an article by V. Boutenko and it changed my mind. She kind of explained the theory behind this combo. I am sure that this same info is here on this site, probably many times over, but I don't read as much as I should.

However, I am wondering about the effect on the nutrients in the greens & fruit created by being subjected to very, very high-speed sharp blades. It somehow seems brutalizing and I wonder if it doesn't remove the vitamin C. Any thoughts, anybody? I have never liked high-speed anything in the kitchen, to tell the truth. I use a slow-moving electric grinder/processor quite a bit more than blenders if possible. If I must use the blender I put in some ice cubes to reduce heat.

Would love any opinions, pro or con. Tks. :eat

[MysticTree]

If it bothers you then don't use a blender but when you bear in mind that pastuerising and leaving dairy on the doorstep in the sun still doesn't destroy all the vit c in it then I wouldn't worry about 45 seconds in a blender for raw produce.

[Yon Little Pig]

If it bothers you then don't use a blender but when you bear in mind that pastuerising and leaving dairy on the doorstep in the sun still doesn't destroy all the vit c in it then I wouldn't worry about 45 seconds in a blender for raw produce.

I wasn't trying to make a comparison between blending greens & fruits, and leaving dairy product on the doorstep in the sun. I don't do the latter, either.

Just expressing some mild concern and wondering if anyone here had any helpful input.

[seagle]

I think blending makes the vitamins more easily available. Most of us don't chew our food well enough and blending just chews it for us a little. I would assume you start losing nutrients as soon as a plant is picked, and should be used as soon as possible. It also make since that when it comes to blending slow and steady is better, but most of are in to much of a hurry for that.

Hey Mystic, Don't forget this is a raw food forum. I don't think anyone was talking about dairy.

[Bobbo]

I agree with seagle. I think blending or grinding you should have pretty much right away or freeze dry.

[MysticTree]

My point is that if you can do that to milk why is anyone worried about less than two minutes of blending. I know we don't leave milk in the sun because we don't drink it but it's still a fair comparison when people start worrying about blending being brutal.

[MysticTree]

Another thing to bear in mind with vitamin c (and other water soluble vits) is that us raw vegans get far more than we use and pass the excess in our urine so we don't need to worry about getting every last bit of vit c from our foods.

[Yon Little Pig]

I see the point you are trying to make in Post #2, but it's not Vit. C that's at risk from the sun (in milk). It is Vitamin D that's susceptible, which is why they stopped putting it into glass bottles.

[MysticTree]

I'm talking about the heating factor of sitting in the sun not the light. Your comment about vit d isn't applicable here in the UK because we don't fortify. I thought the light aspect affected other nutrients but it's. A while since I studied nutrition.

[walnutty]

The very fastest way to become healthy and cure disease is to juice, especially veggies! Juicing veggies is much more "brutal" then blending, yet drinking the juice creates such health! If nutrients were destroyed during juicing then it would not be as beneficial as it has been proven to be! If the nutrients were not destroyed during juicing, which is much more brutal than blending, then I can't see that they have been destroyed during blending.

Does this make sense, Yon Little Pig?

How often do you drink green smoothies, because if you were doing it consistently I believe your body would tell you the truth about it.

Hope this helps a little with your concerns....

[Yon Little Pig]

I've only just started the green drinks a couple of days ago. I have a good feeling about this.

I don't see juicing as "brutal", at least not in the machine I use. It is a slow-moving auger type. In any case, thanks for responding to me.

[walnutty]

I don't see juicing as "brutal", at least not in the machine I use.


Okay.

My juicer is a cheap one from Target and it shreds the heck out of the veggies. My blender (Vitamix, which I hate) liquifies the veggies. So, to me, juicing is much more brutal act then blending.

Either way, blending or juicing, you are making those veggies more assimilable by breaking down the fiber. All that green, and otherwise, goodness will go straight into your blood. Especially if you are drinking a green smoothie or green juice on an empty stomach!