The Power of Green Smoothies

Similar to raw juicing, drinking green smoothies is one of the most powerful nutritional therapies because it delivers key micronutrients to your cells, helping your body tackle many of the top diseases and health conditions, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic fatigue, and arthritis.

Because green smoothies contain all of the major macronutrients including fat and fiber, a green smoothie canbe used as part of a meal replacement strategy to help facilitate fat burning and weight (fat) loss.

I was originally introduced to smoothies by one of my Xerox managers when I returned to work after my coma recovery and 30 days on disability. At that time, my endocrinologist had recommended that I take a laxative because some of the medications were causing severe dehydration and uncomfortable gastrointestinal problems. But, the laxatives didn't work -- they just caused more discomfort.

When my manager suggested that I try a smoothie, honestly, I didn't think that was going to solve my problem. But, I was willing to try anything! So, I blended a bunch of stuff including some almond milk, flaxseed, blueberries, a handful of baby spinach, some water, a few ice cubes, and a pinch of cinnamon.

WOW! It really tasted great! -- like a milkshake! And, I love milkshakes!
Needless to say, I was surprised that I liked it.

More importantly, within a couple days, my gastrointestinal problem was flushed away! After several days, I felt like I had lost 20 pounds! All of a sudden I had this energy I hadn't really felt before, because I had been very sluggish and fatigued since getting out of the hospital.

p.s. Hmm-mm, I'm not sure if I ever thanked that manager for her advice ... ["Thanks, Pam!"  ]

Why Drink Green Smoothies?

First of all, green smoothies are easy to make  and usually require less work than juicing. Also, most blenders tend to be easier to clean than most juicers. Yay!

In addition, green smoothies are filling and can be used as replacement meals to help with fat loss. Another option is to drink a green smoothie before meals.

That will help to reduce your appetite and help with weight (fat) loss. Also, green smoothies help with bowel regularity and acid indigestion.

Green smoothies have an alkaline reaction in the body and help protect against acid build-up as well as stimulate the body to manufacture hemoglobin. Green smoothies contain organic water, the purest most natural water available to us, and they cleanse the body of the waste within the cells and tissues.

Green smoothies)contain an abundance of chlorophyll, which is a molecule whose structure is almost exactly the same as the hemoglobin molecule of the human blood. Chlorophyll helps to repair tissue and is very important in helping to remove toxins from the body.

As a result, green smoothies can help to accelerate your body's repair process and help to reverse your diabetes in less time. In fact, you should notice your blood glucose level starting to come down during the first week of the Death to Diabetes Wellness Program! -- as long as you are following the entire program, not just the juicing or smoothie component.

Smoothies are unique because they allow the gastrointestinal system to receive very concentrated amounts of phytonutrients that could not be obtained by eating a normal amount of raw vegetables and fruits.

Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale help to cleanse and heal the gastrointestinal tract. The phytonutrient properties of

Drinking as little as 3 cups of a green smoothie each day will help the body detoxify and regenerate through the assimilation of the earth’s life-giving nutrients.

Health Benefits of Green Smoothies
As long as you design your green smoothies with the right foods in combination with eating balanced meals, there are many health benefits that green smoothies can provide, including the following:
-- Meal replacement (for weight loss)
-- Stabilize blood glucose levels
-- Lower blood pressure
-- Lower cholesterol
-- Reduce inflammation
-- Reduce oxidative stress
-- Weight loss
-- Reduce cravings
-- Increase nutrient absorption

For specific green smoothie recipes that address diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, heart disease and other similar health issues, obtain a copy of the Power of Juicing & Green Smoothies ebook developed by the author of Death to Diabetes.

And, if you want to lose weight and that hard-to-lose belly fat, raw juicing is an excellent weight-loss therapy. Consequently, get this ebook along with the Death to Obesity Weight Loss ebook.

Importance of Juice Quality

The quality of raw juice is at the optimum level right after the juice has been produced by your juicer.

However, due to our busy schedules, sometimes we would like to make some extra juice and store it in a container of some kind to drink later.

Unfortunately, the quality of the juice suffers and the juice loses its nutrient value over a period of 2-3 days.

The two main factors that effect juice quality are: Heat and Oxidation.

Heat can affect the juice mainly by causing enzyme deactivation.  Enzyme deactivation only occurs when temperatures exceed 118 degrees Fahrenheit.  In addition to the heat, there is a time component associated with enzyme deactivation.  For example you could probably heat juice to 130 degrees for 1 nano-second with no enzyme deactivation.  Passing your finger over a flame is a similar example. (this is not advised). 

 
Oxidation occurs when you break open cell walls of the produce and expose it to oxygen.  Oxidation occurs when you cut open an apple and it turns brown. In general, oxidation does affect the quality of the juice. Many of the nutrients in the juice are not affected by oxidation, but some are.  Oxidation is a natural process.   Its best  to minimize oxidation.  One way to minimize oxidation is to CONSUME THE JUICE RIGHT AFTER IT IS MADE.

