Health & Fitness
GREEN SMOOTHIES - Jumpin' JOY Juice!
Green smoothies are a fun and fast way to flood your body with nutrient dense ingredients necessary to reduce the risk of cancer, as well as many other chronic diseases.
I cannot begin to tell you how good I feel when I drink green smoothies and then always wonder why it took me so long to get to this "healing" point. When I say I am a hard sell, that is putting it mildly - I am a stubborn mule!
There was simply always something in my brain that did not want to ingest anything green and I have no idea why. Years ago, my mother, battling cancer, would shove her green concoctions under my nose and I would run as fast as I could in the opposite direction - not even once did I taste any of hers. Amazing how ornery I was.
Ten years ago, at an alternative clinic in Puerto Rico, I struggled with wheat grass shots and finally managed to drink the stuff, but in no way was I going to drink an huge glass of anything green!
I have known all the positives regarding green for a very long time, but it really took my own cancer to smack me over the head and make me realize that if I did not make drastic changes in my diet and overall lifestyle, the remainder of my life would be pretty much poopoo. Nor has my "conversion" been without digression - it has been a real struggle. One minute I would be totally gung-ho; the next I would be eating a bag of "healthy" veggie chips....what a joke!
I am happy to say, I have graduated from the chip aisle! I no longer need to avoid walking down that aisle, but with a majorly "superior" attitude, I literally strut down that aisle with my head held high, not feeling even the slightest desire to grab a bag and inhale the contents. Also, candy bars at the check-out were my BIG downfall for years, but no more! The interesting thing is that this has become increasingly more doable as my green juice consumption has increased.
As my cells are flooded with nutrient dense fruits and green veggies, my cravings have subsided nearly completely. How great is that? I mean, really, who would have ever thought even 2 years ago that this woman would have to make a green smoothie at 11PM?! I love this stuff...and I am honestly jumpin' for JOY! Give it a try - you will be too!
The "secret" is combining fruit with greens in about an 80:20 ratio. Also, rather than blending with water, fresh-squeezed orange juice takes the flavor up many notches!
2 c fresh squeezed orange juice
1 c fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 c fresh or frozen mango
1 kiwi, peeled
I handful fresh or frozen red grapes
2 BIG handfuls spinach
1/2 - 1 t vanilla, optional
1-2 T flax meal, optional
Blend and enjoy!
Santé . . . To Your Health!
Sue Ansari RN
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Raw Food Chef and Food for Life Instructor
