Green Smoothies

Recently a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have been reading her blog, and she said that green smoothies have been a great tool in her recovery process. I decided to give them a try, since I already had a Vitamix blender, and hadn't really used it that much. To my surprise, the smoothies tasted quite good, and my husband even agreed to drink them with me. Devin wasn't quite as enthused, but with time he may come around! Here is what I have found out about green smoothies:

* They are a good source of fiber, protein, calcium and lots of other nutrients your body craves
* They help boost your energy
* They help build up your immune system
* They help your body eliminate impurities and toxins
* They can help you lose weight
* They are easily digested and are assimilated (absorbed) several times more thoroughly than
chewed greens
* You consume 5-8 servings of fruits and vegetables in one smoothie
* Aim for 60% fruits and 40% greens to start with, and gradually work your way up to more
greens as your body gets used to it

The recipe we like best so far is this one:

STRAWBERRY AND GREENS SMOOTHIE
From the Vita-Mix recipe book

1 cup water
1 cup soy milk (I used vanilla flavor)
2 cups fresh spinach, washed
1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries
2 bananas, peeled, frozen

Place all ingredients into the Vita-Mix container in the order listed and secure lid. Select variable 1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to variable 10, then to high. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.

If you are trying this recipe in a regular blender, try blending each ingredient one at a time as you add them, and it should work almost as well.