70-Year-Old Looks 30, Reveals Fountain of Youth (Yep, Raw Food!)

This article is totally inspiring – you’ve gotta watch the video!!

“Annette Larkins is in perfect health and doesn’t take aspirin.  In fact, she doesn’t take any medication at all, at least by the conventional modern definition. She is a fanatic of REAL medicine and lives by the quote, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ― Hippocrates

Mrs. Larkins grows a plethora of fruit, vegetables, and herbs around and inside of her house.  She collects rainwater and makes gallons of juice from what she grows. Wheatgrass is one of her specialties. She grows her own and drinks the juice regularly. Yet another anecdotal case of raw food and juicing providing overall health and endless youth.

Her mother and grandmother both died of breast cancer at 47, and 36 years old, respectively. Her grandmother’s sisters died of cancer at early ages. Diabetes runs in her family.”

Talk about motivation to start a raw food diet at any age! Annette has a normal house, a normal backyard and a normal husband too! Nothing stopped her from making the best choices for her. No excuses! I love this woman! What a gorgeous story. I’m gonna juice some fresh wheatgrass right NOW!

Original story from realfarmacy.com

More on Manifestation and Weight Loss:

More on Raw Food:

More on Organic Food:

FREE Vitamix Blender Giveaway ($449.00 Value) + Liver Flush Green Smoothie Recipe

Friends, I’m so excited to share this awesome FREE giveaway with you! It’s an absolute honor for me to present a VITAMIX 5200 BLENDER! We’re starting this giveaway as a healthy kick-off to Black Friday shopping week and a reminder to stay focused on a clean diet and healthy living for the new year. What a great start to the new year to have a beautiful 2HP blender, ready to blend up some healthy bliss!

The Winner will receive a FREE Vitamix 5200 Blender and my NEW Green Smoothies for Dummies book!

Vitamix 5200 Blender Giveaway (Closed – See winner below): The Details

Someone’s getting a new $449.00 Value 2HP Vitamix 5200 blender for Christmas, ready to make Green Smoothies for many years to come! Here’s what we’ve got in this FREE giveaway for you:

1 Vitamix 5200 Blender + My NEW Book: Green Smoothies for Dummies

In case you don’t know what a Vitamix is, it’s a blender. That means it blends the fiber and the liquid of whatever you put inside. It is not a juicer (a juicer separates the fiber from the liquid, leaving only the liquid for you to drink). A blender is very practical for busy people because it takes a just a few minutes to prepare your creation, is very easy to clean, and with a blender, you get all the nutrients from your food plus you get the fiber too. Most people are simply not eating enough fiber in their daily diet; the result can lead to poor digestion, acid reflux, arthritis, bad skin, weak liver, sluggishness, foul breath and even restless sleep.

Having a high power professional Vitamix 5200 blender is definitely some good motivation to start making change. Combine that with the delicious recipes in my Green Smoothies for Dummies book and you are going to start the new year right!

Vitamix 5200 blender

Vitamix 5200 blender

Vitamix 5200: $449.00 Value!

The Vitamix 5200 Blender is a universal tool for family meals and entertaining. A Vitamix is designed and built for outstanding performance and unsurpassed durability. And, it’s guaranteed for 7 years.

You’ll enjoy:

  • Easy-to-use equipment paired with extreme versatility
  • The ability to chop, cream, blend, heat, grind, churn, and more, with a single machine
  • Quick and easy self-cleaning with a drop of dish soap and warm water; just run on High for 30 seconds
  • 7-year full warranty – Industry’s best
  • Ongoing recipe ideas and community support

 

How to Join: Vitamix Blender Giveaway

1. RaffleCopter is organizing this Giveaway…so CLICK BELOW to SIGN UP. The more tasks you complete in RaffleCopter, the greater your chances are to WIN!

There are 5 tasks in the Raffle which are mandatory in order to win:
1 and 2. Find us on Facebook – /HealthyBliss and /Vitamix.
3 and 4. Follow us on Twitter – @rawfoodbliss and @vitamix
5. Leave a comment below – answering the question: What is ONE healthy change that you will make for the New Year?

Additional tasks are optional, but if you complete them, you increase your chance to win. Good Luck!

Start Date: 24 November 2014
End Date: 15 December 2014
Winner Announced: 15 December 2014
Open to: US and Canada Addresses ONLY
Prize: Vitamix 5200 Blender (110V) and Green Smoothies for Dummies Book

No purchase necessary.
Contest closes at Midnight (EST), 15 December 2014.
Winner announced at 12pm noon (EST) 15 December 2014 EST.

Winner: Congratulations Maria Matos of Miami, FL

on your FREE VITAMIX 5200 BLENDER!

Liver Flush Green Smoothie Recipe

All this talk about blenders and green smoothies makes me want to drink a healthy green smoothie ASAP! Here’s a super-yummy Liver Flush Smoothie recipe straight from the 3-Day Green Smoothie Detox chapter in my new book. (Yes, the winner gets a copy for FREE!) The combination of detox ingredients in this recipe helps the liver flush toxins more quickly.

Liver Flush Green Smoothie Recipe Ingredients:

  • 2 oranges, peeled and seeded
  • 1 ripe banana, peeled
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger (peeled)
  • 1/4 tsp. ground turmeric
  • Dash cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup dandelion greens, loosely packed
  • 1 cup fresh spinach, loosely packed

Directions:

1. Combine the oranges, banana, lemon juice, olive oil, ginger, turmeric, cayenne and water in the blender and secure the lid.

2. Starting at low speed and gradually increasing toward high, blend the ingredients for 30 to 45 seconds or until mixture is smooth.

3. Add the dandelion greens and spinach and blend again at medium speed for 30 seconds, gradually increasing the speed to high. Blend on high for another 15 to 30 seconds or until the entire mixture is smooth.

4. Pour the smoothie into 2 glasses and enjoy!

Green Smoothies for Dummies by Jennifer Thompson for Wiley Publishers, NY NY

Green Smoothies for Dummies by Jennifer Thompson for Wiley Publishers, NY NY

In Green Smoothie for Dummies, I’ve created a beautiful 3-day detox where each recipe focuses on a different organ of elimination, giving you a full-body cleanse in just 3 days!

Find plenty of other recipes and healthy tips too…everything from the best way to clean your blender to how to store your superfoods. I’ve created a “bible” for the best green smoothie making, and it’s all based on what I learned from teaching Green Smoothie classes for years. Every question that any student has ever asked me is in this book!

PS. If you’re looking for some awesome Christmas presents, you can head over to amazon and buy a few copies for everyone you love!!

The WINNER of this giveaway will receive a FREE Vitamix 5200 Blender PLUS a copy of my Green Smoothies for Dummies Book (with over 90 recipes!).

Don’t forget to sign up for the Vitamix Giveaway…Good Luck and Healthy Blessings!!

Winner: Congratulations Maria Matos of Miami, FL

on your FREE VITAMIX 5200 BLENDER!

Free Vitamix Giveaway - Winner Announced on 15 December 2014

Free Vitamix Giveaway – Winner Announced on 15 December 2014

 

Answer this question in the comments below:

What is ONE healthy change that you will make for the New Year?

(My answer: I’m exercising more! I’m going to yoga class every Thursday & starting to run again too. Oh yeah, bring it on 2015!!)

 
 

VitamixWinner

Congratulations to the WINNER!

Maria Matos of

Miami, FL

on your New VITAMIX 5200

BLENDER!

and a copy of my book Green Smoothies for Dummies

What a GREAT gift for Christmas – Thank you Vitamix and John Wiley & Sons!

 

Your comment will not appear immediately as all comments are moderated for spam before approval.

More on Green Smoothies:

Why I don’t use protein powders…and why you shouldn’t either!

The protein powder craze is one health trend that you should definitely avoid, and I’m about to tell you why!

Chose Whole Foods and Whole Dried Foods, organic of course!

Learn what protein powders to avoid and why!

