Victoria Boutenko, a leader in raw food nutrition education, encourages a healthy dose of green smoothies daily in order to eliminate toxins, correct nutritional deficiencies, and maintain optimal health. Need convincing? Check out this illuminating Q&A and you’ll be blending your greens in no time!
Q: In Green for Life and Green Smoothie Revolution you recommend that a green smoothie diet be integrated into everyday life. How long have you been consuming green smoothies? What are some of the main health benefits of consuming them on a daily basis?
A: My family and I have been consuming green smoothies almost daily since September of 2004. Usually we consume one quart a day or more. Green smoothies give us a lot of energy, for example I work 15 -17 hours daily. Occasionally when I miss drinking a smoothie for some reason, I definitely feel tired earlier. My improvement of health is noticeable in every organ. Green smoothies keep the skin healthy and the eyesight crisp and clear. I am 56 years old and I am a writer, so I spend my life in front of a computer and I still do not wear any glasses. Our teeth and gums feel so much better that the dentists are complimenting everyone in my family. When we were eating a raw food diet without green smoothies, this was not the case. My favorite part about green smoothies is that they prevent unhealthy cravings and greatly improve digestion.
Q: In your books you discuss combining fruits and/or vegetables with greens in smoothies. What are the healthiest combinations? Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe?
A: I believe that the healthiest combination for green smoothies is fruits, greens and water. My favorite smoothie recipe changes with the season; for example, in the summertime my favorite is the Velvet Green Smoothie (dandelions, parsley and mangoes).
Q: When your grandson was born, his doctor told you he was one of the healthiest children in your town. You attribute this to his early consumption of green smoothies. Do you recommend a green smoothie diet for children? What are the health concerns of such an early introduction to green smoothies? What are the health benefits?
A: One of the most popular testimonials I receive in my emails is how much children of all ages love green smoothies. I am not a medical doctor, but I have dozens of emails from mothers who started introducing green smoothies to their babies at approximately six months of age. Later their babies demonstrated high levels of development and the mothers were all pleased. Still I think parents should be careful and introduce green smoothies very slowly, a teaspoon at a time, to avoid any possible allergic reactions or bloating. Babies who take green smoothies usually sleep better, are calmer when awake, and have better digestion.
Q: Could you explain what the Green Smoothie Challenge is? What have been the typical responses from those that have tried it?
A: The Green Smoothie Challenge is a voluntary dietary program in which people participate through the internet or over the phone. It is convenient and effective. Often hundreds and even thousands of people from distant locations participate in the same challenge. The goal of the participants is to drink a quart of green smoothies everyday for a certain set time, usually one or several weeks. I personally know many people whose health was transformed by participating in the Green Smoothie Challenge.
Q: What would your advice be to someone just starting out on a raw diet, so that he or she will stick with it?
A: I don’t recommend switching to an all-raw diet overnight. Instead, I recommend that beginners start adding one quart of green smoothie to their existing diet. After several weeks, they will notice that they will crave salads, fruit, and other healthier foods in place of processed, refined or other cooked foods.
Have you tried a green smoothie? What’s your favorite recipe?
I’m glad to read that Victoria doesn’t recommended “going raw” all at once, but making it a gradual transition. I have started drinking a green smoothie every morning for breakfast, and I have to say — as much as I’ve been a skeptic about putting greens in my smoothie and it actually tasting good, I am a total green smoothie convert! There’s no forcing it down for me — I add kale to a pineapple-mango smoothie, and it’s delicious.
Thanks for sharing, Kat. From what I’ve read by Victoria Boutenko, she certainly advocates for consuming raw food in any amount and in whatever way possible to begin the road to optimal health. So keep blending!