Heating the juice (below 118°F) is not as serious a problem as the oxidation. All juicers heat the juice somewhat, including the Single Auger Juicer/Twin Gear Juicer.

However, oxidation dramatically reduces the quality of your juice. Oxidation occurs with all juicers.  Some juicers create less oxidation in the process of juicing, i.e. masticating vs. centrifugal.   Oxidation increases the longer the juice is sitting around.  So to MINIMIZE oxidation, its more important to DRINK THE JUICE RIGHT AFTER ITS MADE than to worry about, "oh, my centrifugal juicer produces more initial oxidation".  If you cut open an apple, oxidation is created (it turns brown). You never see the browning occur if you eat the apple as soon as you cut it!

We believe manufacturers talk about oxidation and heat to influence your purchase decision.  Heat should not be a factor, since all juicers will raise the temperature of the produce being juiced.  Oxidation plays a role in the quality of juice, this is true.

We would recommend taking the  oxidation factors "lightly".  One could purchase the best juicer that produces the least oxidation, only to have it sit on the counter, and it never being used, since they didn't consider that its one of the hardest juicers to clean.  We have found that if a juicer is hard to clean, it will not get used -- then, what is the advantage of having "the best" juicer, if its never used? 

Tip: Although we don't recommend storing the juice, if you store the juice properly, i.e. filled them up to the brim to prevent air that causes oxidation, in an air-tight thermos/vacuum flask, and stored away in the refrigerator, the juice quality can last from 1 to 3 days as follows:

• Using a centrifugal juicer - juice gets oxidized almost as soon as you're done juicing, so drink juice immediately.
• Using a single-gear juicer - possible to keep up to 24 hours from time of extraction.
• Using a twin-gear juicer - possible to keep up to 48 hours from time of extraction.
• Using a hydraulic press juicer - possible to keep up to 72 hours.

Here are some other tips if you want to increase the quality of the juice from your juicer:

• Start off with the coldest possible produce - leave the produce in the refrigerator before juicing. Set your refrigerator a little colder.
• Do not overload the juicer!  Feed in only a little produce at a time. Let it work itself out of the juicer before adding more.  Overloading will cause the juicer to work harder, causing excess friction and generating heat.
• While juicing, occasionally juice an ice cube, which will help to reduce the temperature of the blade/auger and the juice. It will also dilute the juice.
• Be sure to inspect the cutting blade (on centrifugal juicers) or cutter (on the Champion juicer).  Replace if they are dull.  Dull blades do not cut as well, and thus will cause excess friction, which generates heat.
• Juice in small batches, rather than "juice marathons".  The longer the juicer runs, the warmer things get.
• Start off by juicing the highest quality produce available.  In some studies, organic crops have been shown to be higher in some vitamins, essential minerals and phytonutrients.  
  
• If your juicing with a CHAMPION Juicer, chop produce into smaller pieces. Produce with strings will get stuck around the cutting blade and cause more friction and heat (especially Celery and leafy greens with long stems)
• JUICE CONSISTENTLY and DRINK YOUR JUICE AS SOON AS YOU MAKE IT (DO NOT STORE IT) FOR HIGHEST QUALITY. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.
  

FYI: A Green Star juice extractor as well as most other twin gear juicers make juice with the least amount of oxidation to them. The Norwalk press also does but it is a lot more expensive. It's physically big and involves more of a commitment due to the different stages of cutting, pressing and then cleaning in order to get a glass of juice. If you are really concerned about these issues consider getting a Green Star at a quarter of the price of a Norwalk juicer. You'll be very happy because they are great machines. If you want to spend a little less, go with an Omega 8003 juicer. This juicer delivers higher quality juice, is easy to clean, comes with a 10 year warranty, and it will change your life.

Smoothies

A smoothie is a healthy version of a milkshake and is a nice alternative for people who either don't like to juice or get tired of juicing and cleaning the juicer everyday. A green smoothie is an even healthier version of a regular smoothie. These green smoothies are scrumptious and easy to make with your blender. Smoothie recipes are included in the juicing book.

Although it seems simple (just throw some stuff into a blender and press Start), most people don't know how to make a  healthy, well--balanced smoothie that will fight their diabetes and optimize their health.

You don't need to use syrup and lots of fruit to make a smoothie taste good. If you use ripe fruits, tons of sugar shouldn’t be needed. Also, always ensure that you use a high-powered blender and also ensure that your smoothie contains the following five (5) components: a base, a liquid,  some fruit, a nutritive additive, and a flavoring additive.

Examples of a base, a liquid,  some fruit, a nutritive additive, and a flavoring additive (in that order) are a banana, some almond milk,  some fruit, some spinach, and some cinnamon, respectively.

For more details about smoothies and  how to make them, plus lots of recipes get the Power of Juicing & Smoothies ebook.

Start drinking smoothies to reverse & cure your diabetes.