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

Even with all their amazing health claims on everything from weight loss to better workouts to rock solid abs, I never felt drawn to protein powders. My feeling was always to stay close to nature with my foods, and I just wasn’t sure how a vanilla or chocolate or strawberry-flavored powder felt like anything except an overly processed food. Over the years, I started to hear from clients who were getting sick from these powders – mainly pain in the lower back, bad skin, insomnia, depression and kidney troubles. In every case, the symptoms occurred AFTER starting high doses of protein powder. As I started to look at the ingredients on different labels, I knew that my intuition on this one had been right all along.

Not a Whole Food

Most people mistakenly think that protein powders are just whole foods ground up into a powder form, and that is definitely not true. In fact, in order to get a high protein count, you have to extract the proteins out of the food and leave the rest behind. Otherwise, you could not get anywhere near a high protein concentration. And with protein powders, the more protein, the better.

Pea protein is the worst offender, especially for people who may react to these unnatural extracted proteins. That’s right…pea protein is an extracted protein, made in a lab, and it’s got a high glutamate concentration so it can affect you in the exact way as Monosodium Glutamate, or MSG. I’ve had a few clients who taking high doses of protein powders and they complained of migraine headaches, anxiety, and sensitivity to light or sound. Once we took the pea protein out of their diet, all symptoms disappeared.

Note: ALL pea protein is extracted, even if it’s 100% certified organic. The same protein powders can be used in diet and weight loss shakes as well as body-building blends.

Not Natural

Many protein powders contain “natural” flavors (note: the word “natural” is not regulated and can mean just about anything), artificial coloring and/or artificial sweeteners, none of which are good for your health. You can also find Genetically Modified (GMO) ingredients and/or Whey Protein Isolate, another high glutamate/extracted ingredient which is non-vegan and usually not organic so it can be high in antibiotics and pesticides too.

Not Regulated

Since protein powders are considered a “food” and not a supplement, they’re not actually regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a few cases, independent studies found high levels of heavy metals in certain ingredients such as organic brown rice protein. If your protein powder contains dangerously high levels of arsenic, cadmium or lead, how would you know? You won’t. Until it’s too late that is, and I don’t want that to happen to you!

Many of the ingredients in the mass-produced protein powders come from India and China, and they are not regulated for quality or contaminants. Those low-quality ingredients are most likely irradiated as well.

Hard on the Kidneys

So you’ve got an extracted unnatural powder protein that was heated to super-high temperatures, stripped of its fiber and is no longer a whole food. (Yikes!) What’s your natural, organic body going to do with that? You’ll have excess acid and uric acid build-up that’s created from the metabolic waste in trying to digest and break down all those proteins. Your skin and kidneys carry the burden of trying to release excess acids. You might smell an “acidic or tangy” odor in your sweat. Over time, the kidneys can become weaker and the risk of getting kidney stones or kidney disease can increase. Eating a high acid diet is also not good for your pH health. An anti-cancer diet is an alkaline diet, not a a high acid diet.

Not Around Long Enough to Know

The boom of high protein diets helped to make protein powders a new diet trend. Just read any Paleo, Dukan, Atkins or low carb diet website and you will see everyone is talking about protein – protein – protein.  I’ve even heard people talking about cricket protein powders (and surely that’s coming from China so imagine what’s in it, really).

But here’s the deal –  you can still eat plenty of protein if that’s your thing. Just choose whole foods! There are plenty of natural, vegan, organic whole food plant protein options out there. Since protein powders simply haven’t been around long enough to know if there are long-term consequences to your health, why take a chance?

Choose Real Whole Organic Food

Your body was designed to eat whole foods.

Here are 5 plant-based whole food protein sources:

  • 164g chickpeas = 14.53g  protein
  • 118g pumpkin seeds = 35.21g protein
  • 143g almonds = 30.34g protein
  • 140g sunflower seeds = 29.09g protein
  • 30g hemp hearts protein (3 Tbsp.) = 15.00g protein

Okay to Eat: Organic hemp protein, flax seed and spirulina powder. These are all whole foods; that means the whole seed or algae is dried and ground into a powder form. (The powders you want to avoid are the processed foods, such as “extracted, hydrolyzed, and protein isolates.”)

Best to Avoid: Pea protein, whey isolate, any hydrolyzed protein, natural flavors, aspartame, beet powder (if non-organic, this is usually GMO).

Other good vegetable/plant-based sources of protein include organic spirulina powder, sprouted mung beans, lentils, sesame seeds and dark leafy bitter greens.

You can make a super-healthy Green Smoothie with pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, tahini (sesame seed paste), almonds and spirulina plus some fresh dark, leafy greens for an all-natural plant-based protein meal. You deserve the very best in health so I say choose the best!

UPDATE! Read an updated article I wrote on this subject called Protein Powders containing Mercury, Lead, Arsenic and Cadmium: WARNING!

Find out why you should avoid the latest protein powder craze

More on Blenders and pH Health:

More on Green Smoothies:

Hearty Berry Smoothie Recipe – Great for After Work-Out Recovery!

Choosing the right foods after a good workout is important to help your muscles recover and keep your energy levels high for the rest of the day. Think alkaline, high fiber, antioxidants and hydration when you want to power-up after a good sweat. This Hearty Berry Smoothie gives you all of that plus a great taste, and even better, it takes less than 5 minutes to make.

This yummy smoothie will fill you up after a good power workout!

This yummy smoothie will fill you up after a good power workout!

Hearty Berry Post-Workout Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe banana, peeled
  • 1 red apple
  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
  • 1 Tbsp. tahini (sesame seed paste)
  • 4-6 walnut halves
  • 1 Tbsp. aloe vera juice
  • 2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
  • 1 1/2 cups water

 

You can make many versions of this adding variety with chia or brazil nuts instead

You can make many versions of this adding variety with chia or brazil nuts instead

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend for 1 minute. Pour, and drink. Cheers to good health!

Need to buy the basic ingredients?
Aloe, flax, walnuts, and tahini: You can buy online here with fast shipping worldwide!

How it Works

During exercise, your body builds up acids from the muscle “burn” and cardio effects. After exercise, you need to release those built-up acids and create a more alkaline environment where muscles can safely recover and repair. More antioxidants help to break up the “internal rust.” The result: you’ll feel less stiff, more energized and have even more power for the next workout. That sounds like a good plan to me!

What you get

  • Berries give you a high boost of antioxidants. Blueberries are truly little blue bundles of health, packed with manganese, vitamin K, and antioxidants. Raspberries offer an ample supply of manganese, a mineral that helps to decrease premenstrual syndrome symptoms, improve bone health, and decrease pain associated with arthritis.
  • Bananas are great for sports endurance and recovery thanks to the combination of natural sugars, fiber, and potassium. Having a smoothie made with banana after your workout can give you more energy and improve your fitness performance.
  • Apples are packed with vitamins A and C, antioxidants, and potassium. High levels of boron in apples stimulate brain activity and increase mental alertness, making apples a real brain food. Boron also keeps your bones healthy and helps prevent osteoporosis by preserving calcium in the body.
  • Flaxseed is a great source of dietary fiber and helps your body intake the natural fruit sugars slowly which means you get more energy for longer and no “sugar crash” later. You can buy flax seed already ground or in whole form and grind at home.
  • Walnuts are a fantastic source of Omega 3, that’s a powerful antioxidant good for circulation and blood. Omega 3 is also a potent anti-inflammatory agent, helping to repair and heal faster from injuries.
  • Tahini (sesame) is high in zinc, the best mineral for your glandular system.
  • Aloe vera is amazing for skin and digestion.
  • Water is the best form of hydration there is!

 

For the love of smoothie! This is Raw Food Bliss!

For the love of smoothie! This is Raw Food Bliss!

Learn More

What blender should you use? Good question! Check out my article on Battle of the Blenders: Which one is Best.

Moving overseas? Find out if it’s ok to use a 110V blender in a 220V country.

