Green Smoothies

The big craze in the raw food movement these days (or one of the big crazes) is green smoothies. And here’s a craze that earns its craziness. I’m telling you, these things—green smoothies—are a supersonic, turbo-charged, double-barreled, stealth weapon in the game of eating a regenerative diet and gaining outrageous health (while keeping your day job). Green smoothies combine mega-health plus dazzling ease and convenience plus over-the-top yumminess.

Here’s what you do: Throw fruit and a bunch of dark leafy greens in a blender. Blend. Drink. Take a nap. Watch an episode of Scrubs, despite Zach Braff’s annoyingness. Okay, the nap and TV part isn’t actually part of green smoothies per se. I added that.

What a lightning fast and deliriously scrumptious way to drench your body with ridiculous nutrition—enzymes, minerals (they are mineral-o’-ramas!), oxygen, chlorophyll, vitamins, protein, fiber, phytochemicals up the yin yang and EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids, for those keeping score at home). It’s a party in your cells! Green smoothies are big, two-fisted salads in a glass—orgies-o’-rejuvenation!

For the record, dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, collards, dandelion greens, etc.) are the healthiest things you can put in your body. More on this on another post. Raw foodies have been drinking these concoctions for decades, but the recent holy bible on green smoothies is a book called Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko.

Green smoothies can be as quick and easy as a banana or two, a couple leafs of kale and some purified water. Or a half a bag of frozen, organic berries (way healthier than banana) and a handful of spinach (ditto the H2o). Start with less greens and gradually increase over the weeks, as your taste adapts. A couple stalks of celery are also huge for health. The organic sodium is heavily alkalizing and it also helps your body absorb and use the calcium from all the greens. I usually add raw pumpkin seeds (zinc, EFA’s), an avocado and all sorts of other veggies (i.e. not just green leafy ones).

Last, you can also throw tons of other wacky, superfoody stuff in there, too—goji berries, maca, spirulina, supergreenfood powders, Big Macs, etc. I also like to add cayenne, ginger and cinnamon. Well, okay, maybe the Big Macs might not be such a great idea.