Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko

[Sharon in Colorado]

I just read this book - LOVE IT - but want to discuss it, and it Victoria hasn't answered my e-mails.

I'd like to know if anyone else has read this book and would be willing to have a discussion about it? Either here or offline?

[sport]

I purchased 5 copies. One for me and 4 for Christmas gifts. I have read it and would be happy to discuss it.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Sport that is so funny. I purchased 1 for myself and another for a gift too.

Well, sometimes when we make our green smoothies, I end up making extra, so I drink a glass of it and put my larger portion in the fridge. Many times it gets forgotten until the next day. I noticed in the book they were making them for the Roseburg study every other day. It sounds like they were making 2 quarts for each person, and the people were drinking them one day old, doesn't it?

I was also wondering which green smoothies these people drank? I haven't gotten an answer, but the in the photos they looked REALLY green, almost like the savory ones.

Have you tried any of the recipes?

Have you ever had lambsquarter?

Do you have a favorite green smoothie recipe?

This is the one I usually make

1 cup orange juice
3-4 bananas
handful spinach or parsley
about 2 cups frozen fruit (peaches or mango; strawberries or blueberries)

[sport]

The only one that I used from the book (and it is a little bit of a cheat) is the kiwi and celery one because it seems to qualify even though there is no green as such in it.
I make smoothies for my husband and make enough for 2 days but sometimes he misses a day and so it will be another day older but I got the impression from the book that this is OK.
I use up my own on the day that it is made.
The reason that we do not share is because his is kale and bananas and I can not take that. I am currently making mine with 2 kiwis, 1 apple, a quarter lemon, a small fistfull of cranberries and a very large fistfull of the parsley/celery cross that I posted about before.
I think that they use more water than I was used to using because they seem to get 2 quarts out of everything even if it seems that not alot goes in.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Ya, I noticed that they all say "yields 1 quart" but the amounts of the ingredients are all so different. I don't know how that can be!

[sport]

missprint there on my part. I was thinking 2 pints and wrote 2 quarts. I think that they add enough water to bring it up to the quart. I do not do that as I think that it would be more difficult to take and I am not finding it very easy as it is. When I started green smoothies I was very keen but have found it a struggle to keep it up. My husband (who is mostly a sad eater) has never lost the taste for them and would miss them if they were not available. The thing that I find interesting about that is that he always liked cabbage and brocoli and brussels sprouts cooked whereas I did not. I believe in listening to my body and I have always preached that food does not have to tast good as long as it is good so maybe I am not meant to take green smoothies. Is it not possible that my needs and Victoria's are different and what her body needs is not the same as mine.

[Cinnamon]

I was just thinking to email you Sharon about this very topic!

I have read the book and loved it too. I've increased my green smoothies to 1 quart a day and change the ingredients for variety most days too.

So a basic recipe would be banana(s), date, berries or other frozen fruit, baby spinach and romaine (lots!), celery and/or cucumber, a sprinkle of cinnamon and sometimes some ground flax. I vary the greens with kale or other lettuce, never tried the stronger tasting greens yet.

By what she says in the book they did have enough made to last for 2 days, so when I have any leftover and save it for the next day I haven't worried about the nutrient content of it.

I make my smoothie in the morning and put it in a canning jar and take it with me and drink it throughout the day. Works out great and I feel good all the time (energy) anyway but I know I am getting a lot more greens than I normally would get.

I haven't really tried any of her recipes but did make a list of fruits and greens so I can pick out new combos to try. I have been a fruit smoothie drinker for many years, daily for my breakfast, so adding the greens was pretty easy for me. But the stronger tasting ones I guess I should try them out too sometime!

I should add that for someone with TMJ like me this is the best way to get added greens into the diet by drinking the salad instead of all the chewing.

[Sharon in Colorado]

How would you guys feel about doing our own study and then answering the questions in her book?

We could commit to drinking a quart of the stuff a day for 30 days and then see if it does something for us. She claimed that it helped her lose weight, lessen her cravings, turn Igor's hair color back, etc. I could use a lot of that. I was actually going to do a banana diet at the beginning of the year but maybe I'd do this with it or after it.

[HydroRaw]

If you don't mind, I have this nagging question -- how is possible that you can have a smoothie 24 hours later after being blended? Did Victoria say anything in her book about smoothies that continue to remain nutritious after being kept for a day or so? My understanding from talking with people and reading books is that vegetables and fruits tend to start losing vitamins and minerals from the very moment they are cut or blended. Am I missing something here? Of course, I don't have the luxury of reading Victoria's latest book regarding green smoothies. I am hoping to have the opportunity one of those days when her book becomes available at my local library. So whatever information you have to answer my inquiry would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[sport]

Well I finished my smoothie since I last posted and I decided that most of my reluctance was in my head. While I am drinking it I do not mind it at all but I just do not seem to like the thought of it. I can get over that and am up to the challange, so count me in.
I will have to set up a journel so that I can post what I have put in my smoothie every day and how I am feeling.
The problem is that I am always feeling great anyway so maybe I will not be a good yardstick.