Like this recipe? Discover more awesome workout and recovery smoothies in my NEW book: Green Smoothies for Dummies. It has more than 90 recipes and an excellent 3-day Green Smoothie Detox Plan too! Available for sale on amazon, iTunes and Barnes and Noble.

Green Smoothies for Dummies by Jennifer Thompson for Wiley Publishers, NY NY

Green Smoothies for Dummies by Jennifer Thompson for Wiley Publishers, NY NY

More on Green Smoothies:

More on Prevention:

Why is WholeFoods STILL using Canola Oil? (Hint: It’s NOT good for you!)

In the last 10 years, Wholefoods has practically become a “religion” in the United States. People flock there (myself included!), swayed by good branding and a nice big fresh fruit and veggie section when you walk in the door that makes you think that everything after that is going to be just as fresh, organic, non-GMO and good for you. For the prices you pay, it better be…right?! Well…

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil tastes wonderful in a homemade soup. Some people report getting headaches and blurred vision after eating Canola Oil.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil tastes wonderful in a homemade soup. There is simply no need to use inferior ingredients.

My personal “bad food” radar is usually set for food additives and various forms of hidden Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) found in so-called healthy foods, which I can find in mass abundance on the shelves in every supermarket, including Wholefoods. The food label trickery is simply through the roof. But, you don’t have to be a biologist or scientist to see CANOLA OIL on many labels right there in the ingredients. It’s one you should definitely AVOID. And the worse offender at Wholefoods is in their baked goods and salad bars.

What is Canola Oil and why it’s is Bad for you

You probably never really thought about canola oil and simply thought it was oil from canola, just like olive oil is from olives and sunflower oil is from sunflower seeds. That would make sense in a normal, non-genetically modified world. But, the reality is that there is no canola plant. “Canola” is a made-up word from a GMO plant that has unknown consequences to your health.

Canadian Oil + Low Acid = Canola Oil

Canola oil is made from genetically modified rapeseed plants. The problem was that “rapeseed oil” was so toxic that the FDA banned it for human consumption in 1956. In the 1970’s, Canadian growers bred a new variety of rapeseed with a lower content of the toxic erucic acid, and the name of the new oil was L.E.A.R. (Low Erucic Acid Rapeseed) oil. Eventually, it was renamed “Canola” for marketing reasons, because no company wanted to be associated with a product having “rape” in its name and “rapeseed” oil was well-known to be a toxic oil.

The term Canola was coined from “Canadian oil, low acid” to convince consumers that this “newer and better” rapeseed oil was safe to eat. You see, rapeseed oil was banned from foods, probably because it attacks the heart to cause permanent degenerative lesions. The truth is that rapeseed is the most toxic of all food oil plants. Even insects won’t eat it! That’s right, Canola oil is a very effective insecticide, and it is the primary ingredient in many “organic” (non-chemical) pesticide control products sprayed on vegetables to kill bugs.

The rape seed is part of the mustard family of plants. Mustard gas was made from rapeseeds and used in World War II for genocide.

It is estimated that 93% of the canola oil currently sold in the US has been genetically engineered (GMO). But, since pure non-GMO rapeseed is proven to be toxic and unsafe for human consumption, how can even 7% of canola oil be non-GMO? It seems to be a scientific impossibility, or simply a play on numbers. At best, I’d call it a marketing oxymoron!

Even IF you were eating the 7% “safe” canola oil, is it really safe?

The process of heating canola oil during manufacturing is so extreme that the oil actually becomes rancid and has a terrible smell. The odor is so bad that the manufactures have to deodorize the oil so it doesn’t smell bad! All food grade canola, including the varieties sold in health food stores, are deodorized by 300 degree Fahrenheit high-temperature refining to remove its natural terrible stink.

Symptoms of Intolerance or Allergy to Canola Oil

Rape oil itself has been shown to cause emphysema, respiratory distress, anemia, constipation and blindness in animals and humans. I have personally worked with clients who experienced intense heart palpitations after eating canola oil or products containing canola oil. Once we took the canola oil out of their diet, their symptoms disappeared. Can you imagine if you thought you were having an anxiety attack, only to find out that you were reacting to a frankenfood like canola oil?!

Why on earth would anyone want to eat a GMO rancid oil with deodorants (chemicals) added to it??!! I don’t know about you, but I just lost my appetite for anything except my own homemade Green Smoothie (yum).

Why is Wholefoods using Canola Oil?

This is the million dollar question, or better put…the million dollar profit. Because the only reason why Wholefoods would use a cheap unhealthy ingredient in their over-priced salad bar and baked goods is to maintain a better profit margin. Doesn’t that make you sad? I know it kills me. I want to to believe in a real supermarket that is going to sell me high quality organic ingredients and I am willing to pay more money for it! But, like you, I don’t like being swindled. What’s worse is the pathetic campaign that Wholefoods has started to try and justify the use of what they call “non-GMO Canola oil” in their salad bar. By definition, Canola Oil is GMO…so I cannot understand their faulty logic. Even IF their canola is non-GMO, then it would be pure rapeseed which is a known toxin! Either way, I don’t want it in my food!

While there are many other "bad" ingredients in this food like yeast extract, the CANOLA OIL is obvious.

While there are many other “bad” ingredients in this food like yeast extract, the CANOLA OIL is obvious.

Why spend so much time on this issue when you can easily switch to coconut oil or olive oil or pure sunflower oil? There are many vegetable oil options which are heart-healthy, not rancid and made from whole, non-GMO ingredients. 

Again, many other ingredients here would stop me like carrageenan and hydrolyzed corn, but the CANOLA OIL is a definite No Thank You!

Again, many other ingredients here would stop me like carrageenan and hydrolyzed corn, but the CANOLA OIL is a definite No Thank You!

 

As a side note, Wholefoods admits to allowing other companies to sell GMO canola oil on their shelves.

Here are some examples:

This product is gluten-free and wheat-free and "all natural"…well, except for the GMO Canola Oil

This product is gluten-free and wheat-free and “all natural”…well, except for the GMO Canola Oil

NOTE: This IS Genetically Modified Canola Oil  since it is not listed as “organic” or ‘Non-GMO.”

Notice how the label reads "No Synthetic Preservatives" instead of "No Synthetic Ingredients"? Hmmm….

Notice how the label reads “No Synthetic Preservatives” instead of “No Synthetic Ingredients”? Hmmm….

What can you do?

1. Start reading labels. If you see canola oil in a product, baked good or salad bar item, don’t buy it!

2. Share this Information!! The only way to get the word out is to spread the word!!

When companies see sales going down as a result of what we know and don’t want, they will change!

More on GMO:

More on Whole Foods and Food Additives:

Do Green Smoothies have too much Oxalic Acid?

“Some people suggest that the oxalic acid in leafy green veggies can increase your risk of kidney stones. In fact, studies show that the real risk factors for kidney stones are not drinking enough water, suffering from magnesium deficiency, and not having enough calcium in your diet.

True, certain leafy greens, such as spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, kale, and collard greens, are high in oxalic acid. If you suffer from kidney disease or have only one kidney, minimize your intake of these greens. Leafy greens that are low in oxalic acid include lettuce greens, bok choy, celery, and all fresh herbs except parsley.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
Is there too much Oxalic Acid in greens like kale, spinach, or Swiss Chard?

Is there too much Oxalic Acid in greens like kale, spinach, or Swiss Chard?

A healthy individual should have no problem with the oxalic acid in certain greens. Keep in mind that green smoothies are a mixture of fresh fruits and greens, and the combination of these two types of foods helps to alkalize (neutralize) the effects of oxalic acid. You’re much more likely to get into trouble with oxalate foods if you eat them on their own without any alkaline foods to balance the acid.”*

Think Variety!

When you have variety in your greens (and all of your fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds), you can’t overdo any one food. If someone says to me, “Will I get kidney stones if I eat a bunch of kale every day for 3 months?” My answer is, “Why on earth would you be eating kale every day for 3 months???

