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 FamilyÂ’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.