Going Green - The Rise And Rise Of The Green Smoothie

If you own a juicer, have invested in a high quality blender, or have an interest in improving your physical well being through nutrition and healthy eating, then you will doubtless have heard of the green smoothie phenomena. The concept of detoxing to improve health with a daily dose of green juice has been prevalent for several years now - but just who should be turning to the green stuff, why, and most importantly, how?

Who should turn to green smoothies?

The idea of a detox diet has long been popular, to allow our bodies to recover from the excesses of every day life, and the potential build up of toxins in our bodies. The traditional detox, however, brings to mind starvation rations, unpleasant tasting replacement foods and supplements, and a potentially miserable experience ultimately ending in disappointment when it is unceremoniously abandoned in favor of a proper meal.

The new green smoothie movement argues that a detox does not have to be this way. Simply incorporating green smoothies into daily life, as replacements to breakfasts and snacks, can have a beneficial effect, quashing food cravings, as well as improving the health. This can be an enormous benefit to any healthy individual looking to increase energy levels, clear their skin tone, and drop a few excess pounds.

Individuals with diabetes, or a family history of kidney stones may need to be wary of turning to green smoothies, and should certainly seek medical advice before any dramatic changes to the diet.

What are the health benefits of green smoothies?

There are many reported benefits to green smoothies, including increased nutritional intake, better intake of fiber, as well as the better hydration and energy levels available from such a naturally filling and invigorating drink. The chlorophyll in the leafy greens is reported to help naturally cleanse the body of toxins, helping the detox process along.

Green smoothies can help relieve stomach acid, and the high fiber content can help suffers of constipation and other digestive ailments. The detox process works well as it does not require replacement of meals, making it easy to stick to, and varied according to individual taste. If you are considering detoxing following more complex medical issues, such as substance addiction or abuse (where sufferers may not be mentally or physically addicted to a substance but still use it in a way that could be dangerous to themselves or others), these conditions should only be treated with professional medical advice. Green smoothies and other sensible lifestyle changes may well be a beneficial complement to medical intervention and detox in these cases, but proper diagnosis and advice is essential.

Where can I start?

Green smoothies tend to be a mix of leafy green vegetables and fruit, in a 60:40 ratio. You may want to start with a higher ratio of fruit until your palette adjusts and you find combinations of fruit and veggies that suit your taste.

Recipes for smoothies vary and should be guided by your taste, availability of fresh produce and your imagination. Smoothies should include water or dairy free milk to hydrate, fruit to taste, and leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale. When choosing green vegetables, let the seasons dictate what goes into the blender - variety helps both nutritionally and in terms of adding interest, so experiment with lettuce, zucchini, broccoli, herbs, cabbage, shoots and whatever else is in the market. When choosing fruit consider melon, pears, apples or grapes - again, allowing seasonal changes to guide your choices will ensure you don't get bored of your combinations.

Sweetness, if more is needed, could come in the form of dried fruit, and additional bulk can be added by putting oats into the mix if you are replacing a meal. Seeds can be added for the nutritional value they add, spices such as cinnamon for taste, and crushed ice to add interest to texture.

Although a variant of green smoothies can be made using a juicer, it has been found that using a blender keeps more fiber content, and therefore is nutritionally superior. Supplements to your smoothie can be purchased to add other nutritional elements to the combinations you create in your kitchen, should you feel this is beneficial as you grow in experience of smoothie making.

If the ideas above have whetted your appetite, consider buying one of the fantastic recipe books on the market for more inspiration; and enjoy experimenting with flavors.

Stick to this green smoothie habit for three weeks to see a difference, with a couple of cups a day, and you will see the impact on your health, energy levels and well being.

Heart Beet: Juicing Your Way To A Healthy Heart

Diet is one of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle. If you are suffering from any illness or disease, then it's likely eating better will help to alleviate at least some of the symptoms and in some cases, such as diabetes, a healthier diet can have dramatic effects. For a condition such as heart disease, then healthier eating is paramount to recovering from the disease and enhancing quality of life, and adding years to life. Though the advice has always been to eat 5 portions of fresh fruit or vegetables a day, this can be a difficult thing to keep up, particularly if you are new to a healthy diet. Therefore, one of the best investments a person suffering from heart disease can make is purchasing a juicer. Then they can get all the nutrients they want from just a couple of glasses of fresh juice each day.

There are a number of different fresh fruits and vegetables that can help people suffering from heart disease. These can help lower blood pressure, which in turn will lower the risk for heart disease, as well as other diseases and illnesses, such as strokes. A person that has cause to worry about their heart will find that drinking a glass of juice each day can significantly lower their risk of heart disease. However, the benefits are only really found if the person drinks the juice regularly. This is one of the reasons a juicer is a good idea. For one, they can prepare their own juices, rather than constantly looking for the correct store-bought options, and two, it is far easier to drink a juice for five minutes a day than prepare a meal containing the correct portions of fruit and vegetables. Below are three different ingredients, widely available, that can be included in a homemade juice that can significantly lower your risk of heart disease.

Heart disease is not the only problem that juices of fresh fruit and vegetables can help with. Because of all the vitamins and nutrients packed into products, they can help with other problems such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and arthritis. Juices can help reduce inflammation and are rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants have been shown to help prevent damage to cells, leading to cancer.

Beetroot
If you are going to make a juice specifically targeted towards heart disease, then the best vegetable to choose for the juice is beetroot. Beetroot lowers blood pressure, which in turn can lower the risk of heart disease by putting less stress on the heart. Beetroot has high levels of nitrate, which is thought to be the chemical responsible for its healthy properties. Beetroot works by producing nitric oxide, which helps to keep blood vessels wide, reducing blood pressure. Though patients can also take nitrate supplements for a similar effect, the additional benefits of the other nutrients in Beetroot means that it is a far healthier alternative to supplementary vitamins. There are also no side-effects from Beetroot juice as opposed to taking high levels of medication.

Pomegranate
If Beetroot juice doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, then pomegranate juice could also be used as a way to lower blood pressure in heart disease. Pomegranate also contains nitrates and including just a half of pomegranate in your juice each day could replace any extra nitrate medication that a person with heart disease has to take. Pomegranate tastes delicious on its own, but can be combined with blueberries for additional antioxidants and health benefits.

Cranberry
Cranberry is already a fruit used in juices all the time, but it is when it is on its own that the greatest benefits for your heart come through, and if you want to use a juicer at home for a better diet, it is a great addition to your menu. Cranberry juice can increase the level of HDL cholesterol in your blood system. High levels of HDL can protect against heart disease, and low levels are associated with heart problems. Choosing to juice at home is a good idea for anyone, but particularly for people who have to increase their level of fruit and vegetable intake. The nutrients available in these products are a natural way to help protect against heart disease, as well as a lot of other diseases. However, if you are planning to reduce your medications and replace them with natural produce, make sure you consult your physician first.

Contributed by Jenni Yates