90-Day Green Smoothie Raw Food Lifestyle

Did you know that three months is the average lifespan of red blood cells. So in three months you should have renewed most all of your red blood cells.

I'm on day 44, and I feel really great. I admit that I usually have 1 or 2 carrots with guacamole mid-day.

I don't eat anything or drink my Green Smoothie after 3pm. This way I find I always get a refreshing night's sleep because my stomach muscles won't have to work hard during the night. Eating late suppresses the release of human growth hormone credited for rejuvenation of the body because it is secreting insulin to digest food. Having a period of time when the stomach is not bulging helps to shrink the protruding stomach that comes from constant eating. I hope by the end of my 90-day Green Smoothie Cleanse, I will have a flat stomach again!

Why go RAW? well, for starters, raw organic foods are better quality, therefore you eat less to satisfy your nutritional needs. The heat of cooking depletes vitamins, damages proteins and fats, and destroys enzymes which benefit digestion. Raw food makes you feel satisfied so you have more energy and raw food has the best balance of water, nutrients, and fiber to meet your body’s needs. Also eating Raw is best for our environment!

Sea Asparagus

Goji Berries and Chia Seeds in my Green Smoothie

Goji berries are very rich in vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, and E. Goji berries are also an antioxidant, a source of selenium and germanium. The berries have 18 amino acids (higher than bee pollen), trace minerals, linoleic acid, and more beta carotene than carrots.

Chia seeds is a source for fiber, protein, antioxidents, vitamin C, Omega-3, and Omega-6,magnesium and iron. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of chia seeds into your Green Smoothie. Blend the chia seeds in a small coffee grinder for your smoothie.

Chia seeds (salba) info

Carrot's Health Benefits

Today's Green Smoothie is orange!

Bursting with beta carotene, which the body processes into vitamin A - carrots are also rich in vitamins C, B3, B6, E and K as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, molybdenum and potassium.
Carrots help regulate blood sugar levels and help reduce the risk of cancer.
Carrot-Banana Smoothie
4 whole carrots (I threw my carrots in a processor before the blender)
2 bananas (frozen)
1 cup water

This is a favorite smoothie from my Albuquerque-days from a little restaurant by the University.

Let's Have a RAW FOOD Party!

Next time you invite your friends over for pot-luck, let it be a RAW FOOD pot-luck.

I became a RAW FOODIST a week ago, although I've been a vegetarian for decades.

But then I decided to Just Do It - go completely RAW. After a week of only GREEN SMOOTHIES and 1 medium size carrot with avocado dip* once in awhile, I feel great and now I'm excited about blending a variety of tasty Green Smoothies, and creating some incredible RAW ORGANIC Meals.

But I need a mandolin so - today I ordered a ceramic Kyocera Adjustable Mandolin Slicer, and since I've had a few knife injuries, I bought the BladeX5 Cut & Slash Resistant Gloves - recommended by others who've been hurt using this dangerous but fabulous piece of equipment. Kyocera also makes a Julienne Slicer.

If you're single, making the incredible creation in the photo above, might not happen unless you have someone to share it with. So what better reason to make something fabulous then to have friends over for a pot-luck, and challenge them to share a RAW FOOD dish they've created. It can be as simple as guacamole with zucchini slices as the 'chip'. But some of your friends might want to really go all out.

“The food can be very simple or even gourmet depending on the creativity used to put it together,” says Comit, who also purports being vegan. “When you eat raw foods it’s extremely beneficial as you get all the minerals and nutrients from the whole foods that is absorbed directly into the body, improves digestion, controls blood pressure and increases energy.” Chef Francesco Comito, owner of Make It Raw.

* Today's guacamole dip had carrots, tomatoes, onions, avocados and seasoning - I rolled this mixture in cabbage leafs - messy, but yummy.

Raw Vegan Sushi Nori Wraps made with Purple Cauliflower Rice

Raw Lasagna

Today's Green Smoothie

GREEN SMOOTHIE
Huge Papaya
Red Chard
Banana
Water (filtered)

Blenders break down whole foods to the cellular level and beyond, making the bounty of nutrients readily available for your body.

Gone RAW!

RAW for almost a week now and feeling great! After a lot of research, I'm now in Green Smoothie Bliss - Raw Meals later. I felt I needed to completely cleanse, and I also wanted to lose some weight.

I've been a long-time Vegan - but have finally taken the TOTAL RAW FOOD plunge thanks to buying a wonderful new Cuisinart blender/food processor to replace my overworked dying blender. In order to make a smoother smoothie, (if you don't have the more expensive Vita-mix or Blendtek) blend the greens with water first for 30 secs, then add everything else you want.