Many people’s brains today are set into “one magic food” thinking, but that’s not what works for full body health. Having variety in your diet ensures that your body gets all the nutrients it needs from different fruits and veggies in different seasons throughout the year. A better way to approach your greens is like this: kale one day, celery one day, Swiss chard one day, cilantro one day, spinach one day, bok choy one day and beet greens one day. Do you see how easy that can be? Your body will be delighted at all the variety in those greens and your kidneys will stay happy from the balance of oxalic acid.

Friend or Foe?

Other high oxalic acid foods include chocolate, peanuts and peanut butter, pistachios, sesame seeds, black tea and coffee. Combine that with an acid-forming diet (wheat, refined sugar, animal proteins) and you’re kidneys will definitely start to feel it.

So, are leafy greens combined with a diet full of fresh alkaline-forming fruits really the enemy? That’s food for thought!

The bottom line: Rotate your greens and switch out high oxalic and low oxalic greens!

The bottom line: Rotate your greens and switch out high oxalic and low oxalic greens!

*This excerpt is from my book Green Smoothies for Dummies. In the book, I also debunk some other popular myths about Green Smoothies, including:

  • The Heat from the Blender Destroys the Enzymes in a Green Smoothie
  • It’s Better for Digestion to Chew Your Food
  • Green Leafy Vegetables Are Toxic
  • Green Smoothies Are Too High in Calories
  • Store-bought Green Smoothie Is Just as Good as a Homemade One

If any of those myths are stopping you from enjoying the amazing health benefits of Green Smoothies, then you should definitely check out the book: Green Smoothies for Dummies (now available on amazon and iTunes).

More Green Smoothie Articles:

5 Tips on How to protect yourself against Ebola (or any virus/bacteria)

If you’ve been following recent news and events on the Ebola virus outbreak, you’ve probably noticed that things are getting worse and not better as each day passes. And now, scientists are pointing to the potential of airborne contamination and transmission. Should you be worried? Well, I’m definitely concerned. It’s no longer a matter of “could this thing go global?” because it’s already global. So the question is: What can you do to protect yourself from Ebola?

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

First of all, remember one key piece of information: Not every victim of Ebola has died of Ebola. That means that some people do survive the virus. Keeping your immune system strong is definitely the your best natural defense. You can also protect yourself from exposure with some important hygiene practices. (I’ll talk about that one at the end.)

How to Protect Yourself From Ebola by using your natural Immune System

How to Protect Yourself From Ebola by using your natural Immune System

Here are 5 important steps to help protect you and your family from Ebola:

1. Focus on Your Terrain (i.e. Immune System)

Did you ever take a bag of rubbish to your curb and it wasn’t picked up right away? After a few days, maggots will start to appear. But, had that trash bag not been there to begin with, no maggots would have come. Maggots do not cause garbage; they feed on it.

It was Louis Pasteur who, at his death bed, famously said, “I was wrong. The microbe (pathogen) is nothing; the terrain is everything.”

The health of your immune system defines whether your body or “terrain” is weak or strong. When your immune system is strong, viruses don’t hang around. If you don’t understand this theory, then try this experiment: Stop washing your clothes, taking showers and cleaning your house for 1 year. Then, see how much filth and grime you accumulate. Ok, you don’t have to do that to get the idea, but the point is this: The same thing is happening inside your body! A clean diet and regular detox (once a year at a minimum) means you’re keeping up on your internal housekeeping. Toxic foods, bad breath, body odor, fatigue, brittle hair, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping and digestive problems are also potential signs that your body is overloaded with toxins, or deficient, or both.

To Boost Your Immune System:

  • Eat a diet high in fruits, legumes, seeds, nuts and vegetables to give your body a high dose of minerals and vitamins
  • Increase dark leafy bitter greens, like kale, boy chou, watercress and Swiss Chard to help alkalize your pH
  • Get plenty of fiber such as chia and flaxseed as a “broom” to help sweep out the toxins in your gut
  • Drink water! Avoid sugary soft drinks, diet drinks and “energy” drinks
  • Avoid inflammatory foods including fried foods, refined sugar, dairy, alcohol, excess animal proteins and excess wheat products

2. Stock up on Antiviral Foods

Mother nature has provided you with some amazing healing foods that are powerful anti-inflammatories and great immune boosters. They also happen to be amazing anti-viral and anti-bacterial foods. These include:

  • Ginger
  • Tumeric
  • Fennel
  • Lemongrass
  • Leek
  • Cinnamon
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Lemon/Lime
  • Onions
  • Garlic

You can add these foods to your diet naturally in your smoothies or salad dressings and boost your immunity naturally.

Tip: Try the Onion Sock remedy for colds and flus. Heck, I’d even try it if I had Ebola too!

3. Get Your Antiviral Herbs On

When I read about Ebola going viral (literally), I immediately stocked up on my personal herbal kit of antiviral supplements. Even if the Ebola scare fizzles out (which I certainly hope it will), I’ll still have a great stock of supplements for the winter cold and flu season. Here are my top picks:

  • Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)
  • Echinacea
  • Goldenseal
  • Cinnamon oil
  • Ginger Gel capsules
  • Organic Turmeric Capsules
  • Manuka Honey

If you bundle all that up into one order, it’s less than $100, and in my opinion, a small investment to add some natural protection against Ebola.

Note: You can find these products online; I’ve already picked quality recommended brands for you… just click here for your shopping cart. They ship both domestic and international.

If you’re not sure whether this stuff even works, consider this: Several years ago I got Dengue Fever while living in Thailand. At the time I was doing a hard-core heavy metal detox (that’s another story!). In all the years I lived in SE Asia, I never got Dengue before or since – it was only during that HM detox. It’s a classic example of how a weakened immune system can leave you more susceptible for dis-ease. I suffered for 6 days with high fever and delirium, and to be honest I didn’t even know I had Dengue at the time because I mistakenly thought that my fever was a detox reaction. Every day, I drank 1 Green Smoothie with a LOT of fresh turmeric and nothing else except water. On the 6th day, I opened my fridge thinking “I must have something in here!” when I saw the Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE). I took 25 drops in a glass of water and drank it immediately. TWO HOURS LATER my fever broke and it NEVER came back. The next day, I went to the hospital and received a positive blood test for Dengue Fever. Most people who get Dengue have a fever for 12-14 days. I am 100% sure that the GSE did the trick and is the main reason why I kicked that virus in less than a week.

4. Increase Immune-Boosting Minerals & Vitamins

One of the things that I mentioned in #1 Focus on Your Terrain was to eat a diet high in minerals and vitamins. But the question is: which ones do you need the most? Well, I’d say all of them! But specifically for immune-boosting you need:

  1. Vitamin C – highest found in pineapple, oranges, lemons, parsley and high-antioxidant fruits like berries and pomegranate
  2. Zinc – found in sesame seeds, tahini, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and dark leafy greens like kale and watercress
  3. Selenium – found in organic Brazil nuts and walnuts

I saw an article floating around the other day that said selenium deficiency increases your risk of catching Ebola. It stated that the survivors of Ebola all had sufficient selenium in their bodies or they took additional selenium which appeared to help increase their survival rates (http://www.whale.to/m/selenium.html). That didn’t surprise me at all because I already know that selenium deficiency is linked to higher rates of cancer. Note: You only need to eat 4 walnut halves or 2 Brazil nuts per day to get your RDA of selenium. Well, I stocked up on organic walnuts and Brazil nuts last week too! (Tip: Store your nuts in the freezer to keep them fresher longer.)

5. Get some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Ok, perhaps my former days working as an Environmental Engineer on the Superfund Emergency Response Team with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) got me right into the lingo of referring to masks, gloves, booties, etc as “PPE.” Yes, I used to wear those full-body moon suits with respirator and all to respond to federal emergencies in US EPA Region 3 (that’s the PA, MD, DE, DC, VA, WV region). I was fully trained with all the safety procedures, including knowing what level of protection to wear for different contaminants and how to deal with the safety of public health and environment in environmental emergencies. If you lived in the Pocono Mountains from 2002 – 2005, I was probably the person who sampled your drinking water!

