Green Smoothie Lesson!

by Leisa on January 13, 2009

I love green smoothies and have a “Superfood Smoothie” almost every day.  At my Embracing Life! Retreats we do a Green Smoothie Lesson, very similar to the one I made here below.

In this video, I take you through the making of a Superfood Green Smoothie, as well as talking about the health benefits and history of the smoothie.

I’m sure you will get a lot out of it 🙂

Can’t Play the Video?

The first thing to check is that you have Adobe Flash installed (which you can get for free right here).

Download The Flash Player

The other tip, if it plays with pauses and jerks, that means that your internet connection is too slow for the data feed. In this case press Pause, wait for the video or audio clip to finish downloading, then press Play again.

Those two tips should solve most challenges.

Leisa

eh_slogan



Please feel welcome to leave your comment, feedback or question about this blog post below! If you would prefer not to use your own email address, just type in the box below to post your comment. We'd love to hear from you!

29 commentsAdd comment

Tanja January 13, 2009 at 2:36 pm

Hej Leisa,
I must be getting older…but I don’t seem to be able to find the video link ´below´ re the green smoothie lesson.
Many greetings,
the birthday girl

Leisa January 14, 2009 at 11:36 pm

Hi Birthday Girl,
I am no computer whiz either 🙂 but there isn’t a link, the video is just sitting there on the blog…. Maybe your computer doesn’t have the right type of viewer for you to see it there on the screen… I will ask my whizz bang webmaster and see what the problem might be!

20/01/09 – Update – I have put the answer on the actual blog post now

Kate Rainger January 26, 2009 at 8:03 am

Hi Leisa- loved the video clip of the super green smoothie. Do you have the recipe posted somewhere as I didn’t know a couple of the super foods and I need spelling!!
Not sure if they are available here in NZ but will go searching.
You are doing an awesome job!

Hope you are well.
Kate Rainger
xx

Jane February 5, 2009 at 6:52 am

Hi Leisa, I also loved the video clip of the super green smoothie. I would also like to know the spelling of some of the ingredients. In addition how much of the green stuff do you actually put in ,a rough weight or perhaps volume like cups or handsfuls, in terms of can you make it too green for taste by the addition of one extra leaf or does it take several to make a significant difference.? I appreciate you making this information available.

Blessings to you
Jane

Leisa February 9, 2009 at 10:52 am

Hi everyone!
I have had lots of requests for the recipe for the green smoothie and for the superfoods I used in it. I have put together a summary of what I did in the lesson, and it is available to download when you join the E-Health Newsletter List by subscribing in the top right column of this site. You will receive a sample of the Newsletter, the Green Smoothie Lesson Hand-Out and a delicious Raw Pie Recipe.

If you are already on this list and are receiving your fortnightly Tips & Tidbits mail-out, then don’t worry about signing up again, those two pieces of information will be coming out to you this week!

Thanks for the great feedback!
Leis

Suzanne Stuart July 21, 2009 at 9:11 pm

Leisa,
Correct me please.
My understanding is when you prepare raw food, even in a smoothie you must drink it within a certain time to maintain the best nutrients.

I drank 3 smoothies yesterday, all before 3pm and not more than 1 litre altogether, and could not sleep at all, and that was after two 1 hour yoga lessons, the last lesson ending at 8.30pm.
Went to bed at 11, what is happening. Been having smoothies for 3 days , the result each day has been the same.

Sue

Leisa July 26, 2009 at 10:00 am

Hi Suzanne,
When you are having green smoothies, they do last in the fridge for a few days – the extra fibre in the green leaves helps to keep the nutrients from oxidising and breaking down. Juices are different however and they need to be consumed very soon after making as there is no fibre to slow down the oxidation.

In regards to the smoothies keeping you awake, it’s a bit hard to answer without knowing exactly what you put in them – but it could be a couple of things. One could be that you used a lot of fruit and the sugar content was too much. Another reason could be some type of detox reaction as the greens will start the liver cleansing. Another one could be that you are getting extra nutrients that your body is not used to and is giving you extra energy! The best idea is to reduce the amount you are having, and just have it earlier in the day – so start with one glass and see how you react. Then you can build it up to two and monitor that for a few days to see.

You could also be sensitive to one of the ingredients, so you might try varying what you put in it too – maybe have less fruit and more greens – or try different types of ingredients to find out what suits you best.

