Dont know about the taste. But low amounts of low sugar fruits would be fine. Veggies also have sugar of course. But not a lot. Neither do lemons and limes. Maybe you can even add 1 serving of berries or something like that. But I wouldnt add more than 1.
I dont know that much about taste. I usually keep it simple. Somone else might be able to help you with what to do with lemons.
Mindwitch,
I'd like to see you try blended greens again, but this time with more variety, as you had very little before if you were only doing spinach as your main green. You could do spinach, kale, collards, mixed greens, romaine, parsley, etc. Apples, pears, bananas, frozen fruits like mango, peaches, tropical fruit mix, etc, and some veggie smoothies as well with cucumber, bell peppers, cilantro...
You might also try what Bosie suggested and go off of fruit for a few months (though some get over candida with a high-nutrient, immune-boosting diet that includes fruit - I'm a little on the fence about this topic).
As for genes, The China Study, one of the most thorough studies ever done on nutrition, showed that while genes helped get diseases like cancer and heart disease started, they only accounting for 2-3% of the actual risk for these diseases. Whether or not these genes manifested mostly depended upon nutrition. Studies show that plant-based nutrition helps to keep the "bad" genes under control. Pretty cool, huh? You "do" have control over your body.
You don't need to eat perfectly all the time, but I would for sure focus on getting at least one large serving of blended greens into your diet daily along with at least 2-3 servings of vegetables. There are guidelines posted at the beginning of this thread. I can send you helpful recipes as well if you'd like, and don't worry, they taste good. I really think if you give this a chance, you will see positive changes.
Also, what are you using on your skin? That's important as well.
Bosie,
If you're really wanting to experiment with low-sugar fruits, lemon and lime would be fine, as they promote alkalinity in the body. If the taste is too bitter, I wouldn't think adding half an apple would hurt, but that's up to you. Another alternative is to make vegetable soups with blended greens (this is actually what I'm currently doing - haven't had an actual green smoothie in a while!). I just blend up frozen greens with either broth or canned tomatoes, and then I add in frozen vegetables, beans, maybe some rice, and seasonings (sometimes a little vegenaise for a creamy treat). They are addicting!!
Joris,
Thanks for your helpful input! It's nice to have another opinion around here besides just mine! haha
Thehoper,
I think it's good to eat for both health "and" taste. In the beginning though, healthful foods may not taste as well, but as Joris said, taste buds do adapt. However, there are definitely some really delicious, healthful recipes that can help those wanting to transition. If you try to tell a SAD eater who is used to eating foods full of sugar and bad fats to no longer care about taste and just eat healthfully, you will most likely lose that person. I find that people in general are much more likely to make a change to healthful eating if they think they can continue to enjoy their food.
No one is ever going to change a person by persuading them. The only way a person is going to change their diet habits is by themselves. Look at the people on the biggest loser. They were in a confined place where they had to change their ways. It was enormously easy for them to eat healthy and lose weight, everyone was doing it around them, and they were surrounded by it. Not just that but they had millions watching them, the motivation was easy. To them it was succeed or face some humbling times ahead.
I know taste buds change, I love healthy food! Tastes damn good to me. Last time I had a pumpkin pie made from a store, I thought it tasted awful. I can't stand white flour anymore, and the amount of sugar everything is loaded with.
Everything can't be happy and smiley, and when it comes to dedication to improve and change your life, it's on that person. Too many people complain about getting clear being too hard. I'm sorry, but someone needs to tell them everything isn't going to be alright unless they put their own foot down and change their ways.
Thehoper,
You are absolutely correct in that a person has got to want to make the change for themselves. Even if it's changing to healthful foods that taste great and leave one feeling positive, more alive, "happy and smiley," haha, it's a still a change, and most people are resistant to change.
Yeah sugar can play a mean trick on the mind. A lot of junk food makes you think that this is how good tasting food should taste. It's only after someone cuts that stuff out and starts a healthy diet for some time that they realize healthy food actually really does taste better. It's something I never believed until now a days.
^ Definitely! Though I do still love some non-healthful foods, but I rarely eat them, and when I do, I can easily go back to my healthful foods. If though, I were to say, eat candy on a regular basis, I'm sure I'd start craving it after a while. I don't ever want to be a 100% healthful eater though, as some foods are just fun to eat on occasion. haha
^ Definitely! Though I do still love some non-healthful foods, but I rarely eat them, and when I do, I can easily go back to my healthful foods. If though, I were to say, eat candy on a regular basis, I'm sure I'd start craving it after a while. I don't ever want to be a 100% healthful eater though, as some foods are just fun to eat on occasion. haha 🙂
Do you still get the odd pimple form time to time or has the green smoothie part of your diet cleared your skin up for good? I noticed this thread is quite old and i was just wondering if this has kept you clear the whole time? Hope so!!!!
