Blueberry Green Smoothie

 

   Smoothies are a great way to enjoy fruits and greens in a dense, more easily digestible way. By blending fruits and greens, the fiber content, nutrients, and anti-oxidants are broken down so that your body is able to absorb them more efficiently. By adding greens to your smoothies you will increase your intake of leafy vegetables at the same time you are increasing your water intake for the day.

 

    It is important to drink your green smoothies, or any smoothie for that matter, first thing in the morning or on an empty stomach. The reason for this is because fruits and vegetables require 30 minutes-1 hour to digest in your stomach. When drank after a meal containing meats or starches which require anywhere from 2-8 hours depending on the type, all the benefits are lost as the smoothie will begin to ferment on top of what you previously ate. The fermentation of that smoothie will then create toxins in your body. So this is why it is extremely important to pair your food properly.

 

   All smoothies are not created equal however. While there are a wealth of combinations you can use to enjoy the benefits of smoothies, it is best to follow one simple guideline:

 

1.) Refrain from mixing sweet fruits with acid fruits. It is acceptable to occasionally mix sub-acid fruits with acids fruits.

 

The reason for this is that sweet fruits require an entirely different acid for digestion as acid fruits do. When combined in the stomach, your stomach has no way of distinguishing the difference between the two and ultimately will stop the digestion process. Thus creating fermentation and toxins.

 

Examples:

 

Sweet Fruits:

 

Bananas Dates Dried Fruits Figs

 

Sub-Acid Fruits:

 

Apples Pears Grapes Nectarines Peaches Raspberries Blueberries Papaya Cherries Mango

 

Acid Fruits:

 

Oranges Grapefruit Pineapple Strawberries Tangerine

 

 

<<The majority of this information is sourced from Dr. Shelton's book Food Combining Made Easy. He was a founder of the Hygiene Movement. It's a great resource and I would recommend checking it out yourself to learn more>>





 

 

Recipe:


4 cups chopped organic baby spinach
1 organic Gala apple
1 organic Bosc pear
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp organic lemon juice
2 cups filtered water

Directions:

In a blender, combine fruit first, then spinach, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Pour two cups of water over mixture. Blend well. Serve or store in mason jars for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.