And yes, in the news today I saw how the latest Ebola victim was taken on a private plane surrounded by people in moon suits and ONE GUY wearing normal clothes holding a clipboard and I thought, “Yep. We’re screwed!” This is either the worst false flag scenario ever played out or a deliberate attempt (by “someone”) to infect and spread a deadly disease. There is simply NO WAY a normal high level PPE protocol is violated with some random dude walking up with a clip board.

A man in plain clothes was seen on the tarmac Wednesday afternoon, as the second Ebola patient (in yellow hazmat suit) boarded a flight to Atlanta, Georgia

A man in plain clothes was seen on the tarmac Wednesday afternoon, as the second Ebola patient (in yellow hazmat suit) boarded a flight to Atlanta, Georgia

Update: About the news outlets now reporting that “clipboard man’s presence actually makes the transportation process safer,” that is honestly the most backwards and ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life. As someone who was professionally trained and worked in emergency HAZMAT sites, I can tell you first-hand that there is NEVER a protocol to have someone NOT protected be in the hot zone guiding protected workers in what to do. In fact, there are very specific protocols on how to suit up and enter a hot zone and also how to decontaminate and exit a hot zone. Sorry, but I’m not drinking this “damage control” koolaid!

Back to Ebola: Even with all of my experience, I’m not running out and buying full body suits. BUT I did make some PPE purchases last week, and I think you should too if you want to step up your game and get ahead of these clowns. Don’t wait until there is a massive epidemic to decide that your family should have masks and gloves, only to find out that you can’t get them anywhere.

Personal Protective Equipment you need:

1. Surgical Masks, and
2. Nitrile gloves (I recommend these because they are safe for high allergen people, including latex allergy)

Why masks and gloves? Because you’re greatest risk of exposure is touching something with your hands or breathing something in your mouth. Personally, if I have to travel on any airplanes in the near future, I’ll be wearing a surgical mask and carrying extra masks and gloves, just in case.

More on Healthy Living:

Detox Reaction vs. Allergic Reaction or Intolerance – Which one is it?

Understandably, it can be really frustrating to start eating better and still not feel your best. You might feel confused, discouraged or even angry that you are trying so hard and not seeing the results you want.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

What happens if you start a new cleanse, supplement or detox product and find yourself feeling worse? Doesn’t feeling bad mean that you are having a detox reaction and you should “suffer through it?” And doesn’t foggy brain, fatigue, sugar cravings and rashes always mean you have candida? Definitely, no, or at the very least, mostly no.

Symptoms of a Detox Reaction vs. Allergic Reaction

Symptoms of a Detox Reaction vs. Allergic Reaction

I’ve been in this field for a long time and I want to share with you one of the biggest mistakes that people are making today in the world of detox and natural health: They are calling everything a detox reaction.

In my opinion, the most “over-diagnosed” and incorrect problem that people get labeled with when they’re eating healthy (especially high raw food or vegan) but still feeling bad is: 1) They have candida or 2) They are still detoxing. I’ll address the candida issue in another post, but I can tell you that in my experience of seeing well over 4,500 clients, 95+% of the time, both of these assessments are false.

Did you ever consider that you might actually just have a food intolerance or sensitivity to a food additive? Believe it or not, this happens much more than you could ever imagine. And, when you take the suspicious food out of your diet, you can feel better in a matter of days. Finally, you can start enjoying some real healthy bliss! Read on to understand the difference between a real detox reaction and a potential allergic reaction or an intolerance to a food or food additive.

What is a Detox Reaction

When your start to do a detox, as old, excess toxins flush out and unwanted bacteria, microbes and viruses die off, you can actually experience a temporary detox or cleansing reaction. Based on the work of Dr. Karl Herxheimer in the late 1800s, this temporary feeling of illness is known as the Herxheimer effect and is actually an intense sign of healing. These reactions can indicate that your body has started to cleanse itself as it quickly tries to catch up on the overload of toxins being released.

Symptoms of a Detox Reaction

  • Mild headaches, nausea, chills, sweating.
  • Fatigue, aching muscles.
  • Mucous, body odor, rashes.
  • Dizziness, weakness or even foggy brain.

Typical Length of a Detox Reaction

A detox reaction will last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. If you are experiencing a real “healing crisis,” normally that will last from 1 to 3 days total. Usually after the detox reaction, you feel amazingly better, and you will not have that symptom again. For example, you could feel chills or nausea or intense exhaustion, then a few hours later (or after an enema), feel totally energized.

Click on the Disclaimer Link below to read the full disclaimer for this website!

Click on the Disclaimer Link below to read the full disclaimer for this website!

What is an Allergic Reaction or Intolerance

True allergic reactions are much more rare than intolerances but they’re definitely on the rise (thank Monsanto and GMO foods for that). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there’s been a continued rise in allergic diseases in the industrialized world for over 50 years.

An allergic reaction occurs when your body sees a food such as shellfish, peanuts or wheat as a foreign body or allergen, and starts to attack it by creating antibodies and inflammation.

Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction or Intolerance

The symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary from mild to severe. If you are exposed to an allergen for the first time, your symptoms may be mild. These symptoms may get worse if you are repeatedly exposed to the allergen.

According to the Mayo Clinic, The most common food allergy signs and symptoms include:

  • Tingling or itching in the mouth.
  • Hives, itching or eczema.
  • Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body.
  • Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing.
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.

If you have a food additive intolerance, such as an intolerance to Monosodium Glutamate, you can experience:

  • Headaches, chills, fatigue, aching muscles, dizziness.
  • Insomnia, sensitivity to light or sound.
  • Heart palpitations.
  • Fatigue (especially the following day).
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
  • Hives, itching or eczema.
  • Swelling of the lips, eyes, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body.
  • Wheezing, nasal congestion or constricted breathing.

Typical Length of a Food or Food Additive Allergy/Intolerance Reaction:

An intolerance or allergy can last indefinitely, especially if you continue to eat the food or use the product that you are intolerant to. The problem with “intolerances” is that they usually have a delayed reaction time and they don’t give nearly as severe a reaction as an “allergy.” That’s why they can easily go undiagnosed for years. After a reaction, you may feel temporarily better, but if you eat the suspect food again, you will have the exact same symptoms over and over and never find yourself feeling better.

As you can see from looking at the above lists, it can be easy for a novice to label a food allergy or intolerance incorrectly and call it a detox reaction – the symptoms are almost exactly the same! In rare cases when someone is taking too many detox supplements or doing too many detox protocols at once (far infrared sauna, colonics, zapper, parasite cleanse, heavy metal detox etc.), I recommend to slow down the detox itself and determine the best order and pace of detox for the individual.

In the old days of detox, almost 20 years ago, no one was doing this stuff and the people who were really knew what they were doing. In the world of detox today, there is a TON of misinformation out there. Someone who made 1 green juice or fasted for 3 days is suddenly on every forum as the guru of detox. As with everything, this is a blessing and a curse at the same time. It’s a blessing because more people are getting out there and trying a fast or cleanse for the first time and that is simply awesome. And I no longer get booed out of a room for talking about coffee enemas, lol! But it’s a curse because people are being misled down the wrongs roads.

What kind of foods can you be intolerant to?

You can react to certain fillers in supplements (like malodextrin); chlorella in your green powder blend, Miso soup, seaweed snacks, vegan butters, vegan mayonnaise, and pesticides. I’ve even had clients react to whole foods like tomato paste, sesame seeds or celery. Once we get that food out of the diet, the reaction goes away and then we know for sure that we’re dealing with a classic food intolerance and not a detox reaction. How does it work? I can usually identify which foods you need to remove after 25-30 minutes of Q&A about your symptoms, current diet or recent detox.

