Thanks to my good Spark Buddy, Devora4, I found out this little tidbit. I was not aware of this but it is about time we have a healthy holiday or special day, don't you think?

Green smoothies are simply smoothies that have greens blended in them with the other ingredients you have added. The American Cancer Society recommends eating 5 or more servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits each day. I am sad to say that most people do not even get any where near this number. Are you? Are your kids? Nutritional deficiencies are responsible for so many of the diseases that people are experiencing today. Greens are among the most important foods for us to eat. There are many studies that show their cancer fighting qualities. Adding greens to the diet can restore health very quickly. When we give our bodies the nutrition they need, amazing things begin to happen. Green smoothies give us a concentrated amount of fresh greens in a way that would be difficult to achieve through other means.

I think the best reason to drink green smoothies is because on top of the addition of so many important nutrients, green smoothies also help unhealthy cravings to disappear because when our bodies are receiving adequate nutrition, they no longer tell us they are hungry from lack of nutrients in our food. This sentence epitomizes why the Raw Food Diet is so good for you. You do not have to be a Raw Foodist to reap the benefits of green smoothies. If you start your day off with a green smoothie who knows, maybe you will be inspired to eat healthy for the rest of the day. That is a good thing!


“Chimpanzees are the closest animal relative to humans sharing over 99% of the same genes. They eat a diet consisting of 50% fruit, 40% greens and 10% pith, bark and insects. This is all raw and whole food.” http://www.squidoo.com/greensm
oothies

Now I am not advocating eating pith, bark, or insects but I am saying we need far more than 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day. I sometimes get easily over 20 servings a day. This number is not necessarily when I am eating Raw because I easily do this eating Vegetarian.

Health Benefits of Green Smoothies:

1.According to Victoria Boutenko in her book, 12 Steps to Raw Foods, "when blended well, most of the cell walls in the greens and fruits are ruptured, making the valuable nutrients easy for the body to assimilate. Green smoothies literally start to get absorbed in your mouth."
2. Full of fiber..
3. Rich in chlorophyll. It purifies our blood. It fights bad breath and bad body odor. It is an immune enhancer. It can help to correct anemia. It will rejuvenate your body.
4. High in antioxidants and phytochemicals.
6. They will help to bring down the acidity in your pH and make you more alkaline. Cancer does not grow in an alkaline body. In fact, most disease grows in an acid environment.
7. More energy
8. Great to regulate digestion and irregularity,
9. Helps break your cravings for sugar and salt.
10. Fewer mood swings
11. Lose weight
12.Helps stabilize blood sugars.
13. Hair and nails grow faster and stronger. I wondered why all of a sudden my nails are growing longer and stronger. Now I know, I been having at least 2 servings of smoothies a day.
14.Your skin becomes radiant.



http://www.smoothie-handbook
.com/benefits-of-green-smo
othies.html



How to make a green smoothie:

1. You will need a good blender. You do not have to go real high tech if you are just using it for smoothies. Many love the Vita-Mix or Blendtec but there are comparable other brands out there. I bought a Kitchenaide KSB580 at ¼ the price and I am thrilled with it.

2.Add about 2 cups of greens.

3.Add some fresh or frozen fruit like strawberries, blueberries, banana, peaches, mango, pineapple, apples, pears, or melon. There are so many flavor combinations you can concoct. If you used fresh fruit you may want to add a handful of ice cubes and then add 1-2 cups of filtered water.

4.Blend and enjoy!


This basic recipe can be made into endless variations based on your own taste and the availability of ingredients.

You can use any fresh or frozen (unsweetened) fruits and any greens.
Nutrient-packed herbs like parsley and cilantro are also great additions in your green smoothies.

Spinach and romaine are the best greens to try first as they are more mild than kale or beet greens.

Carrot tops and dandelion greens are very nutritious and deeply cleansing greens.

Fruit juices are another option in your green smoothies if you cannot access enough fresh fruit or want to add some variety. Use only 100% juice without added sweeteners and organic when possible. Bottled juices are pasteurized (heated) so their fruit sugar is more concentrated and they do not maintain the same amount of nutrients as fresh or frozen fruit.

Try adding avocado, celery, tomatoes, carrots or beets.

Add spirulina, hemp powder, ground flax, bee pollen, maca, or other superfoods to boost the protein and the nourishing/cleansing effect of your green smoothies.


Sources:
www.squidoo.com/greensmo
othies

He also has some green smoothie recipes on there that are not your normal ones you find.

www.smoothie-handbook.co
m/benefits-of-green-smooth
ies.html



Here are some links to some of my own Green Smoothies that I entered into Spark Recipes so you can track them very easily:

Collard Green and Pineapple Smoothie

recipes.sparkpeople.com/
recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1
065884



Mango, Parsley, and Banana Smoothie

recipes.sparkpeople.com/
recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1
129254



Carrot Ginger Smoothie
recipes.sparkpeople.com/
recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1
172033


Try a Green Smoothie for breakfast. It is fast and nutritious. It is a great way to start off your day!