I've started with GREEN SMOOTHIES - they don't have to be totally green - they just need GREEN's in them. Some added fruit will change the smoothies color.

GREENS need to be varied over the month. Mix and match. Some combinations might be
•Spinach and Kale • Lettuce and Swiss Chard • Bok Choy and Spinach • Kale and Beet or Carrot tops
To ALL these add your favorite fruits in season - or frozen. Greens no less than 40%.

Drinking a Green Smoothie every day is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body!

Greens and fruits rich in chlorophyll, vitamins A and C, fiber, calcium, iron and antioxidants will make you feel satisfied and amazingly healthy. You will actually crave more greens - with NO yearning for unhealthy processed foods.

I'll start experimenting with RAW FOOD Recipes soon!

SMOOTHIES vs. JUICING (with a blender)

GREEN SMOOTHIES are my preference for nutritional value, fiber, and a full and satisfied feeling.

Perhaps you don't want that full feeling, but want a quick chlorophyll boost. You can still use a blender, but you'll need a strainer of some sort. An inexpensive way to go is to buy paint strainers at any store that sells paint.

Try Kale (torn off of the stem) Spinach, Carrot greens, and water - about a cup. Blend. Then pour it into the strainer over a bowl. Then SQUEEZE and SQUISH . . . There's your GREEN JUICE - light and tasty!

Some uses for the left-over pulp, which contains nutritious dietary fiber:
• add bulk to recipes and help retain moisture
• fruit pulp can be added to home made ice cream, sorbets, dessert toppings
• veg pulp in RAW food like lasagna, etc.
• great compost
• birds love carrot pulp
• and best of all, if you have a dehydrator, a whole new world will open to you and your pulp uses.

SUPER FOODS!

Superfoods are concentrated sources of nutrients and extra protein - giving you greater strength, energy, vitality and immunity. Superfoods help your body stay healthy and 'fight back' against disease and stress while reducing the side-effects of environmental pollution on your body. Anti-oxidants counter excess oxidation by destroying free radicals which can be damaging to cell walls and DNA.

TOP SUPERFOODS
• Chia seeds - calcium for endurance, strength
• Hempseed oil - immunity, protein - the 'most perfectly balanced oil in the plant kingdom'
• Spirulina - energy, strength
• Bee pollen - longevity, mental acuity, endurance
• Acai berries - antioxidant, high concentration of anthocyanins - energy, stamina, well-being, mental acuity, digestion, libido
• Goji berries - protein, 21 essential minerals, 18 amino acids - immunity, longevity, energy
• Maca - (raw, powdered herb) hormone balance, stamina, vitality, libido
• Cacao - antioxidant flavonoids, energy, focus, well-being
• Dulse - cleansing and detox
• Mesquite - Nutty flavor - balances blood sugar - lysine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, fiber
• Lucuma - Fragrant flavor, blends with ice cream - beta carotene, niacin, iron

More healthy foods that are especially high in powerful combinations of nutrients include:

• Beetroot - blood cleanser and tonic - helps the liver and digestive system, aids uptake of oxygen, boosts the immune system
• Capsicum - (pepper plants) vitamin C, beta-carotene, iron and potassium
• Broccoli - rich in iron and vitamin C, beta-carotene, folate, believed to be protect against cancer
• Apples - Aid digestion, help manage cholesterol levels
• Bananas - 'good mood food' - high in tryptophan which helps the body produce the tranquilizing brain chemical seratonin. Good for digestion.
• Garlic - boosts immune system, benefits the cardiovascular system
• Ginger - enhances digestion, helps treat motion sickness
• Spinach - as cancer-fighting caretenoids. High in chlorophyll and iron
• Parsley - high in chlorophyll. Also vitamins A and C, minerals iron, calcium and potassium
• Sprouts - high in protein and nutrients

How to add Beet Root using a blender

If you don't have a Vita-mix of Blendtec you can still add raw beets or any other very 'hard' and dense vegetable to your smoothie without destroying your blender.

First you peel the beet root, then grate it using a mandolin or cheese grater - but be careful! Beet juice will stain both your skin and your clothes. Wearing rubber gloves is a good idea.

Lacuma - a Superfood!

Lacuma is a Superfood!
Organic lacuma powder from Peru fills you full of nutrition, and it’s also an incredibly tasty flavor addition to just about any dish.