[wyjoz]

Victoria is hosting Tonya Zavasta tonight in Ashland Oregon. She might be buisy with RSVPs. They are preparing a snack and 'smoothie' to serve.

She does answer e-mails though.

I purchased 3 copies of Green For Life and one is in Oregon, another in Massachusetts, and another one in the mail to Connecticut. Tonight I'm buying Victorias special; 10 copies. Amazing information especially on the hydrochloric acid that we lack or don't have enough of.

My 3 glasses daily smoothie for 4 mos. has been; and I make it
every other day. I decided that this is my 'health' in a glass, then I play with
other combinations. There were a few times that I did not want the 'green' and ended making all 'red' smoothies. 1 Beet Juice, 1 Carrot Juice and one Goji Berry Smoothie (from rawguru.com). Amazing what your body tells us when we listen. Other days I have 4 Green Smoothies. So it goes.

2 bunches of greens (kale and/or dendelions, chard, mustard greens
red chard. etc
3 ripe mangos
6 ripe bananas
6 c water
We drink it fairly thick as we like it. **Victoria mentioned that Smoothie is not the same as Green Drinks, in her lecture I attended.
**you might add additional water.

Benefits: Energy, My Eyes are so bright. My skins shines. and the bonus of bonuses: I went to renew my Drivers Licence and passed the test withouth 'glasses'. So the clerk asked me if Im wearing contacts I said no, she said but you have restriction on your licence to wear glasses. So I went and did the test one more time! I told her the short version of my story; SHE REMOVED THE RESTRICTION OF THE DRIVERS LICENCE !

[Sharon in Colorado]

If you don't mind, I have this nagging question -- how is possible that you can have a smoothie 24 hours later after being blended?


Hydroraw have you read her book? If you haven't I highly suggest it, there is a lot of detail to it.

The short answer to your question is that the Boutenko's had to travel to Roseburg for the study to make people their smoothies and it was a very long trip. They made the trip out every other day and provided enough to last them that long. The people on the study were not raw fooders, they were simply adding green smoothies so it was a lot more nutritious, even after 24 hours, than what they were already eating.

[Cinnamon]

This is really an interesting thread and I am so glad to read your post wyjoz, motivation to increase the amount of green smoothies I drink!

I'll sure join in for a 30 day green smoothie challenge, I can set up a journal too and post the ingredients used each day. That would be interesting to see what we each come up with for more ideas for variety too and what changes we experience.

[Goddess_girl]

Where did you get your copy?
On the net?

[wyjoz]

Just returned from Tonya Zawasta's lecture. It's was amazing, the information that I received and was able to write down. I have to go rewrite my notes and then process it all. We had a demonstration of the
Green Smoothie and it was with NO WATER AT ALL! Victoria's Green Smoothie recipe calls for 1 qt/ of water :

Raw Family’s Favorite Green Smoothie Recipe: http://rawfamily.com/news/june.html

½ pound of fresh lamb’s quarters, or ½ bunch of fresh dinosaur kale

2 ripe mangoes

2 very ripe bananas

1 quart water

Blend thoroughly in a Vita-Mix blender.

Yields ½ a gallon of delicious smoothie.

The green smoothie will keep for at least 24 hours in the fridge or cooler, stored in a glass or high quality plastic container.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Where did you get your copy?
On the net?

Goddess Girl, I ordered my copy through an Amazon used book dealer. You can check out www.campusi.com for the best deals on books.

The book reads really well and really fast. I think I'll start the green smoothie diet, drinking at least a quart daily for the month of January. If everyone else is game, maybe I can start up a new Journal page for it, for those who are interested, unless you would like to keep up your regular journals. Let me know what you'd prefer to do. If there are enough of us, I'll do the journal page.

wyjoz what was the recipe they did that had no water in it? I like to use orange juice as my liquid, it is very sweet and rich. Sometimes water or apple juice will leave a grainier taste to it.

[LNdolls]

I got three copies and shared two with my sisters. One sister is drinking green smoothies and bought a Vita Mix... grin I have been adding green smoothies to my routine... and I would love to be part of the challenge.
Best,
LN

[wyjoz]

You can order Green For Life from Victorias site: www.rawfamily.com
also while visiting her site click on newsletters.

----wyjoz what was the recipe they did that had no water in it?---

VitaMix packed with Swisschard then about 2 cups of diced mangos and pineapple chunks. The VitaMix stick pressed the contents and just blended it smooth! It was vibrant green, thick, delicious.

Victoria stated in her lecture and her newsletters that she drinks 1/2 galon each day. I'll have to invite her to join this discussion and varify or clarify this. As the recipe in her book is more liquid and the one last night was very very yummy thick. We actually used spoons!

[wyjoz]

E-mail Invitation to Victoria: (this is part of e-mail)

Victoria; It was nice getting a 'hug' from you last night. I want you to know that I'm a back stage 'desciple' for this 'healthy' movement if we can call it that. I'v been telling many many people about you and the Green Smoothies! And I will continue every chance I get. I'm giving your book to 4 area doctors with whom I'v been talking to about RAW Life Style and who state that it's not possible to be 100% RAW ! We'll see! I'v just begun !

