Green Smoothies

mjsunshine16

I had my first today and experienced a headache (still have it). I have been reading my intently about what they do and don't do and thought others may like to learn to.

http://holisticsquid.com/are-green-smoothies-good-for-you/

What’s all the hype about green smoothies?

It’s amazing that so much controversy can be stirred up about liquid vegetables in a glass.

Fans of the green smoothie love the ease and healthy boost that their morning drink provides and celebrate increased energy, weight loss, and overall improved health. Parents love that they can sneak veggies into their childrens’ diets.

Some green smoothie lovers go hard core with green-on-green combos – mixing kale with the likes of dandelion greens, parsley, collards, or chard. Others toss a handful of spinach in with a fruit and yogurt smoothie, and yet others scoop some green powder into their morning blend.

But not everyone is in love…

Critics of the green smoothie cite the oxalate content of some greens can cause kidney stones and worsen yeast overgrowth (source); goitrogens exacerbating thyroid issues (source); and fiber wreaking havoc for those with leaky gut, irritable bowel, and other digestive issues (source). Many believe that dark greens should mostly be consumed steamed and always with fat for optimal nutrient absorption.

Beyond the yes-or-no on smoothies, folks like to argue about green smoothies vs. green juice and even fruit vs. vegetables (source). You guys, it’s a crazy world out there.

So… What to believe?
Me and green drinks

Every spring I get a hankering for green juice. It seems to come with a vengeance and out of nowhere, but after the several month of eating meaty stews and other wintery foods, my body’s ready for a mini-cleanse.

I head down to my local organic juice bar and order up a pint of juiced greens with a touch of green apple, lemon, and ginger. I may have a half dozen of these over a course of a month or so. I often make a batch or two of Bieler’s broth or this green soup – cooked versions of the green smoothie.

The cravings soon stop. I move on to eating spring and summer foods, and that’s that.

The big difference between green smoothies and green juice is that the latter does not contain fiber. As such, some experts lecture that fiber should not be consumed without stimulating digestion through the act of chewing. (source)

Everybody’s got an opinion. Here’s what I know to be true…
Too many raw veggies will damage digestion

It is well documented (and often debated) that the nutrients of many vegetables are more easily absorbed by the human digestive tract when cooked. (source)

In Chinese medicine, it has been known for centuries that too many raw fruits and veggies will damage the digestion, creating symptoms of gas, bloating, poor absorption, depression, fatigue and more. When the digestion is weakened over time this adversely affects the nervous system, immune system, and adrenals.

Raw vegetables contribute an element of cleansing to the diet – “clearing Heat and Dampness”. So when taken in small amounts and/or seasonally, green smoothies, raw salads, and green juice can play a helpful, medicinal role in the diet. This is assuming that the individual does not already have digestive weakness.

On the flip side, raw vegan, 80% raw, or even daily green smoothies may work great for a time – helping the individual to have better digestion, mental clarity, and even reversal of chronic disease (I love this woman’s story here). For most folks, however, there will be a tipping point where the ‘cleansing’ reaches the end of its benefits, and the raw greens begin to contribute to depletion of health.
You need fat to absorb nutrients

I love the wisdom of traditional French cooking that consistently pairs vegetables with cream, butter, or another saturated fat. Turns out, the French were on to something – vegetables are better assimilated when ingested with good fats.

A recent study of over 1.700 Swedish men indicates that consumption of fruits and vegetables was associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, but only when combined with full-fat dairy consumption.

In this study, it was shown that eating salad with full-fat dressing resulted in far better nutrient absorption than eating salad with reduced or non-fat dressings.

Increasing the surface area (via blending or juicing) may help absorption, but you are likely to get maximum usage of the nutrients in the veggies if you include some fat too.

http://www.ohmyraw.com/green-smoothie-detox-side-effects/

Can drinking green smoothies create detox side effects? We all hear that green smoothies will make you feel fantastic – but – what if they don’t? Are green smoothies giving you trouble?

Many know I wholeheartedly believe that green smoothies are a super easy, low cost way to get a whole whack of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, enzymes and more.



They are an absolutely essential way to add more fruits and veggies to your life, especially if you are busy. But, you may have also heard about (or are experiencing!) the detoxification associated with adopting a raw foods diet, a juice cleanse, or – you got it – copious amounts of green smoothies!



You may indeed experience some green smoothie detox side effects when first starting out.



Since green smoothies are packed-full of chlorophyll, it can cause detox if consumed in large amounts (and large amounts is relative depending on what your diet looked like before).



Chlorophyll is a particularly cleansing agent in our bodes as it helps to alkalize our system by ridding the toxins we have built up by eating less-than-ideal foods, by living in the city, by having stress and on and on.



This means that – at first – you might feel slightly nauseated (or just “off”) from drinking a lot of green smoothie(s). However, while many people notice slight side effects, they also feel better and more vibrant than they have in years.

The level of detoxification experienced varies greatly between people, depending on various factors like what your diet was like beforehand, your overall health, and even your state of mind.



Common Detox Symptoms

In addition to a nausea that might last a little while (likely not more than a day or two), you might experience some degree of these common symptoms:

Mild headaches
Fatigue
Metallic taste or thick coating on tongue
Slight rashes or breakouts
Excess mucous
Changes in your gastrointestinal system (like diarrhea, bloating, more frequent bowel movements, smelly gas)



These are all natural parts of getting the toxins out of your system. And adding green smoothies to your diet will be the mildest way to get the toxins moving and should only last a few days at most.



Oh my gosh! you say, What is the incentive to start green smoothies anyway?



Firstly, these symptoms are temporary – very temporary. As well, they are almost always related to scale. So if you’ve started gushing back 2 litres of smoothie a day, you’ll definitely detox (not always a bad thing if you’re prepared for it…).



If you’d like to take the path of least resistance (nothing wrong with that) than simply start slower.



Start with one cup a day, then move up to a 1.5 cups in a several days, slowly increasing over a few weeks until you can have 3-4 cups or more a day (I have two full mason jars a day). As well, you can take it easy on the green portion of the smoothie to start. Start with 30% greens to 70% fruit and you should experience even fewer side effects.



Just like the frog who jumps out of a bucket of hot water, if you gradually increase the hot water (i.e. green smoothies) you won’t be in as much (or any!) pain.



In addition, drink water. Lots of water.



Get moving: go for a walk or a hike, try some dry skin brushing or bounce on a rebounder. Get to bed early for a few nights.



And, to truly harness the healing power of green smoothies, learn more about my online 21 Day Spring Energy Cleanse (which starts May 8th 2013).



Rest assured, you’ll be drinking more greens sooner than you ever thought possible and soon salivating just at the site of freshly grown kale…Yuuuummm!