Bosie,Yes, it's very rare these days if I break out, unless I'm doing some sort of a detox. If I do get a rare blemish, it's usually of the small variety, so breakouts are no longer an issue. It's been this way for 5 years now! 🙂
That's fantastic. Gives me hope that one day i may find my own acne triggers and finally cure myself. I don't believe that everyone's acne is caused or cured the same way but its great to hear people coming up with their own solutions.
Bosie,
I'm sorry you're still struggling. Yes, for me, the greens are my ticket, but I had already been eating quite healthfully when I started them, and I eat mostly plant-foods as well, so basically, I'm doing a non-dairy, low-glycemic diet by default, which certainly helps as well. The greens were vital though - it wasn't until I added them that my skin cleared up (I wasn't yet doing many veggies or fruits at the time), and my skin would gradually start to break out again every time I went a few days without my greens. I hope you're able to figure out your cause. For some, it can take many months before changes are seen. What type of diet are you currently eating? Are you taking any supplements that could be affecting you? What about your skin care regimen?
Bosie,I'm sorry you're still struggling. 🙁 Yes, for me, the greens are my ticket, but I had already been eating quite healthfully when I started them, and I eat mostly plant-foods as well, so basically, I'm doing a non-dairy, low-glycemic diet by default, which certainly helps as well. The greens were vital though - it wasn't until I added them that my skin cleared up (I wasn't yet doing many veggies or fruits at the time), and my skin would gradually start to break out again every time I went a few days without my greens. I hope you're able to figure out your cause. For some, it can take many months before changes are seen. What type of diet are you currently eating? Are you taking any supplements that could be affecting you? What about your skin care regimen?
Well i have been on the candida diet for a month and a half but i'm finding it difficult. Physically it's fine....i've had no die off symptoms at all (except more acne) but just lately i'm finding it very difficult to stay strict, especially when i stay at friends houses and they give me wine and have no food in the house other than really bad stuff. In terms of supplements i've moved on from medium strength capyrilic acid to the full strength stuff. I also take zinc, vitamin c, quercetin, cod liver oil, l-glutamine, and probiotics.
I dont have a skin care regimen as i find even the mildest cleansers break me out and even though my acne has always been on the mild moderate scale, i try not to make things worse by over-washing my face.
Just out of interest what was your acne severity? the reason i ask is that i've noticed that people with severe/cystic acne tend to benefit from products like BP but when i use it on my smaller pimples it actually makes them ten times worse.
I don't know much about caprylic acid, but none of those supplements seem bad to me. As for the candida diet making your acne worse, it could be because of a detox reaction. Are you eating lots of meat with it?
As for skincare, you might check this website for reviews: http://www.beautypedia.com/ . Paula Begoun is a skincare expert, and she won't recommend a product unless it's well formulated and free of skin irritants. You might check the products you tried to see what she had to say about them. She also has a skin ingredient dictionary - perhaps there's a certain ingredient that causes you issues.
My acne was mild but persistent before I started the smoothies. I had several tiny bumps on my forehead at all times, and about 1 or 2 regular sized blemishes on my chin - these came on a regular basis. I did use BP for a few weeks (bought it right when I started smoothies, so it soon became unnecessary), but I don't remember it making things worse. It did make my skin peel though. I have since heard bad things about it, so it's not something I recommend unless it really helps you.
Remember that diet changes can sometimes take a long time before positive changes are seen in one's skin, but at least in the meantime, you know that you're improving your health.
Hey ABG fairy, I just wanted to update and tell you I'm on day 5 of the smoothies! I've already ran through the whole list of smoothies with some modifications here and there with some lower sugar fruits. I honestly cannot even taste the greens in it, and it's really a nice pick me up in the morning and night. I've been drinking about 2 or 3 huge glasses a day =). I've also decided to only use the cruciferous greens like spinach, callard greens, kale, and Swiss chard. I want as many nutrients as possible haha. Also I had a question, I have not been putting into my smoothies any sort of fat, and recently in a biology class I'm in I have been learning that a majority of the vitamins are fat soluble and are easier absorbed with some fat. Do you suggest I add any to my smoothies?
California1990,
What a smart question! And yes, I think it's a great idea! I believe the best fats are those we get naturally from foods - unprocessed fats. You could add a small handful of nuts or seeds. 1 tbs of ground flaxseed is a great source of omega 3s - Dr. Joel Fuhrman, among other plant-based doctors, recommends adding this to smoothies. Sunflower seeds are cheap and very nutritious. If you're taking fish oil, you can also take that along with your smoothie (just not mixed in! haha).
