How long to wait for a smoothie after eating alot of kale?

[Green Warlock]

I'm curious cause idk how long I should wait.Some say just as long as you have one after eating kale you'll be fine.Kale can cause trouble with absorbing calcium,from what I read.I eat 2-6 cups of kale along with other veggies in one setting.
I use coconut & almond milk with greek yogurt in my smoothies.

[walnutty]

Since you can make Green Smoothies with kale, I don't know why you would have to wait at all. Although, your smoothies aren't completely raw (due to the Greek yogurt), so that may or may not cause some tummy trouble.

[MysticTree]

Vitamin d helps with calcium absorption. There are lots of conflicting views on this calcium thing. Some say as long as it's raw then there is no effect. Others say that it only binds the calcium within the same food. I don't think you should be too concerned.

[MysticTree]

dairy is a poor way to get your calcium intake in any case. Ditch the dairy, get a good, varied, raw vegan diet going and you really won't have to worry about calcium uptake.

[Green Warlock]

Thanks for the replies!I am perfectly fine with dairy.I'm not allergic to anything & never had upset stomach etc from dairy.My grandma lived to 102 & grandpa 96.They both smoked like a fright train & grandpa drank like a fish.I'm sure dairy isn't going to wreck havoc on my body & cause a shortened lifespan...at least for me.Thanks for the replies again!

[MysticTree]

You may indeed feel like that but this is a raw, vegan forum.

[Revvell]

Just get out in the sun and don't worry about it. People keep complicating the uncomplicated.

[Charybdisjim]

This question falls under a more general concern people have about going for all or mostly raw-food diets regarding the anti-nutritional compound content they may have heard talked about in some raw vegetables.

If that smoothie is your primary source of calcium then yeah you might not want to habitually take it alongside the kale because you may be getting even less calcium than you intend - regardless of what ingredients are in the smoothie. So the question is a relevent one in a more general sense.

If you are worried about your calcium intake (or any particular nutrient) then it is generally advisable you separate your consumption of ingredients that are higher in anti-nutrient content than the particular nutrient by a meal. For example if you were concerned about your iron intake you shouldn't drink a big glass of cranberry juice with your primary source of iron but would probably be ok (unless you have other complications) having that juice with breakfast and your source of iron at lunch, or better dinner.

As long as you are varying your meals (ie, not always eating the same couple of ingredients in the same combination at most meals) then your chances of accidentally causing a nutritional defficiency despite eating more than sufficiently nutritious foods and enough of them is probably low with a well constructed raw foods diet. You have to pay attention of course until it becomes habit - but you do want to form good habbits.

Now if you have a particular deficiency or need for a certain nutrient (ie, genetic predisposition to anemia or are at risk for osteoperosis or what have you) then yeah you'll probably want to think about it a little more. For kale and calcium intake - you probably want to wait till your next meal if this is a concern for you. Also, snacking on raw almonds as an after dinner finger food might be helpful and raw nuts are most advantageous (ie, anti-nutrient concerns are mitigated) when consumed separate from meals.

[SunshineMN]

One way to help with calcium absorption is to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of vitamin D. The best way to get vitamin D is spending 20 minutes outside in the sun and not washing it off your skin so it has time to absorb. As far as iron goes, it helps to eat citrus fruit with greens with iron in them such as spinarch, kale, chard, etc. The vitamin C helps you absorb the iron.

Unless you know you have specific problems, if you rotate your greens, fruits and veggies, you'll get plenty of vitamins and minerals from a raw diet.

[Charybdisjim]

Unless you know you have specific problems, if you rotate your greens, fruits and veggies, you'll get plenty of vitamins and minerals from a raw diet.

It's kind of funny how the idea that one should consume in variety and moderation is pretty much always sound advice but it's so easy to overlook. Mix up your combinations and try not to make any one thing either your sole source of some nutrient or an excessive large percentage of your diet. The best advice is usually simple like that and I always forget it.