Many of you know I’ve been an advocate for the Green Smoothie for years now, so I thought it was about time I put it in writing & make it the recipe of the month!

Most of us don’t eat enough greens, and a raw green smoothie is a guaranteed way to get huge amounts of greens in your diet the easy way.

Green Smoothies are so easy to make, so quick, and taste delicious! They:

• Are rich in enzymes and anti-oxidants – Lifeforce!
• Are a wonderful source of minerals,vitamins and fiber. The incredible density of nutrients in a green smoothie will feed every cell in your body-mind!
• Are rich in bio-available protein. The most bio-available form of amino acids is leafy greens. There are 5 gm of useable protein in 1 cup of greens.
• Help to boost your immune system
• Contain high levels of chlorophyll which cleanse your blood and organs.
• Are a whole/complete food and easily digested. Greens are the best food to clean and heal your colon.
• Give you a real energy boost and encourage healthy aging & radiant skin.
• Contain high fiber meaning the fruit sugars are absorbed more slowly creating a slow release of energy over a longer period of time. You don’t get that blood sugar rush you get from juicing.

When your cells get what they need that desire for junk falls away bit by bit. I used to LOVE chocolate, these days I can’t stand the heavy sugar. Today my body-mind thrives on fresh fruit sugars & cacao!

The core atom in chlorophyll (plant blood) is magnesium (in human blood it’s iron). Cravings are often a sign of magnesium deficiency. Green smoothies are the best way to end cravings for cakes, bikkies, ice-cream, chocolate, alcohol……When your body gets the nutrients it needs, cravings go.

Green Smoothies are rich in alkaline minerals like calcium. The high-calcium greens are the fibrous ones such as dandelion, kale and collard. Wherever there’s a hard shell – as in teeth, bone, or tough-to-chew greens – you will find calcium.

Did you know that the richest source of protein for humans is green leaves? They contain all the essential amino acids. Leaf protein is easy to digest, easily assimilated into the tissues, and has none of the harmful side effects of flesh protein.

Check out this great video on the ‘Protein Myth’

It is only when we are eating foods not designed for human consumption that we end up with imbalances that lead to the need to supplement.

Green Smoothies are also an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Blend greens into a Smoothie, rather than kill the fish in the sea.

Basic recipe:

2-3 cups of greens – kale, spinach, all types of lettuces, chard, sprouts, rocket (balance the bitterness with a bit more fruit)

2 cups fruit – banana, papaya, dates (make a wonderful sweetener), pears (my favourite), berries, avocado, mangos, apple

Your choice of freshly squeezed orange juice, water, young coconut water (the best!), nut milk…

Optionals - 1 tablespoon raw organic cacao, flaxseeds, mint, raw almonds, green barley grass powder

Tips:

– Start with mixing smoothies that contain more fruits than vegetables (about      60%        fruits vs. 40% leafy vegetables) until your body gets used to the taste of the greens

-          Because Green Smoothies are blended, it’s easy to swallow them too quickly. This can result in loose stools. If you experience a colon reaction, EAT SLOWER. Chew your Smoothie. If needed, refrigerate it and eat over an hour or two, instead of all at once. Get those GREENS into you!

-          Be sure to blend different greens, rotate the different types of greens in your smoothie. Greens have which can be slightly toxic if you eat the same green day-after-day

A Green Smoothie a day keeps the doctor away!