I'm really glad the smoothies are going so well for you!! Great idea as well to stick to the cruciferous greens. Spinach, believe it or not, isn't actually a cruciferous (I believed otherwise for years until somewhere corrected me here! haha), but it's still one of the most nutrient-rich greens and great to use.
Since you're loving the greens so much, you might also consider making a soup with blended greens. You really don't taste them in the soup either. My body seems to do better when I add in cooked vegetables. The green smoothies kept me clear, but when I started adding cooked vegetables, food cravings went away, so I think there's something to getting in some cooked veggies as well. Below is a really easy recipe that even SAD eaters love.
Keep it up, and thanks for the update!
Creamy Tomato Bean Soup
One can, no-salt, diced tomatoes
About 1 cup frozen broccoli (but 2-3 would be better! You can add some unblended.)
1 can of black or pinto beans
1 cup frozen bell peppers
2, heaping scoops of Vegenaise (optional but really makes it good!!)
Rice, lemon juice, onions, cumin, chili powder (all optional I didnt use any of these!)
Blend the tomatoes and broccoli (add enough broccoli so the mixture is fairly thick) and pour into a medium sized pot. Add the rest of ingredients and warm until cooked.
Hey ABG fairy,
I couldnt agree with you more, I avoid any animal bi products anyhow for both health and moral reasons. That's a great suggestion about the flax seed. It never even occurred to me. Haha I may come to you for questions of this matter you seem like you really know your stuff =). I have very mild acne but I still seem to get a blemish fairly consistently so I'm hoping this will help me do the trick.
Yeah I don't mind the greens one bit. But yet I've always been the odd person who loved Brussels sprouts and broccoli. That soup sounds amazing I think I might just make it today. It's very wet and rainy here in Cali so hot soup sound like it'll hit the spot =)
I have a question for you. I'm not sure if your familiar with the vegetarian facial company called mychelle. I've been alternating between two of their facial masks as I've been trying to take care of my skin completly naturally. Have you heard good things about them by chance?
California1990,
You are more than welcome to come to me with questions! I like to research things, and it would be a shame to just keep all that information to myself! haha
Your skin sounds like mine before I started with the smoothies. If the blemishes are on your chin, they could be due to a hormonal imbalance, and greens are great to help balance hormones. If the greens don't give you results, you might also consider supplementing with DIM, a substance found naturally in cruciferous vegetables that helps balance hormones.
I have heard good things about MyChelle. However, unfortunately, most natural brands don't formulate their products very well and include skin irritants, like certain essential oils. This alone could cause your skin to breakout. You can read more about MyChelle here and see reviews of the products by Paula Begoun, skin care expert: http://www.beautypedia.com/search.aspx?bid=330 . If you're really set on using natural brands, which I can understand, you might check out some of the other brands, as several, like Alba and Jason Naturals have several good products. Here's the link for all brands: http://www.beautypedia.com/BrandList.aspx
I hope you like the soup!!
hey guys! It's been said to only use leafy greens and fruit in the smoothies, not actual vegetables. I was wondering why and came across a very interesting article! A very very short synopsis is that certain food groups require different digestion and enzymes. It was cool because it specifically mentioned that leafy greens and fruit go fine together, because they both are fast digesting foods. Here is the article in full if your interested...check it out, the information sounds legit!
Keep in mind though that this isn't an empiracle scientific article, so it could also be a load of BS lol, but it does affirm why it's good to mix fruits and leafy greens!
So nice of you to post that Maximus! This issue has come up before, and I tried to find the source I used to use for this but couldn't find it. Anyway, I used to think only leafy greens with fruits too, but I think what I remember finding is that fruits and vegetables are fine together so long as they are all raw. However, there may still be some people who have issues, and for those few, it's probably better to only mix leafy greens with fruits and not vegetables. I say if you can handle vegetables and fruit together, go for it!
I was wondering how many green smoothies you should drink a day?
Also should you start off slow or go big then slowly go down?
How long did/does it take for your skin to become...better?
I just convinced my parents to let me take charge of what I eat so I decided to do this. I just want to make sure I got everything right cause I have a very low budget to go on.
^ Hi there! Glad you're going to give green smoothies a try! Don't worry about the quantity you drink, because it varies depending upon how much water you add. Just be sure to get 2 large handfuls a day. If you find that your skin reacts badly, due to a detox reaction, you can cut the dosage, but then gradually go back up to 2 or more a day. If your skin is really bad, you may need to make some other dietary changes as well (listed under "diet tips" on the first page of this thread). You can see changes in as little as a couple weeks, but it could take a couple months or more. The main thing is to realize you're giving your body wonderful nutrition and to stick with it for the long haul. Oh, and budget wise, frozen greens and fruits tend to be less expensive, and bananas are really cheap as well. I really hope it helps, and if you have anymore questions, just ask!