Got Green?

Spinach, cilantro, and chives make for a savory delicious green smoothie. Today I also tried baby beet greens in a green smoothie and they were full of a mild spinach-like flavor! Nothing like what you get in a supermarket.

The Boutenko family embarked on an entirely raw foods diet in 1994 because they were seriously ill. Victoria had arrhythmia and edema, depression, and was obese. Igor suffered from painful rheumatoid arthritis and had severe hyperthyroid. Sergei was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and was supposed to go on insulin. Valya had asthma. After switching to raw foods, all of their health concerns were healed. The Boutenko's Raw Family website offers free articles, recipes, and viewpoints on the ins and outs of eating more raw foods.

One defining characteristic of a living (and sustainable) system is its ability to repair itself, or regenerate itself. The Boutenko family has observed that the extraordinary ability of all living organisms to repair themselves is the only power that can heal any illness. All healing methods and techniques developed by people are successful and sustainable only if they reinforce the body’s own natural ability to regulate itself. A human body can heal a disease only when all bodily substances and systems are maintained within particular optimal functioning. Homeostasis is arguably the most important process in the body because it is what keeps all systems and substances in the body at balanced and functioning levels. If we are increasing our body's ability to maintain homeostasis, we are taking the best possible care of our health.
In order for the process of homeostasis to occur, our bodies need supplies of all nutrients, including vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, minerals and all trace elements. Greens match all of these purposes better than any other food! Particularly when blended, the nutrients in greens are absorbed more efficiently and provide many times more nutrients than other foods and even regular salads. By drinking green smoothies we support our homeostatic balance in the most optimal way! In my own experiments, I have found green smoothies a great and SIMPLE pleasure to make.

In the fall of my senior year, after staying up late studying for an exam, I woke up and made a big batch of fresh green smoothie for my roommates and I, with nothing but handfuls of leafy greens and some fruit (such as banana and apple, maybe lemon juice). While walking to take the test, my stomach fell when I realized that I had to go buy a test booklet before class, which started in just a few minutes. I RAN to the Ferguson center Supe store to purchase a test booklet, and immediately felt as though a switch turned on: my body had immediate access to boundless energy from the raw foods I had consumed for breakfast! It was a surprise to feel the abundant energy flowing through my body after consuming such a simple meal. Many people usually feel tired or overburdened physically after eating a meal, and I learned that eating green smoothies increased my energy both immediately and over long-term, instead of depleting my energy in difficult digestion. I also saw a significant reduction in acne and skin problems after incorporating green smoothies into my diet!

As soon as you feel the benefits of green drinks, you will want to drink them every day! A local community organic garden can save you a lot of money on greens and provide therapeutic recreation simultaneously. I have never opened a bag of spinach from the supermarket that even came close to competing with the vibrant, chlorophyll-rich, sweet spinach that I pick in our garden. You can taste the gratitude in anything that comes out of this community garden!

GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPE
made with local organic greens from the community garden at the UA Arboretum.
Ingredients:
couple handfuls of spinach
handful of cilantro
a few chive leaves
1 banana
1 apple
optional fresh squeezed lemon juice
plenty of water
SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ENJOY!