Green Smoothie Recipe

I'm in love with vegetables (and fruit)! I love nearly everything in the green department for vegetables. I know this is not a favorite color among many. So, I recommend two things: 1) Take a whole food supplement and 2) blend up a smoothie!

This morning we made a green smoothie comprising of banana, pineapple with its core, fresh spinach and kale, water and ice. Fill Vitamix in this order. Blend for 30 seconds.

*Benefits of banana: potassium, rich in vitamin B6, elimination properties (think electrolytes)

*Benefits of pineapple: antioxidants and inflammatory properties, highest in Maganese, digestive benefits

*Benefits of spinach: antioxidants, carotenoids, highest in Vitamins K, A, C and folate

*Benefits of kale: cholesterol lowering benefits, Omega 3 properties, detox support, several dozen flavonoids, high in vitamins K, A, and C, inflammatory properties

What is your favorite green smoothie recipe? Don't have one? Try this one! Then share with us your favorite smoothie (one that you make). 

Eat (or drink) Well. Live Well. 


*WHFoods dot org

Smoothie Season

Smoothie Season is back! It should've never left but even in SoCal, the quality of fresh produce has been pathetic the last few months due to the... get this - RAIN!

Immunity Boosting Smoothie: Orange Juice (Vitamin C), *Pineapples (Antioxidants), Mango (King of Fruit), Strawberries (Vitamin K), Protein powder (Complete Vanilla), Milk Thistle (Liver Support), Flax Seed Meal (Omega 3) and Local Honey (Combats Pollen Allergies).

Mangos are known by "King of Fruit" because they are supposedly one of the most nutritious fruits on the planet.

* I wrote a blog solely on pineapples a few days ago. Be sure to read for more information on further benefits of eating pineapple. My favorite reason for eating is that it's a natural antinflammatory.

Pineapples

I LOVE pineapple. Though I normally buy it from the produce section already prepared or in a can. 


I have gotten away from eating veggies from a can. I also needed to get away from eating fruit from a can!


So the other day I was at my local health foods store and one of the workers always puts on a food demonstration or features a food product from the store that week, usually whatever is on sale. I walked in and beelined to her because I wanted to know what was featured plus my stomach was growling. She was serving strawberries and pineapple. 


I said I would love to buy pineapple fresh but I don't know how to cut the skin off. She showed me. Wow, so simple! 


First you see if the fruit is ripened. The way you can tell is if it has yellow in the vines of the skin. If it's green, it's not sweet yet. If it's part yellow then it's half sweetened. Let it sit on the counter until it turns yellow. Don't wait too long though because it can spoil quickly. Once it's ripe, you pull off the top with your hand. Then you cut off the top and the bottom. Cut the pineapple in half. Then you'll cut a "V" into the middle of each half to remove the stemmy core. Then you slice it like you do with cantaloupe to remove the melon from the rind. Serve. Voila!


The pineapples were on sale for 97 cents each! I only bought one because I wanted to make sure I could prepare it like I learned. 


The pineapple I picked out was partial green and yellow. 


One day later, it was nearly all yellow. I cut into it the way I learned how and it was so easy! The fruit is perfectly sweetened. I got a bunch of fruit for the little pineapple I had chosen! I am sure I'll be buying more from now on!


I've always chosen pineapple for their natural anti-inflammatory benefits. They are also high in vitamins and have digestive benefits. They are mega immune supporters, mainly vitamin C. They offer antioxidant defenses. You can visit more about pineapples on this site I've just found online.


Have you eaten any pineapple this week?