Good luck with it!
Leisa

Kim Scheu September 12, 2009 at 11:17 am

Hi Leisa,
I sat next to you at Raw food Meet Up today. I found your talk really informative and gave me more inspiration to continue on my raw food journey.
You site is also great and look forward to receiving the newsletter.

Thanks
Kim

karen s May 3, 2010 at 6:28 pm

hello leisa.
i would like to skip the fruit in your smoothie. that’s okay, don’t you think? i added an avocado and it tastes great with a bit of sea salt. i would like to stay more alkaline than the fruit offers. i’ve seen the effect of fruits on my live blood and it’s not pretty.

Leisa May 6, 2010 at 12:05 am

Hi Karen,
That’s just fine, some people do better on less fruit – it is a personal choice and comes down to your state of health and symptoms and ultimately how you feel with different foods in your diet. You may want to include some nice low GI fruits such as blueberries, rather than more sugary fruits like banana’s. Most fruits are quite alkalising and the fibre in the greens does slow down the absorption of the fruit sugars for a more sustained energy. But whatever works for you is the best!
Leis

David Cohen May 16, 2010 at 1:54 pm

Excellent video – covers all the main points in the green smoothie space.

I’ve followed Victoria Boutenko’s GSR for a while. You certainly add quite a lot of water – far more than I do (normally 2 cups). Also, you certainly like your powders – I think this is quite common for many to add them in, although right now I’m just adding Spirulina.

I’m now making them last thing at night, for taking to work the next day, leaving my container (Ecotanka) in the kitchen fridge during the day. Because I use less water, once they are in the fridge, it’s gets a bit gloopy / thick, soi I have to be careful when I put it out – yup, I had a little accident the other day.

I was surprised you left the stems on the kale – they are quite thick, and can add some bitterness, but like you I do take the stems from chard (as we call in in the UK).

Once again, excellent overview.

David

Leisa May 17, 2010 at 2:25 am

Thanks for your feedback David, much appreciated.
Yes, I prefer to add plenty of water and make them rather liquid – some prefer to have them thick and even eat it like a yoghurt! Personal preferences come in there! With the powders, they are definitely optional and I certainly don’t do all of those all of the time – that would be a bit of overkill 🙂 but I rotate what I use and often just have two – three superfoods in any one smoothie. For example Spirulina, Noni Powder and Camu-camu. I usually leave the stems on, just for the extra fibre – again, it’s optional – and any that are really tough and too stalky I will take off.
Glad you enjoyed!
Leisa

kerrie brown July 2, 2011 at 6:15 am

Hi Leisa, I already do a green smoothie but never put in the extra’s , will try that for a change.A couple of questions…you poured the coconut oil in, is there a pouring type or did you warm it? Also, I have a BIG problem with green powders e.g chlorella and spirulina.I can’t even take spirulina in tablet form, it makes me feel incredibly nauseous and I can’t stomach anything for ages.It is weird though, because I used to take spirulina capsules and that was o.k. Your thoughts?….
kerrie

Leisa July 6, 2011 at 2:09 am

Hi Kerrie,
The coconut oil I poured in would have been warm from being summer where I live and quite hot – so it’s the same coconut oil that is firm in cooler temperatures. Often green powders cause a dump of toxins from the liver, and that can cause you to feel nauseous. I have seen quite a few people throw up after a big shot of wheatgrass! When you take the capsules they are more slowly broken down and don’t give you that overoad response. The capsules may be a better way for you to take spirulina or chlorella so that you detoxify a little more slowly.
Leis

Milla October 23, 2011 at 10:44 am

thank you very much for that lesson. I am already doing the smoothies with all additional superfoods, but didn’t know I could have them couple of times a day. I am not 100% raw at the moment, only about 70%. I have a smoothie in the morning, then lunch with some cooked food( mostly vegetables and grains ) , and then green juice( spinach, cucumbers, apples, carrots, beets, celery, different variations of those) at night with some nuts, don’t eat dinner. Do you think I should incorporate another smoothie at night or it should be ok this way? does it mean I don’t have enough nutrients as such?

great job on a video
thanks

Jo-An November 24, 2011 at 7:59 am

I am so truly impressed with all I have read and seen on your videos today. Wish they had come to my attention years ago. Having had two
surgeries in six weeks in recent months, and losing my gallbladder, have
still to recuperate from the anesthetics and regain health and well being,
so look forward to adopting your advices and following procedures which
will no doubt have beneficial effects. Again thank you Leisa = you are a gem.

