10 Reasons to Eat Your Greens

Did you know that greens are the most missing food group in the modern American diet? It's true! Eating greens will help to build your internal rain forest and protect your body from viruses. Here are 10 more reasons to eat greens on a consistent basis:

1. Greens help to purify the blood.

2. Greens help prevent cancers.

3. Greens are high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc.

4. They are packed full of micronutrients and phytochemicals.

5. Greens contain vitamins A, C, E and K.

6. They help to strengthen the immune system.

7. Eating plenty of greens will help improve circulation in the body.

8. Greens contain fiber that the body needs to function optimally.

9. They also contain folic acid and chlorophyll.

10. Eating green vegetables helps life the spirit and eliminates depression.

What Are Greens?

There are many types of green vegetables to choose from. Find some that you enjoy eating and eat them often!

Dark leafy greens include broccoli, kale, bok choy, napa cabbage, collards, mustard greens, watercress, broccoli rabe, dandelion, arugula, endive, chicory, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard & beet greens.

How to Cook Greens

1. Wash greens well to remove any dirt or sand.

2. Remove the stems if they're thick. Don't toss them; chop them into bite-sized pieces. You can cook them later or eat them with the greens. (They'll take a little longer to cook, so start them first.)

3. Boil the greens for 3 to 5 minutes in salted water, or until just tender. (Add the stems a few minutes before the leaves.)

4. Steam the greens for 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Braise greens by heating a little olive oil over medium heat. Add some minced garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds, then add the greens, along with the water that clings to their leaves from washing. Sauté the greens until they're slightly wilted, then cover and braise until tender (just a few minutes). Season with salt and pepper.

6. Pair greens with beans such as chick peas (garbanzo beans) or white beans. The beans make for a hearty dish and mellow out the taste of the greens.

7. Spruce up greens with diced tomato and a dash of lemon juice or hot pepper sauce.

8. ENJOY!

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren

Greening Your Smoothies

Greens are everywhere - power greens, supergreens, fresh greens, wheatgrass shots ...but what are you supposed to do with them? Greens can be a little bit overwhelming when you're first trying to incorporate them into your diet. People always ask me how to add them and what to do to make them taste good. The first thing I look to when answering this question is my Blendtech!

Adding greens to your favorite fruit smoothie is a fabulous way to get the power packed nutrients that greens offer. If you didn't read Lauren's post, 10 Reasons to Eat Your Greens, go dot it now! Now I know, the color that greens turn smoothies can be a bit off putting. Most of us aren't used to drinking something that looks like toxic sludge or worse, something bright green *gasp!* - it looks like slime, not food!! Well, it is food...and it's food that's great for you. My simple advice, get over it! And if you just can't get over it, do what my boyfriend Stephen does, drink it with your eyes closed.

Ok, so now you're going to take the green smoothie plunge, but you're not sure how. Well, it's super easy! You can start by adding fresh greens to your smoothie or a super greens supplement. If you're adding fresh greens, the ratio for a green smoothie should be 60% fruit and 40% greens (collard, spinach, mustard, kale, or swiss, green or red chard). You really can't make a mistake, more fruit, less greens and add your favorite liquid and blend. I often use coconut water or just plain water. Sometimes I use fruit juice, but this does up the calorie content of the smoothie. I also like to add my own nutritional boosts to the smoothie like maca powder, acai (pronounced ah-sa-eeee, which is available in the freezer section at Whole Foods or your local health foods store. I usually choose the sugar free acai), flax oil, hemp seeds or almonds. You can add a little honey or agave for sweetness.

You can find a number of fabulous supergreens in Whole Foods or your favorite health foods store. They range from froze wheatgrass shots to powdered supplements. When buying supergreens supplements it's important to choose organic. Supergreens are super concentrated which means, if they're not organic, you're also going to get super concentrated pesticides- yuck!! I use Green Magma Barley Grass Juice Powder or Pure Synergy.

There really isn't a specific green smoothie recipe to follow, it's kind of like a stew, a little of this and a little of that to suit your tastes. Just experiment and see what works for you!.

Terra's Favorite Green Smoothie

1/2 c. Diced Mango

1/2 c. Diced pineapple

Coconut water

1 Frozen Wheatgrass Shot

1 tbsp of Green Magma Barley Grass Juice Powder

Put it all in the blender and blend! This smoothie will come out electric green with a sweet tang because of the mango and pineapple. It's my favorite!!

Keep it Fresh!

~ Terra