Anyways; a new forum started recently about Green Smoothies; would you check it out? Please? And join in? There's so many questions. Instead of individual e-mails would you do one general one for all of us?

One question I have after last night: I drink my Green Smoothie very thick but last night was 'spoon full' thick. Do you do 3-4 glasses of those per day? Do you add water to it and make it drinkable? RAWgards Joz

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=79418&posted=1#post79418

[marigold]

i read this book too...everyone "should" have a copy imo its that good! i was like victoria in that if i had a green juice once a week or some salad greens i thought i was doing well..making the green drinks has hugely increased my intake of greens and in a pleasurable way too.i have found that they are very sustaining too..

i usually have one recipe in the morning..makes almost a full vita jug...

i often swop the greens around pending on what i have in and mostly they work good...

i have tried all the recipes - the only one i didnt like was the one that has water melon and lettuce in!

funny i just wrote about this book in my blog and then came on here to find this link..

these green drinks are the best thing i found on raw! i have noticed feeling much better since having them

[kmik]

The POWER of Green Smoothies is Amazing!!! Not just the power it gives us, but the power to bring people closer to raw!

I actually bought 20 copies of the book, and they're going fast! My mom bought three copies from me, I sold three more at a raw pot-luck (where, surprisingly, severeal people were clueless about raw!), gave one to my mother-in-law for Christmas (she asked for it!), giving another to my dad... anyway, this is all because there is something very compelling in this book, I'm not sure what Victoria did, maybe she just really prayed over it... but people are drawn to it, they want it, and they read it!

It's so funny... reading this thread as I sit here drinking a huge collard, broccoli, banana, orange, apple smoothie.

Anyone who hasn't gotten this book yet, it's a MUST READ!

[wyjoz]

Looking through my notes I found this:

waken
sprout Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SE of D.C., USA
Posts: 31

Hmm. Ask I did. Hope I get a reply..

Letter to Victoria Boutenko:

Victoria,
I understand that 80+% of your diet is green smoothies, and that you think 60% fruit to 40% greens is an optimum diet for humans and chimpanzees alike. In order to achieve such a ratio and to consume two bunches of greens a day as you mention, a person would need to consume green smoothies almost exclusively. Using the recipe, it would be two gallons of smoothie a day. Your test subjects are consuming much less. As someone who is inspired by your last newsletter and who is 99% raw for five months (still have coffee addiction), I am wondering what is a suitable goal for me to persue.
-(my name)
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#7 06-07-2005, 10:22 PM
waken
sprout Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SE of D.C., USA
Posts: 31
That was quick! I guess I have to experiment to find where my own "enjoyment" lives. I'm sure I don't enjoy eating greens in a whole form unless there is nothing else to eat..

Dear ____,
Thank you for your question. I drink about 1 gallon of smoothie per day, my
drink has more greens in it than my recipe. In addition I eat some greens
and some fruits in a whole form, not blended. I do not push myself to drink
so much smoothie but consume that much out of enjoyment.
I think a quart daily is great for anyone.
Sincerely, Victoria

[Sharon in Colorado]

http://www.ringlet.org/about/index.php check food logs

Janie eats a huge amount of greens and doesn't use greens in smoothies. It is probably essential to get a good amount of greens through salads as well. I don't see it being too hard to get in 2 heads of greens of day if one tried. Slaw is another great idea to get it in. Some people find it easier to eat that way, cut up in tiny pieces.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I made a 30 day journal for those interested in trying and journalling their 1 quart of green smoothie a day. Anybody, can post here, anytime. If there is enough interest, I'll put them up monthly so they don't get too long.

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2197

Looking at the other posts, I wished instead of just 1 book, I had purchased a case of the books for gifts. How thoughtful of you guys!

[meganthevegan]

Have you ever had lambsquarter?

Sharon, I used to purchase lamb's quarters from Trader Joe's. Haven't found them out here yet. But I love the mango and lamb's quarter's smoothie.

[Autumn]

Judging from everyone's excitement, I think I must cash in a little Christmas moola and get this book!

[prana]

Something that I find confusing is that the salad should be oxidizing, is this addressed at all? For those that consume the smoothie 24 hours after making it, is the color as green?

I understand that Victoria uses the Vita Mix, but not everyone is able to immediately afford this type of blender. What type of blender do those of you that make these smoothies use?

[wyjoz]

----For those that consume the smoothie 24 hours after making it, is the color as green?----

So far I'v been making mine every other day. The color does not change. The only time the colors changed is when I added Red Chard, it turned deeper green/red.

I will start Vita Mixing mine as I'm about to drink (spoon eat) them.

P.S. Just re-read my Green for Life and there is so much more information I just did not "get" the first time around. I strongly recommend this book .