Leisa January 15, 2012 at 1:51 am

Thanks Jo-An I appreciate your feedback! Sorry to hear about your surgeries, hopefully you’re on the right track now and will gain your health back before too long.
xx

krishna raj dhungel February 21, 2012 at 10:28 am

Hi Leisa I am from nepal.I am nepal telecom gaverment servise. Loved the video clip of the super green smoothie, do you have the recipe posted somewhere as i didn’t know a couple of the super foods and i need spelling, i drank 3 smoothies yesterday, all before 4 pm and not more than litre altogether, and could not sleep at all, and that was ofter 1hour yoga lessons, the last lesson ending at 8.45 pm. i am arganik foods.and the arganik fruts and the i am vesitables man, no whain no mattan ok. Thanks.
All The Best
krishna raj dhungel

Ian J PETTITT February 25, 2012 at 5:38 am

Well done Leisa, people will love your reasoning as common sense approach is expanded-on with love, when seeing and hearing is down to earth! Great to see and hear you do “Walk-your-Talk” which is takes Courage, Honesty and Openness, knowing there wil always be another way for the “USER” to find, Life with Purpose is another level you teach without “lecturing”. Hope we get to meet someday soon as I have 28 yrs of Self-help Health to share. Ian.

Leisa March 20, 2012 at 4:30 am

Dear Ian,
You are a legend! Thank you so much for your beautiful feedback and positive message! Yes, we will have to meet up soon, I love getting to know like-minded people 🙂 Chat soon,
xxxxx

Leisa March 20, 2012 at 4:32 am

Dear Krishna,
If you enter your name and address details in the right-hand column of this blog, you will get the Green Smoothie Lesson hand-out and information that includes some of the superfoods I used! Thanks for your support! If you did have any superfoods in the smoothie it may have been stimulaing and kept you awake – very possible! Keep them to early in the day and see how you go,
xxxxx

dawn gowie January 20, 2013 at 9:46 pm

I havent’ made a green smoothie yet but having just purchased my cafe series blender I am now on my way to a healthier patter on nutrition. Thanks for the wonderful demonstration.

Leisa January 22, 2013 at 12:34 am

Fantastic Dawn! Well done and keep up the great work – the Green Smoothies are an easy way to get your greens and superfoods in each day – so enjoy!
Leis
xx

Lorraine Macmillan February 9, 2013 at 5:59 am

Hi Leisa,
It’s been quite some time since my partner and I watched your wonderful video, and we’ve countless tasty green smoothies since. Thanks heaps for getting us started. 🙂
Have an abundance of several varieties of lettuce in the garden at present, and wondered what your thoughts were on freezing them for smoothies – or any raw green veg for that matter. Regularly freeze bananas and berries for this purpose. We don’t normally include lettuce in our smoothies, and I realise freezing lettuce isn’t recommended for later use in salads, but thought it may be ok for smoothies. Would really appreciate your thoughts.
Kindest regards,
Lorraine

Leisa February 10, 2013 at 11:14 pm

Thanks for your kind words Lorraine, much appreciated! Yes, you can freeze your excess greens and use them in smoothies. Because of their high water content, when they thaw they aren’t suitable for salads as you say, but most of the nutrients will still be intact, so you won’t be losing a lot by freezing. Freezing does damage some of the nutrients, but not nearly as much as cooking, and if you have an excess of beautiful greens that you have grown yourself, then definitely freeze them rather than throw them away! Beautiful idea! 🙂
Take good care,
Leis
xxxx

Lorraine Mac February 21, 2013 at 2:48 am

Many thanks for your advice and encouragement, Leisa. Always a pleasure to receive your positive input. Would have replied sooner, but have been harvesting and freezing!
Kindest regards,
Lorraine

Melissa October 14, 2013 at 9:33 pm

Can you provide information on the blender you use in your Green Drink Demo video. Thanks

MariaClara July 9, 2014 at 3:13 am

Hi Leisa: i have bee suscribed for a while and I would like to see the video again or to have the recipe for the green smoothie.

Leisa July 10, 2014 at 12:55 am

Dear Maria,
There seems to be an error in the video – I will look into in and reload it in the next few days!

Thanks,
Leisa

Leave Your Comment


*

(Spamcheck Enabled)

8 trackbacks

Comments

Previous post:

Next post: