Green for Life ~Ode to Green Smoothies
by Victoria Boutenko

What do I mean by green smoothie? Here is one of my favorite recipes:

4 ripe pears,
1 bunch of parsley and
2 cups of water. Blended well.

This smoothie looks very green, but it tastes like fruit. I enjoy green smoothies so much that I bought an extra blender for my office, so I could make green smoothies throughout the day. I have so much more energy and clarity. Green smoothies have numerous benefits for human health.

1. Green smoothies are nutritious. The ratio is optimal for human consumption; about 60% ripe organic fruit mixed with about 40% organic greens.

2. Green smoothies are easy to digest. When blended well, most of the cells in the greens and fruits are ruptured, making the valuable nutrients easy for the body to assimilate.

3. Green smoothies, as opposed to juices, are a complete food because they still have fiber. Fiber is important for our elimination system.

4. Green smoothies belong to the most palatable dishes for all humans of all ages. The fruit taste dominates the flavor, yet at the same time the greens balance out the sweetness of the fruit, adding a nice zest to it. People are usually quite surprised that something so green could taste so nice.

5. A molecule of chlorophyll closely resembles a molecule of human blood. According to Dr. Ann Wigmore, consuming chlorophyll is like receiving a healthy blood transfusion. Many people do not consume enough greens. By drinking two or three cups of green smoothies daily you will consume enough greens to nourish your body, and the beneficial nutrients will be more easily assimilated.

6. Green smoothies are easy to make, and quick to clean up after. In contrast, juicing greens is time consuming, messy, and expensive. To prepare a pitcher of green smoothie takes less than 5 minutes, including cleaning.

7. Green smoothies have proven to be loved by children of all ages, including babies of six or more months old. Be careful to slowly increase the amount of smoothies to avoid food allergies.

8. When consuming your greens in the form of green smoothies, you greatly reduce oils and salt in your diet.

9. Regularly consuming green smoothies makes a good habit of eating greens. After a few weeks of drinking green smoothies, most people start to crave and enjoy eating more greens.

10. While fresh is always best, green smoothies will keep in cool temperatures for up to three days, which can be handy at work and while traveling.

In Victoria Boutenko’s book, Green for Life, you’ll find many more amazing facts and green smoothie recipes available at www.rawfamily.com.

Enjoy this recipe: Apple-kale-lemon
4 apples 1/2 lemon juice
5 leaves kale
2 cups water blend it well