[anneh]

I have recently been hearing about making the green smoothies. I am perplexed because everything I have learned and read says that blending fruits/veggies at high speed will cause oxidation? This makes me wonder if its better than juicing and is a fad or for real? If those of you making the green smoothies hve found it worthwhile please let me know. I have read recently that the K-Tec blender is easier to store and use?
anneh

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hey Autumn can't wait for you to get the book, you won't be dissapointed. It's a pretty book too!

megan perhaps Whole Foods carries the Lamb's Quarters, I will have to check it out next time I'm in the store. They do carry a wide variety of greens.

prana I'm sure any blender will do if you aren't overloading it or using frozen fruit. I use the K-tec but I do use frozen fruit, I've burned out many blenders this way. It is worth the investment if you plan on using it daily long term.

anneh I know this (smoothies) is not a fad - I've been doing smoothies for just about 6 years now. I started off doing the "Bragg" smoothies which had lots of supplementation like oat bran, wheat germ, soy protein powder, green powder, lecithin, vitamin C crystals, flax products plus about 6 other supps.

About 4 years ago I stopped using the supps and used only fruit - tasted so much better and I didn't feel different at all.

About a year ago I stopped using canned 100% pineapple juice as my liquid and use only fresh squeezed oj or water. For the past 2 months I've been adding in different greens. So smoothies in general aren't a fad. I believe they are here to stay. I may keep changing and adapting the way I make them, but I won't stop making them!

Hey Green People -

I've been putting up a gallery of photos under the member Green Smoothie. They are all greens that have been listed under the recipes in the book. So far I have 8 photos to take us through August.

Whoever wants to join in is welcome anytime. The link in my sig line will access the January journal area and then you can check out all the other photos in the gallery from there. Pretty cool - if you want to see what purslane and Lamb's Quarters look like check it out. I have a Stinging Nettles photo to put up there as well.

It is awesome to see some of you guys posting on there already. Very exciting!

[Autumn]

I placed my order tonight from Amazon. I hope it arrives soon!

[Rawkinlocs]

I just want to step in here and say, I REALLY think some clearance should be gotten with Alissa before this gets underway.

Just out of courtesy. In fact, anytime ideas such as these are presented, they should be presented to her before being initiated.

Some may not agree, but out of consideration and courtesy, I think it best.

I am going to contact her myself...I believe she is still away, but perhaps she's checking in periodically.

Hope you can understand.

[misslinda]

..........i've never ead the book but i have a question.


is there more credit to green smoothies than just plain green juice? if yes, why?

:confused:

[Ariella]

id like to join also :) I have been drinking between 1/2 to 1 quart daily but not regularly each day 1 quart.

My favorite right now is:

vitamix full of kale or spinach
3 cups orange juice
strawberries
2 bananas
blueberries

so good!!!!

Excited to try this with all of you :)

[Dandelion Girl]

I notice a big difference on the days I have a green smoothie. My sister also notices a big difference. My mother had a colostomy in the past and had it repaired. She always had to have bran cereal in the mornings. She is a SAD eater, but when she added green smoothies, she no longer had to eat her bran cereal and she had a lot more energy.

Prana, I use a food processor to do my smoothies and it works fine.

[Revvell]

I have read recently that the K-Tec blender is easier to store and use?
anneh

This is off-topic and has been discussed numerous times here yet, I'll give my opinion as I have both the K-Tec and the Vita-Mix. I absolutely LOVE the VM. It has variable speeds and a larger container.

The K-Tec has a smaller container. As far as easier to use, it's harder for me to figure out what all speed variations are; the container is smaller and the blend comes up out of the top (blending for two people) and it starts up at waaaaay too high a speed.

With the VM I can start it w/out have the cover on it's so slow and easy and manually bring up the speed to where I want it.

As for storage, I just put the container next to the base. They fit easily under the upper cabinets.

Revvell

[Boysenberry]

Sharon,

Rock on! Let's do our own experiment!

I love many of her recipies. I have tried all of the sweet ones that I can do with produce in season. (no summer ones) I can't keep it in the house. My children and husband line up for them, so I am generallly making two quarts at a time.

I feel fantastic since including a quart of green smoothies per day. I increased my running time and have been dancing around the house, chasing kids at the park and generally bouncing off the walls! Hooray for green smoothies!

[vegbaby]

I was so excited to read your post about doing our own "study." I emailed Victoria recently to ask if she had given any thoughts to an ongoing study with people over the Internet. Can't remember exactly what I said, but I was sort of hoping for a group spirit to give me inspiration. Now I've found it!

My favorite smoothie so far is the peach-spinach one, but I have to admit I haven't tried too many because of the lack of green variety here (I'm in Mongolia). For those of you who don't have the book but need more recipes, Victoria gave me permission to post some of her recipes on my site here: http://www.vegetarianbaby.com/recipes.shtml

Enjoy!

[vegbaby]

I just want to step in here and say, I REALLY think some clearance should be gotten with Alissa before this gets underway.

Just out of courtesy. In fact, anytime ideas such as these are presented, they should be presented to her before being initiated.

Some may not agree, but out of consideration and courtesy, I think it best.

I am going to contact her myself...I believe she is still away, but perhaps she's checking in periodically.

Hope you can understand.