If it is a detox reaction, then a few things to get you through a healing crisis include: a castor oil pack, detox onion socks, epsom salt baths, activated charcoal, liquid bentonite clay, extra Vitamin C, magnesium, distilled water, prayer/meditation (to maintain an alkaline pH) and rest.

For more on how to do a detox at home or how to navigate through your detox symptoms and start feeling great, book a private health consult with me via Skype.

How to Book Your Health & Nutritional Coaching Session:

1. Take photos of your eyes with a digital camera.
2. Email the photos to me for approval.
3. We schedule a time to meet via phone or Skype!

More on Detox Reactions:
What are the symptoms of a Herxheimer (Detox) Reaction?

More on Detox:

What are the symptoms of a Herxheimer (Detox) Reaction?

When your start to do a detox, juice fast or cleanse, you might expect to start feeling better right away. However, sometimes the exact opposite happens. As old, excess toxins flush out and unwanted bacteria, microbes and viruses die off, you can actually experience a temporary detox or cleansing reaction. You may suffer from mild headaches, nausea, chills, sweating, fatigue, aching muscles, mucous, body odor, rashes, dizziness, weakness or even foggy brain for a few hours or in some cases, a few days. Based on the work of Dr. Karl Herxheimer in the late 1800s, this temporary feeling of illness is known as the Herxheimer effect and is actually an intense sign of healing. These reactions can indicate that your body has started to cleanse itself as it quickly tries to catch up on the overload of toxins being released.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

 

What is a Herxheimer Reaction, cleansing reaction and healing crisis?

What is a Herxheimer Reaction, cleansing reaction and healing crisis?

In his book The Healing Crisis, Dr. Bruce Fife explains that the removal of disease-causing agents is the catalyst for both cleansing reactions and healing crises. He notes that, “most any harmless method that strengthens the body’s natural healing processes can induce a healing crisis. This could involve switching to better quality foods, taking homeopathic medicines, cleansing the colon, fasting, juicing, using healing herbs, massage therapy, acupuncture, reflexology, vitamin therapy, exercise, etc.”

Dr. Fife states that when you enter a cleansing process, “often chronic conditions from which you are suffering will temporarily get worse. If you suffer from arthritis, joint pain may increase. If you are troubled with chronic migraines, you may have terrible headaches. A psoriasis problem may run wild. Hemorrhoids may flair up. PMS may intensify. Allergies may get worse. Asthmatics may experience breathing difficulties. Blood pressure may increase. Any number of other symptoms may surface during this time that may appear unrelated to existing health conditions. Sometimes these conditions improve after the crisis. Sometimes it takes several crises to cleanse the offending toxins from the body and stimulate healing. At times, health problems can improve immediately after a crisis, and at other times, they improve gradually.”

Click on the Disclaimer Link below to read the full disclaimer for this website!

Click on the Disclaimer Link below to read the full disclaimer for this website!

Cleansing Reaction

A cleansing reaction occurs any time your body is releasing toxins faster than it can eliminate them. For example, you may stir up an old piece of undigested food that was stuck in the colon, temporarily releasing bacteria and toxins into the bloodstream as the liver works to filter out the excess build-up. A cleansing reaction is usually a sign that the liver is a bit sluggish and not fully doing its job. This is also a sign that your body most likely needs regular cleansing every year and a long term change of diet to strengthen its immune system.

If you experience a cleansing reaction, you can try to help speed up the elimination of toxins by:

1. Having a colonic to help flush the colon

2. Doing an enema at home using distilled water (or an organic coffee enema)

3. Taking extra minerals – either liquid minerals, green juice, wheatgrass or green smoothie (depending what type of detox you’re doing)

4. Drinking more (distilled) water to help flush the kidneys

5. Practicing dry skin brushing to help the lymphatic system

6. Taking a restorative detox bath

7. Using a steam or far infrared sauna to sweat toxins out directly through the skin

8. Trying the detox onion socks overnight

9. Taking extra Vitamin C for added antioxidants

10. Applying a castor oil pack to the liver for 40-60 minutes

Usually a cleansing reaction will last a few hours at the most. I do not advise anyone to “tough it out” or suffer through the cleansing process. Consulting with a detox expert (like myself!) can help you make the best and safest detox plan so you don’t put added stress on your elimination organs – your liver, skin, kidneys, colon and lungs.

Healing Crisis

Having an actual healing crisis is more rare than a cleansing reaction. A true healing crisis occurs when the body has been getting stronger and cleaner and is a true sign of progress. A healing crisis may mimic any disease or condition you have had in the past, but it’s abbreviated, typically lasting from a few hours to a few days.

In the book The Healing Crisis, Dr. Fife offers simple suggestions on how to listen to your body during a healing crisis. “The symptoms you develop during a crisis will guide you as to what to do. If you are tired – rest. If you are thirsty – drink. If you have a fever, your body is trying to build up heat; keep yourself warm and let the heat run its course. For aching muscles, a warm bath might help. Pain in the lower back is often caused by the kidneys crying for water, rather than the result of being sore back muscles. Drink more water. If you have diarrhea or are vomiting, the body is trying to empty itself, so don’t try to eat. You will lose fluids, so you should try to drink water to keep from being dehydrated. Drinking a lot of water during a crisis is usually a good practice because water (especially distilled water) will help to dilute the toxins in the bloodstream and aid their removal.”

When you are going through a healing crisis, it definitely helps to have the guidance and support of a detox expert. The key is to remain calm, focus your mind on healing, and support your body back to health, slowly.

Hering’s Law of Cure

When you’re experiencing a healing crisis, remember the homeopathic law of cure, also known as Hering’s Law of Cure:

Healing occurs from:

1. The inside-out (meaning the from the internal organs first, then to the joints and skin),

2. From the head down (the body clear symptoms in the head first, then to the trunk, hips and toes), and

3. In the reverse order as the symptoms have appeared (your most recent ailments are cleared first).

This is the process the body goes through when returning to a healthy state, naturally of course.

For more on how to start a raw food diet, how to do a detox at home or what minerals you may specifically be deficient in, book a private health consult with me via Skype.

How to Book Your Health & Nutritional Coaching Session:

1. Take photos of your eyes with a digital camera.
2. Email the photos to me for approval.
3. We schedule a time to meet via phone or Skype!

More on Detox Reactions:
Detox Reaction vs. Allergic Reaction or Intolerance – Which one is it?

More on Detox:

Is it ok to use 120V blender (or juicer) in a 220V country?

If you’ve invested in an expensive blender and for whatever reason, decide to move to a different part of the world, you may be faced with the decision: does the blender stay or go? While the USA and most of Central America use 110-120V electricity, the rest of the world (mainly Europe, South America, Asia and Australia) use 220-240V. To accommodate the difference, you can buy a transformer to change the voltage between your blender and the wall. However, changing the power that runs the blender can really wear the motor down over time, and after several months to a year, you may find that the motor “burns out.”

Can you have a 110V blender in a 220V country?

Can you have a 110V blender in a 220V country?

If you spent a lot of money on a nice Vitamix, Blendtec, Omega, or Ninja blender, you might really be tempted to keep it and just hook it up to a transformer. But, I’ve heard the horror stories from people saying that their blender died after just a few months in their new country, every time! (Keep in mind that if your blender dies, you’ll be out even more money to buy a new one and will no longer have the old one to sell either!)

Most warranties are not covered when you switch voltages or use transformers.

Your best bet: Sell your fantabulous blender (or juicer) and find it a happy, new owner in your existing country, or gift it to a family member or friend. Buy a new one that matches the voltage in your new destination and keep the new motor running at full power with the correct voltage to match the voltage in your new home.

