A high-speed blender is a great tool for nutrition!

by Kelli
(Seaside, CA)

I bought a Vitamix in April 2011. I had taken about a 12-year detour from health and wanted to get back into what I knew was healthy (green foods, green smoothies, green juices, plant-based diet, etc.) My Vitamix is the best investment I've ever made.

I drink 1-2 smoothies per day. I am really hard core. I don't make tasty fun ones, really. They are all about high nutrition. I do mostly greens, some other vegetables, and some high-antioxidant spices such as turmeric, black pepper (enhances bioavailability of turmeric 1000-fold), and rosemary. I do hemp seeds, chia, and flax in some (do not combine these seeds with fruit). Greens I use include cilantro, parsley, kale, chard, lettuce, dandelion greens, baby greens, sunflower sprouts, broccoli sprouts, buckwheat sprouts, and wild plantain leaves.

Since I don't like munching on dark leafy greens, I do smoothies (sometimes juice) to ensure I am getting necessary minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. I can't say my life has changed drastically because I have chronic back problems that make me feel bad all the time, but it has been the impetus for improved nutrition and alkalinity. Without consuming green foods, we cannot be healthy.

The most gratifying thing about smoothies is the digestive aspect. I feel as if the fiber really helps clean me out. Lately I've been noticing the need to use the restroom within a few minutes of consuming a green smoothie (not in a bad way--just whatever was in the colon is signaled to be moved out so the new can be digested). This tells me my body is responding as nature intended. The messages are getting through.

My smoothies have evolved as I learn more about nutrition. I used to add extracted organic oils to my smoothies. Except for coconut oil maybe, I have learned through Dr. Esselstyn's work and others', that extracted oils can be damaging due to oxidation. So, I opt for fats from whole food sources (hemp seeds, avocado, fresh coconut meat, etc.) I also don't mix fruit with fats/seeds/nuts. For food combining, I will do maybe berries or fruit and greens, OR greens and seed/nut protein/fat. Phytic acid content of some seeds may need to be considered, so I may be taking flax or chia seeds in plain water vs. in the smoothies. There's a lot to learn. There are lots of good resources out there.