Any update on this, Rawkinlocs? Certainly don't want to do anything inappropriate here.

[Rawkinlocs]

Hey Melanie!

No, not yet. She's been out of town and won't be back until the end of the week. But I should be hearing something soon. Thanks for asking!

[Sharon in Colorado]

Rev the solution I found to the whole K-tec dilemna was to get an additional blender container. K-tec's warantee got me a brand new motor and housing, it was unbelievable, when my K-tec burned out for the last time. I decided to get the extra container because I was experiencing the same as you. Now it is a lot easier and no messy leaking and dripping. (I was pretty close to throwing in the towel and getting a Vitamix).

misslinda I think Mrs. Boutenko goes over this in her book. When I try to juice any kinds of greens, I don't get a whole lot of juice, since I don't have a twin gear. I think juicing green leafies tends to be a bit of a waste. My husband juices carrots and apples and makes me a small glass in the morning. I have juiced celery and beets along with it, as it seems to get a lot of liquid out of it. I'm sure there's more to it, about it being more beneficial whole rather than juiced - the fiber in the greens, etc.

Party on Boysenberry. :D I'm hoping the experiment helps with my cravings, as it did Mrs. Boutenko. When cravings are under control it is so much easier to eat right and heal.

Ariella your recipe sounds really good. I wish my K-tec had a plunger/food pusher. I've heard of pushing a celery stick into it, which makes a lot of sense, since I wouldn't want to eat wooden spoon shrapnel!

Hi vegbaby, I remember reading so many of your posts way back. It is nice to see you posting here.

I plan on continuing with the 1 quart green smoothie a day whether or not there is a group journal. Perhaps we can just share our experiences and outcomes here or somewhere else. I looked over the questions from the Roseburg study and even though the subjects from the study were for people with heartburn, the questions definately apply here and can be answered by each person doing there own experiment.

[RawTruth]

For those questioning why green smoothies are preferable to green juices, if you don't have Victoria's book, here's a quick (and hopefully somewhat accurate) summary: Green smoothies are good for two basic reasons -- 1) they greatly increase our consumption of greens which are vital for our health and which are way under-eaten by us if we only eat them in salads, and 2) blending the greens help them digest better since most, if not all, of us unknowingly have reduced stomach acid due to cooked food abuse in our previous lives.

Any nutrition loss from oxidation when blended is miniscule compared to the enormous gains possible by eating the greater amounts of ripe, fresh, raw fruits and greens possible when we blend them.

Tonya's and Victoria's smoothies differ in a few ways - Tonya prefers hers with no added water and likes it thick enough to eat with a spoon, and she usually uses only two ingredients (fresh mango and swiss chard) while Victoria adds water and a mixture of fruits and a wide variety of greens. Most any functioning blender will work for Victoria-style smoothies, but very few will succeed in doing it Tonya's way. For hers, we're talking Vita-Mix or K-Tec or Titan (if you've got $1,000 laying around!).

Victoria's green smoothies are really quite simple, but there are certain parameters. Some of those are: she's never deviated from advocating 40% fruit to 60% greens, they're always made with 2 cups of water, there are no supplements added, and as wide a variety of deep green-colored greens as possible is used, the more wild greens the better.

You've probably already thought of this, Sharon, but if this "study" proceeds (officially or unofficially), you might consider some uniformity. That is, of course, if you're going to chart results and have people answer Victoria's questions. In her study, there was no problem since she controlled the smoothies by making them herself and distributing them. But, here, you have all kinds of variables: some people may decide to use juice rather than water, others may add dates or agave if they want a sweeter smoothie, frozen fruit rather than fresh, some may even add hemp powder or other supplements, and some people might drink a quart while others may add 1/2 gallon a day.

I'm not at all trying to throw cold water on this excitement. In fact, I think it's super and, now that I've seen this thread, I'm thinking of joining in as a "challenge" although I'd already been drinking green smoothies for a while and upped the frequency when I got Green for Life even though I'd been ingested waaaay more greens than the Boutenkos. (My mom, my daughter, my cousin ... are all drinking green smoothies now.) Back to the cold water thing, though -- the analytical, research part of my brain is wondering whether you're going to keep track of this and treat it as an experiment (in which case uniformity is important) or whether it's more for the fun and camaraderie. Either way is cool -- just trying to watch out for you as far as you having valid results if the 1st way is how you're hoping to do it.

Whichever way it goes, Sharon, I think it could be fun ...

[Sharon in Colorado]

Hi Diana thanks for the cold water!

This is probably going to be as unofficial as it gets.

For one, I am starting to feel like I'm 'tresspassing' between using someone else's message board with someone else's idea. Hence I certainly don't plan on putting so much effort into this as some kind of labor of love beyond presenting the idea and putting up a group journal which now I don't know is even allowed.

Secondly, this is really no different than Alissa's 30 day challenge. All the people here doing the challenge or seeing if raw food is working for them are certainly not under Alissa's eye. She can't prepare raw food for them or track their progress. They are completely on their own. So most of the time nobody knows who's doing 100% raw, who's mostly eating raw garbage, who's more pure, etc. Then when people say they aren't seeing results or progress, nobody else really knows their lifestyle.

I will have to look in the book again - I think I recall the prescription being 2 heads' of greens a day. I've always used 2 handfuls of greens, but that was distributed amongst my whole family's smoothies, not just for my own, so I'm probably not getting the correct proportion myself. I got an E-mail from Victoria saying they never followed any recipe for the Roseburg study, she said they were doing mostly banana/kale and mango/lamsquarter. I don't know for sure if they were using 2 cups of water in their smoothies. I never use water, I use fresh squeezed or juiced oranges.

Hope that helps!

[Revvell]

Rev the solution I found to the whole K-tec dilemna was to get an additional blender container. K-tec's warantee got me a brand new motor and housing, it was unbelievable, when my K-tec burned out for the last time. I decided to get the extra container because I was experiencing the same as you. Now it is a lot easier and no messy leaking and dripping. (I was pretty close to throwing in the towel and getting a Vitamix).


I'm not sure what the dilemma is you are referring to. I've got 3 K-Tec containers yet, I prefer to use only one to create enough for the two of us. Therefore the VitaMix is my blender of choice. The only leakage I have in the K-Tec is the hole in the top of the contain lid when the stuff comes up and out. When I'm making something which needs a smaller container, I'll use the K-Tec. Otherwise it's VM all the way!

Rev

[RawTruth]

I don't know for sure if they were using 2 cups of water in their smoothies. I never use water, I use fresh squeezed or juiced oranges.Hmmm ... well, she says 2 cups of water in Green for Life. And, since she advocates using the fiber of all the fruits/veggies rather than juicing and devotes a chapter or so in the book to the benefits of fiber, I'm thinking it's water.

[wyjoz]

RAWTruth and others: ""Hmmm ... well, she says 2 cups of water in Green for Life. And, since she advocates using the fiber of all the fruits/veggies rather than juicing and devotes a chapter or so in the book to the benefits of fiber, I'm thinking it's water.""

in her newslaters Ode to Green Smoothies Victoria gives a recipe for

1 lb of kale or lambsquarters (a weed that grows in summers)
2 ripe mangos
2 ripe bananas
32 oz of water
she states that she drinks a lot more greens than the recipe for her
own likes etc.

I'v been using this recipe since August. It's noticeable benefits are already experienced in my life. I have this bounce of energy and After Tonya Zavasta's lecture in Oregon on Dec 23 i'v tried the smoothie with no water.
It works and it's 'thick' and is so delicious 'IM IN LOVE WITH GREEN SMOOTHIES'
Victoria and Alissa sell VitaMixes and they are $359+ a great investment for such benefits. Since this is a LifeStyle Change and a 'diet' for life I'd suggest you invest in one if you can.
As far as 'Greens" go Kale is extreamly easy to grow. Also there is a link to purchase seeds and weeds http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/browse_category.asp?category_id=106&UID if you'r not in Eastern Coast regions you can grow some now. I'm growing Swiss Chard, Kale, Parsley, beets yes beets!
now in Oregon. They are growing slow, however. I get beets tops and chard and little Kale leaves. I'm sure with some protection and gardening ingenuity people can get 'crops' of these. This is my first time trying to grow things! I'v lived in a city all my life and never grew anything. Then pulled 'HEALTH' (LAMBS QUARTERS) as 'weeds' out-- now I'm buying seeds to grow it. I plant to throw the seeds in an empty field by my house to grow them, Spring, Summer, and Fall.
I'v posted the recipe for the thick Green Smoothie; as it was deomonstrated. (Tonya's version)? There are a few days left before the New Years Challange; try it and compare to other smoothies or green juices. The Vita Mix does eventually blend all without the water. Amazing.

[wyjoz]

vegbaby: you write; I haven't tried too many because of the lack of green variety here (I'm in Mongolia).

Can you grow anything? Kale and variety of chards are easy to grow. We have a 'lettuce' mix here. Spring and Fall variety. Lambsquarters and persalene are weeds and grow without much care. Nettle weeds grow wild and require no care. Sorrell, also. NOW, that I know more, if I was still in the city I would plant all sorts of things in planters, under trees, in flower beds, etc. just to get the "Greens" that we need for our health.

[vegbaby]

vegbaby: you write; I haven't tried too many because of the lack of green variety here (I'm in Mongolia).

Can you grow anything? Kale and variety of chards are easy to grow. We have a 'lettuce' mix here. Spring and Fall variety. Lambsquarters and persalene are weeds and grow without much care. Nettle weeds grow wild and require no care. Sorrell, also. NOW, that I know more, if I was still in the city I would plant all sorts of things in planters, under trees, in flower beds, etc. just to get the "Greens" that we need for our health.

I have to laugh! I am in Mongolia, and it's currently 30 below 0 F (more at night). We have a huge, lovely, organic garden in the summer, but in the winter...I have to make do with lettuce, bok choy, and spinach, alternately. They are most definitely NOT organic and not always available or fresh... Doing my best here! :)

[wyjoz]

vegbaby " I have to laugh! I am in Mongolia, and it's currently 30 below 0 F (more at night)." BRRRRR Mongolia sounds like it should be somewhat 'tropicl' what do we know? the Green Smoothie Power did not kick in to the fullest yet.
Can you buy cabbages? red and green? there are many recipes available. If Smoothies are limited this should help.
Pressed Cabbage Salad Recipe http://www.radicalhealth.com/issues/2004-11-09:pressedcabbagesalad.html
This is on of our house favorites. When Yemiah makes her
cabbage salad, the entire house spells of the rich spices
and people get hungry just walking in the door.

The real purpose of cooking is to break down plant fiber
(cellulose) so food is more digestible. The same can be
accomplished by germinating, fermenting and of course
pressing.

Shred the following in a Food Processor with
the shredder blade attachment:** I did it with
a knife! and I do not have a press. Topped
it with a plate and placed a heavy jar filled with
water: DELICIOUS REALLY DELICIOUS Joz

1 Head White Cabbage
1/2 Head Red/Purple Cabbage
2 Large Carrots
1 Large Beet
1 Bunch of Green Onions
Pour into large bowl and add:
1 Handful Chopped Parsley
5T Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
5T Raw Dark Bottled, Olive Oil
1T Himalayan Sea Salt
1T Black Pepper
5T Raw Agave Nectar
4T Black Sesame Seeds

Mix by hand well and add other seasonings to taste.
Place mixed ingredients into press. Tighten screw
till juice is slightly expelled.
Avoid over tightening, as this may crack your press.
Place press in refrigerator. If you're going to try
fermenting, best to use a controlled temperature
above 100 degrees. This ensures friendly bacteria
displace unfriendly bacteria in your culture.
Cabbage Salad can be eaten right after it's made
and the longer it's pressed, the more tender the
veges and more easily nutrients can be extracted
by the body.

Could you use a recipe for Bok Choy? this is from http://www.thegardendiet.com/~
Recipe of the Month: Storm recently made this amazingly delicious Bok Choy salad/slaw. high in Vitamin C and A and calcium.
Bok Choy Salad
Chop up and put in a bowl:
~ 4 bunches Bok Choy
~ 2 tomatos
~ 2 avocados
~ 1/2 bunch cilantro
Dressing:
~ 4 tablespoons raw tahini
~ 2 tablespoons raw honey
~ 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar
~ 4 tablespoons olive oil
~ herbs and spices (experiment with what you have available)
~ salt to taste with unrefined sea salt
STAY WARM

[vegbaby]

Thanks for the great recipes! Baby bok choy is my favorite salad green of all.

[RawTruth]

Melanie -- I just have to commend you for sticking with raw under such harsh conditions. And, here in the U.S. we have raw people complaining that it's too cold in winter to eat raw -- this even in northern California. LOL. You're a great role model. I know it's trite but I always think of Gengis (sp) Khan when I think of Mongolia. Are you anywhere near the Gobi Desert? Are you closer to Russia or to China? And ... last question: are you a native Mongol? Or a transplant?

[divaitalia]

I am pretty new to the site and have been reading past threads and found this one interesting since I have a question about my green smoothies and gas issues.

I do about 3 different fruits with 2 tbsp ground flax seed, kale, parsley and water and coconut butter and I am getting gas all day long. I can't imagine putting even more greens in those smoothies. What is going on with all this gas? Could it be the flax? Coconut oil?

Someone please help!!!!! :eek:

Divaitalia

[Universal]

Peace divaitalia,

My guess is that it may be the flax and/or the combination with the coconut butter. My smoothies usually consist of about 3-4 greens such as kale, parsely, lettuce, celery and 1-2 fruits; usually apples or pears; also cucumbers, and i hardly ever have any issues with gas. Actually i NEVER have gas with any of those combinations.
Try it out and experiment with your self. Make the smoothie without flax, or without the coconut butter, or without both, and see if your body reacts any differently.
Hope that helps!

PEACE
Universal

[sport]

I am pretty new to the site and have been reading past threads and found this one interesting since I have a question about my green smoothies and gas issues.

I do about 3 different fruits with 2 tbsp ground flax seed, kale, parsley and water and coconut butter and I am getting gas all day long. I can't imagine putting even more greens in those smoothies. What is going on with all this gas? Could it be the flax? Coconut oil?

Someone please help!!!!! :eek:

Divaitalia
Are you consuming your smoothie shortly after eating more solid food because this could cause gas. Try to take it on an empty stomach and see how that goes.

[Elena]

How would you guys feel about doing our own study and then answering the questions in her book?

We could commit to drinking a quart of the stuff a day for 30 days and then see if it does something for us. She claimed that it helped her lose weight, lessen her cravings, turn Igor's hair color back, etc. I could use a lot of that. I was actually going to do a banana diet at the beginning of the year but maybe I'd do this with it or after it.

Sharon,

It looks like you answered your question in "Overweight on Raw" discussion. I read the book as soon as it came out. It is nicely written but I also had a lot of questions. There were a few things that didn't have sense. Being on a raw diet, I came to conclusion that everything has to be in harmony. As we found out in "Overweight on Raw" discussion, even "experts" make mistakes...I've learned not to rely on what every "expert" says but experiment and choose what works best for me and usually my appearance is the FIRST indicator to determine what's right and what's wrong for me.

[pookafey]

I love this book. I also am thinking about buying it for friends. I think I did read somewhere that they could keep for 24 hours. A kinda funny thing was last night I was watching tv and I saw a preview for "The Girls next Door" and they were getting ready to do an exercise video so they had to eat better. One of the girls states that she is drinking green smoothies which are based on a diet based on chimpanzees. I might have to watch the episode just to see what they say :D.

[Imani]

I read it last year and gave them as gifts also. Everyone followed well for a year. My mother in lwa got rid of her thyroid, my brother is doing well and he has some rare auto immune thingy that had him in a comma for six months, and all his organs shut down. He was o heart meds, and lung meds, kidney meds. He is on no meds now. He is on greem smoothies. He grows his own lettuce in Ok, he is in college there. He is resarting his life after being sleep for six months it has been over a year now. he wa the first in our family to do raw 100%. My family are old Lousianne cooking folk, and the other half are tennesse soul food eaters. My parents broke away from that eating young but they did not mean raw food all the time, just lots of fruits and lots of salads with every meal and some times that was the meal with meat of course. He is revolutionary. I was happyto give him the gift of Green for life. It was support for what he had been doing for the lst 2 years since his recovery.
Imani Green for life for real

[Veganforlife]

I too love this book and love Victoria! This is an awesome compliment to a raw diet. It has worked perfectly for me. At lunch I scoot home, whip up a GS and I'm good to go for hours!
I admire these pioneers of raw food!
Thanks Victoria!

[carolg]

I just started and posted the green "applesauce" smoothie I enjoy daily:

apples
pears
lemon slice
kale
parsley tops, not stems
pinch water

Blend

Eat like applesauce. Wow.

Haven't branched out to other green veggies, but do eat them however.

Has anyone seen Victoria recently? A friend said she looks great, but may have put on some weight. Not sure, not judging, but anothers comments shared to me. I'm sure we can get carried away with gourmet eating including lots of nuts on the raw diet. Again no judgment here.
carolg

[RawNut]

Victoria has done extensive research on chimpanzees' diets. She also collaborated with Dr. Paul Fieber to do a human study, The Rosenburg Study.

I discovered that I had low stomach acid, which I had suspected, by doing the beet test. A week after consuming green smoothies, I was digesting beets! I ate a lot more than a quart a day though and still do. My pH has also become more alkaline as a result. To me, it's proof that I wasn't assimilating the greens I was eating until I started blending them.

Craig

[Sharon in Colorado]

This thread was started almost a year ago - since then I've gotten a bit burnt out on the green smoothies and now am doing fruit-only. I may go back to them or not. Just my own journey.

[VeryBerry]

Does anyone have any green smoothy recipes that taste good. I don't have Victoria's book, but I have read the article only, which has some recipes. A lot of them seem really strange, does not seem that they would taste good.

So far I tried and enjoyed Spinach, banana, pear smoothie.
I did not dare try anything else yet.

Any suggestions would be greatly apprecaited. :o

[PantryRaider]

Does anyone have any green smoothy recipes that taste good. I don't have Victoria's book, but I have read the article only, which has some recipes. A lot of them seem really strange, does not seem that they would taste good.

So far I tried and enjoyed Spinach, banana, pear smoothie.
I did not dare try anything else yet.

Any suggestions would be greatly apprecaited. :o

I have several greens in my fridge right now. Kale, spring green, rapini, broccoli, spinach.

One concoction I seem to be returning to most often is some blend of those same greens... mostly greens.... with an apple... 2 strawberries... 5 chunks of frozen pineapple (which are smaller than a strawberry)... (not a lot of fruit because fruit is loaded with calories)... a carrot.... two tablespoons of Splenda... half a frozen banana... a heaping tablespoon of some vanilla flavored whey protein powder supplement from Sam's Club (the vanilla brings a lot of taste to the party)... and recently some roasted squash which remarkably changes the flavor and texture to where it won't separate water from solids in a thermos all day... okay okay so its cooked... but it works) ... and a sprinkle of cinnamon... and maybe a pint of water and some ice. I make these in a 64oz Blendtec or a 64oz Vitamix which is enough for me to make a big smoothie and then fill a thermos to take with me when I leave home.

[RawNut]

PantryRaider,

Why do you use Splenda? It's toxic and defeats the purpose of a raw food diet. If you're trying to lose weight, artificial sweeteners actually cause weight gain and are about the most acidic thing you can ingest. I'd strongly advise against using it.

Craig

[Lay-Lay]

I make a different green smoothie everyday just about.

The one I made this morning was:

1 bunch of Kale

1 bunch of Parsley

2 Green Apples

2 Bananas

Water as needed

YUMMY!