Voltage-friendly blender-finding tips

  • Are you living in or visiting the USA and looking for a new 220V blender to take home with you? Check amazon.com and ebay.com for blenders that are 220V and described as Not for Use in USA. The prices are much cheaper than what you will find overseas, but the catch is that they only ship within the USA. So, buy the 220V machine and have it shipped to your address while you’re in the United States. When flying home, remove the blade from the base of the blender and pack it in your checked bag. The rest of the blender can be placed in your carry-on bag.
  • Look for a new blender on craigslist or ebay in your new country. If your local destination has a group facebook page, try posting an ad and ask, “Does anyone have a used blender for sale?” You will be surprised in how many responses you get!
  • Contact the blender manufacturers in your new destination country and ask if they have any refurbished machines or returns for sale at a discounted rate.

The Technical Details: Transformers will fix the voltage problem, but not the frequency problem. Transformers can not shift frequency. Running a 60Hz motor on 50Hz will have the following results:
1) It will turn 20% slower.
2) Cooling will drop dramatically, and current draw will increase causing even more heat.
3) The horsepower output will drop, possibly dramatically. Bottom line – your blender will not survive its warranty period, or if it is out of warranty it certainly will have a reduced life.
Thanks to Richard Thompson, an electrical engineer (and my dad!) for providing this explanation!

Remember: It’s best to stick with the voltage where you live. If you live in a 110V country, use a 110V blender (and juicer). If you live in a 220V country, stick with a 220V blender (and juicer). That way, you’re sure to make the best green smoothies, green juices, and health drinks for many years to come!

Green Smoothies for Dummies

Green Smoothies for Dummies

Learn more about blenders and green smoothies in my NEW book Green Smoothies for Dummies by Wiley Publisher, NY, USA. It’s FULL of awesome recipes to please everyone in your family with a healthy green drink. Now available for sale on amazon.com!

For more on how to start a raw food diet, how to do a detox at home or what minerals you may specifically be deficient in, book a private health consult with me via Skype.

Book Your Health Coaching Session:

1. Take photos of your eyes with a digital camera.
2. Email the photos to me for approval.
3. We schedule a time to meet via phone or Skype!

Want to know which blender is the BEST for Green Smoothies? Check out my Battle of the Blenders results!

More on Blenders and pH Health:

Battle of the Blenders: Which one is best?

Are you ready to buy a blender but feeling confused over which features you need and overwhelmed from all the choices out there? Do you really need the most expensive blender in order to make a great green smoothie? If so, which one is best and if not, which of the less expensive blenders can do the job? I’ve tested the most popular blenders with the exact same green smoothie ingredients, so yes, it was a real Battle of the Blenders! Check out my results below and get started on your smoothie making (and smoothie drinking) skills!

With so many blenders out there - which one should you choose?!

With so many blenders out there – which one should you choose?!

Blender Buying Guide

Before you head to the store, think about where and how you’ll be using your blender:

1. What’s your budget?

2. How many people are you making smoothies for (1, 2, 4…or more)?

3. Where will you put your blender (on the counter or under/in a cabinet)?

 

Blender Basics: Motor and Size

Blenders have 2 main features: The size of the motor and the size of the blender container.

Size of the motor

The fastest blenders are the 3HP professional/commercial use blenders. Then, you have the 2HP which are still professional and heavy-duty. And finally, you have the more common kitchen blenders whose motors are usually listed in watts. You’ll see 600W, 700W or 800W, and they give you just under 1HP of blade speed. The 2HP and 3HP blenders are more expensive because of the better motor. A a better motor gives you a more finely blender smoothie. The green leaves in a green smoothie made in a 2HP or 3HP blender will be completely pulverized, and in a cheaper blender, you will see larger pieces, but still completely drinkable (see the example below).

Smoothie on the left: Made with 3HP. Smoothie on the right: 1HP. See the difference?

Smoothie on the left: Made with 3HP. Smoothie on the right: 1HP. See the difference?

Size of the blender container

If you’re making smoothies for a whole family every morning, then you’re going to need a big blender container! Blender container sizes range anywhere from 32 ounces to 64 ounces. (Because the Magic Bullet and Nutri Bullet have such a small blender container, I don’t recommend them for making green smoothies. I also don’t recommend the immersion blenders because it’s just to hard to immerse a stick into a pile of greens.) Check out the table below to see the different size containers in each model that was tested.

Think about where you have room in your kitchen for your blender before you buy!

Think about where you have room in your kitchen for your blender before you buy!

Size of your kitchen

Will you be keeping your blender on the counter in between use, or will you put it in a cabinet? Blenders like the Blendtec, Hamilton Beach and Cuisinart will easily fit tucked away on your counter-top and under a cabinet, but other models won’t. Taking measurements before you head to the store can save you valuable time later.

Other Features to look for

Some blenders have a timer function, which I personally really like. That means you can set the blender to blend for 30, 45 or 60 seconds and start cleaning up while you wait. Also, it’s a good idea to check the warranty (if any) before you buy. Spending more on a 2HP or 3HP usually gives you a better warranty, in some cases up to 10 years, which is awesome.

Comparing Blender Models

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to compare few models.

High Speed Blenders (2HP and above)

Blender Model Peak HP (horsepower) Size (ounces) Pitcher Construction
Vitamix 5200 2 HP 64 BPA-free plastic
Blendtec Wildside 3 HP 90 BPA-free plastic
Omega 630 3 HP 64 BPA-free plastic
Ninja Ultima 2.5 HP 72 BPA-free plastic

 

Normal Speed Blenders (1HP and below)

Blender Model Peak HP(horsepower) Size (ounces) Pitcher Construction
Kitchen Aid Diamond Vortex 0.9 HP 60 BPA-free plastic
Cuisinart Smart Power Deluxe 0.8 HP 48 Glass
Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart 0.9 HP 40 Glass

 

Battle of the Blenders results

As I mentioned above, I’ve actually tested all of theses models, and I have to say that they ALL make a good green smoothie! For sure, the higher power models blender a smoother, creamier and more finely blended green smoothie. With the 1HP machines, I had to add the water and fruit first, blend, then add the greens and blend again.

All of the blenders worked, however the 2HP-3HP blenders made a smoother smoothie than the 1HP blenders.

All of the blenders worked, however the 2HP-3HP blenders made a smoother smoothie than the 1HP blenders.

Here’s what I found in my field test:

Vitamix 5200

The Vitamix 5200 was excellent! It has a toggle switch to change the speed, although no timer function. This model is for you if you prefer a classic, tried and true brand like Vitamix. A nice feature with the Vitamix is that you can also buy an additional pitcher with a special blade for blending dried foods like nuts, seeds, and even flour. Price: $400+.

Vitamix 5200 blender

Vitamix 5200 blender

 

Blendec Designer Series

The Blendec Designer Series takes the prize for sleekest and most modern design. Also, it has a timer and a smoothie preset button, which I loved. It has a unique design in that the entire blender can fit easily under your kitchen cabinet. This blender is a great choice for a brand new stylish kitchen. The 3HP motor is incredible! Best color: champagne. Note: If you’re looking for smart ways to save, you can actually find factory refurbished Blendtec models for $100 less than the retail price. Price: $400+.

Blendtec Designer Series blender in champagne color

Blendtec Designer Series blender in champagne color

 

Omega 630

The Omega 630 is HUGE and I loved this machine. Although the base is large in size, it’s not heavy. Still, this is a blender that will need to be on the counter, so check where you can put it before you buy! This model has a dial timer where you can pick an exact time for blending. And, you just gotta love the 3HP motor. It’s great for a large family! Because this blender has every feature I would want (larger container, high speed motor, timer feature, nice design) and the price is very reasonable, I would have to declare the Omega 630 blender as the Winner of the Battle of the Blenders. Price: $250+.

Omega 630 blender

Omega 630 blender

 

Ninja Ultima

The Ninja Ultima was a real surprise for me. This machine has a 2.5HP motor, yet is almost half the price of its competitors. Admittedly, I thought the blender lacked a bit of style in its outer design but it definitely blends well. And, it has the unique Ninja double blade. If you’re somewhere between a standard blender and a super blender, this could be the one for you. Price: $200+.

Ninja Ultima blender

Ninja Ultima blender

 

Buying on a BudgetTip: If your budget is less but you want a more expensive model, you can always look for a used blender on ebay, craigslist or amazon. You can also put on posting on Facebook in a health focus group or on your local health food store’s page.

 

Kitchen Aid Diamond Vortex

The Kitchen Aid Diamond Vortex has a great look with a classic design, and you can order it in just about any color you can think of, from gorgeous red to lime green! The blender itself is good; it’s reliable and has a nice large size container for being in the low motor (less than 1HP) range. I’d call this a nice choice as a starter blender if you’re on a budget. Price: $150+.

Kitchenaid Diamond Vortex blender in empire red color

Kitchenaid Diamond Vortex blender in empire red color

 

Cuisinart Smart Power Deluxe

Having BPA-free plastic in mostly all new blenders makes choosing a plastic pitcher more comfortable these days, but some people do still prefer glass. The Cuisinart Smart Power Deluxe has a glass pitcher and the size of the pitcher is probably good for 1-2 people, but not more. This is a very good starter blender for a single person, couple or small family. Price: $70+.

Cuisinart SmartPower Deluxe blender

Cuisinart SmartPower Deluxe blender

 

Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart

This blender was actually the most inexpensive one in the battle at less than $40, and yet I thought it did a really good job! The Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart also has a glass container and the pitcher size is smaller. This is really the perfect blender for a college student on a budget who is looking for a reliable blender to start making green smoothies. Price: $40+.

Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart blender

Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart blender

 

Conclusion:

Any of the above blenders is a good pick for green smoothie making in my book. The most important thing is that you actually make smoothies in it, and hopefully every day! If you have the money for an expensive blender, that’s great! If not, don’t stress out. You can always upgrade later and remember, making green smoothies is a new healthy habit for life!

I’ve got lots more information on green smoothies, blenders, how to wash your produce, green smoothie recipes, and even a green smoothie detox in my new book: Green Smoothies for Dummies (Wiley Publisher, NY):

Available on amazon in both hard copy and eBook format!

Available on amazon in both hard copy and eBook format!

Whether you’re a beginner to green smoothies or a pro looking for new recipe ideas and ways to share with family and friends, this book will help! Check it out, and happy blending!

Looking for a new juicer too? Check out my post on What’s the Best Juicer? How to Choose a Juicer

More on Juicing and Smoothies:

Why you shouldn’t weigh yourself during a detox

Have you started your detox, finally (hooray!)…but find yourself checking the scale twice or more daily? Are you feeling disappointed that the numbers are not dropping as fast as you expected? Read on to find out why you should NOT weight yourself during your detox. And don’t worry, you’ll still get the results you want by the end!

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
If you're checking the scale too much during your detox, it's time to get yourself in check!

If you’re checking the scale too much during your detox,
it’s time to get yourself in check!

I’ve literally worked with thousands of men and woman doing different types of detox programs over the years – from juice fasting to boot camp style detox to raw food cleanses to vegan cooked food to smoothie & superfood detox programs. And I can tell you the biggest mistake that nearly every first-time (and sometimes second and third-time too) faster does: they weight themselves constantly during their detox. After a bowel movement? Check the scale. Morning enema? Weight check. Afternoon yoga class? Better see if those downward dogs dropped any extra kilo, just in case! Evening meditation? Maybe quantum physics works for weight loss too…? Do you find yourself constantly weighing yourself, hoping for a certain number to reveal itself as the days advance on your program?

Why you shouldn’t weigh yourself during a detox

It’s totally normal to want to see how much weight you’ve lost while you’re fasting or cleansing, so don’t feel bad! But actually, that’s exactly the problem that you set yourself up for if you do start weighing yourself too much and that is that you can really feel bad IF you are not losing as much weight as you think you should, and especially if you find yourself comparing to what other fasters are losing. “Man, that guy in Room 8 lost 10 KILOS already and I only lost 3 – what is wrong with me?!” Sounds familiar?

What happens during a detox

You should lose weight on your program if you follow the instructions. See more on that below. But, here’s the deal: when you detox, you might retain water for a day or two as your body creates inflammation during a healing crisis or cleansing reaction. During that time, the scale might “appear” to not move, but suddenly on the 4th day, you will see that you lost 3 or 4 pounds in one day as the water is released. There are also times when you simply retain water from an enema so you can actually “appear” to gain weight, but the following day (or later that night) your kidneys will pee all the excess fluid out. From Day 1 to Day 7 or Day 14 or Day Beautiful (however long you fast), you will see that you’ve lost weight, even if the scale goes up and down in between.

The danger of weighing yourself too much

What number you see on the scale should never define you and it should definitely not distract you from enjoying the wonderful experience of feeling your body get cleaner during a detox. If you focus too much on the scales, you can start to feel bad. Really bad. You might start to doubt your intentions, or feel guilty that you aren’t losing as much as someone else, or feel overwhelmed with disappointment that you won’t hit the number you want by the end. Feeling bad can make you lose focus, and even become tempted to cheat or give up. It also splits your energy. Instead of focusing your mind of the fantastic pure and perfect person that you are, you start thinking less-than-perfect thoughts of yourself. Remember, your thoughts create an energy that your physical body will follow. Can you imagine what will happen if you are stuck on a thought like, “I’m too fat,” or “I’m not losing weight?”

More than ever, detox time is a time to think only loving and positive thoughts of yourself. Spend your time visualizing yourself in the perfect weight and health that you want. Can you see how much more power you give yourself to make long-lasting change with thoughts like, “I am beautiful” and “I feel good with my body”?

When to weigh yourself

If you want to check the scales, weigh yourself on Day 1 and on the last day of your program (so that means 2 times total) and that’s it! What happens in between is as much of an emotional and spiritual journey as it is physical. Open yourself to the process and experience your program to the fullest. Doing a detox is the best gift you can give yourself! Congratulate yourself of taking the time out and for putting yourself as a priority in your life. You will benefit from the experience for the rest of your life!

Stick to the program

If your main goal is to lose weight, then it’s really important to follow the instructions for your detox program. That means if your detox says “1 carrot juice per day,” you can have 1 carrot juice per day, not 3 carrot juices per day. If it says, “last meal or drink at 8pm,” you shouldn’t be having your last meal or drink at 11pm. This sounds pretty logical but you would be surprised how many times someone came to me and said, “This program doesn’t work,” only to find that they were not actually following the instructions and adding a few extras in on their own. I’ve even had people tell me that they added a bit of food to their program, because they like it or feel better that way. Well that’s okay with me really. Just remember, don’t blame the scale!

Detox Tip: If you find yourself feeling really hungry on your detox, then drink water with fresh-squeezed lemon juice or a bit of raw apple cider vinegar. It helps to cut the hunger, keeps your pH alkaline and is low in calories too – a win for your detox goals and for you weight loss goals too!

Inhale, exhale …look up to the sky and FEEL the love and gratitude for your detox time!

Inhale, exhale …look up to the sky and FEEL the love and gratitude for your detox time!

Stay focused!

I work a lot with my clients and fasters during all types of detox programs to use the power of their mind to stay focused during their cleanse. Why? If you can control your thoughts, stay focused and feel positive during your detox, you are much more likely to continue your success and keep the weight off after your detox. If your mind is scattered and you’re thinking negative thoughts, then you set yourself up for going back to all your bad habits when you start eating again. Take advantage of your detox time, and make a mental “reset or reboot.” Visualize yourself making the very best foods choices and feeling healthy and beautiful. Set your intentions and use the power of affirmations to create the reality you want in life. Combining a physical cleanse with mental focus gives you amazing results. Here’s to a healthy, gorgeous you!

For more on how to start a raw food diet, how to do a detox at home or what minerals you may specifically be deficient in, book a private health consult with me via Skype.

How to Book Your Health & Nutritional Coaching Session:

1. Take photos of your eyes with a digital camera.
2. Email the photos to me for approval.
3. We schedule a time to meet via phone or Skype!

More on Manifestation and Weight Loss: