Apples, bananas, pineapples, grapes, cherries, orages etc = high sugars = high carbs.

ABG fairy should I destem spinach? Maybe for other plants but spinach just seems fine.

Guys;

I don't think you should include cucumbers or too many vegetables or it will spoil the taste. I get plenty in my salads, beetroot, cucumber etc. so there is no need to add it to smoothies!

Spinach is tasteless but so healthy!

x3 handfuls of spinach (frozen is best)

x1 handful of mixed frozen berries

x1 cup of water (cold is best)

x3 teaspoons coconut milk

x1/3 apple (green is best)

Blend together

Chop up 1/5 banana and 1/20th apple and add to smoothie and chuck in freezer for 30minutes. You will not regret it! It's pretty filling and the cheat is that you're using a TINY bit of fruit but since you CHOP it up you eat chunks and it tastes sweet. If you blend banana in, you won't taste much of it. So chop it into tiny chunks.

Add tiny fruit pieces on top and sprinkle some coconut juice to add prettiness.

Carrots are delicious but they are carby and high GI. Recommended in juices.

1/2 and avacado will add creamy texture! yum!

Ginger will add a tasty tang (just don't pick up the garlic by mistake!)

*I meant sprinkle with coconut MILK. Coconut Juice has ALOT of sugar.

I've been eating fruit with no problems to my skin.

I started off VERY slowly, though, and worked my way up - and that includes outside of the smoothies.

I first had a small box of raisins (yeah, sugary, I know) waited, then had a golden delicious apple. I didn't eat much fruit for a few days, then got my blender and started making berry spinach smoothies.

I then started adding half of a banana.

Today, I used peaches, mango chunks and yes, an entire banana. I even had a banana as a snack last night. On Monday, I had a bottle of orange juice, no sugar added, with absolutely no problems.

No new skin eruptions.

I think the trick is to try fruit, gradually. Fruits are not evil - we just need to work on insulin sensitivity and such before introducing larger amounts. I'd say see if you can tolerate them before deciding to completely exclude them.

Brissyguy,

No, spinach stems aren't that textury, so I just leave them. Those are some great tips you gave!

gMARIAs,

I'm so glad you're still doing okay on fruits! Love how much you're loving your smoothies!

Hi Guys...

I read a thread earlier about the benefits of sulfur for acne.

And that reminded me of my Dads tale of curing his acne in the 50s with a sulfur drink that made him wretch.

Could it be that the sulfur in the green veggies are the ingredient helping acne?

Not that it particularly matters...

Greens are good lol!

Now, i was really wondering about how to take them.

Im very broke after paying all my fee's for med school, plus i was never really a 'juicer' person.

So do you think it would be a runner to just buy the greens and eat them? Without juicing them?

Thanks

John

Very interesting about the sulfur! Could be!! I think the fiber and beta-carotene really help as well, and of course, greens are the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat, so you're getting a plethora of nutrients when you eat them!

Because the cell walls get so thoroughly broken down when you blend greens, you get four times the amount of nutrition when you blend them rather than just eat them, so I would definitely blend them! You don't need to juice them - just get a cheapo blender for about $50 - some good ones have been mentioned in the posts just above.

Do you think I can get a similiar effect from juicing fruit? I'm using mainly carrots but also throw in some apples, oranges, strawberries, and other random fruits.

OMG OMG OMG OMG. I'm going to start adding organic yogurt and cocoa to my smoothies! It doesn't even make me feel guilty! Okay a little. I made a thread on cocoa. Because I love cocoa so much. It's got no sugar, nearly no carbs and is so healthy for you!

I don't know why I JUST had this epiphany!

Jay - If you're juicing you're not getting as much fibre I guess? Both are great methods.

Jay326,

The power player in green smoothies are the greens, but don't worry, you won't really taste them if you blend/juice them with fruits or carrots. Start with baby spinach, as it's mild in flavor. Carrots are great, but compare their nutrient density to greens: http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/article17.aspx

Brissyguy,

Yay!! Glad you're exciting about new ingredients! I LOVE adding cocoa powder to my smoothies, and occasionally when I find yogurt in the house, I'll add that as well, and yes, I have to admit, it IS really good. haha =D Remember that dairy is a major acne contributor though, so keep that in mind!

@Brissyguy - I guess I'm not too worried about fiber, I take a supplement for fiber everyday =P

Yeah I take p.h and Glucomannan as well. It just depends if you like juicing or smoothies with pulp. It depends for me. Smoothies is better for lunch to make you full and sometimes you may prefer juices. For me it's mainly smoothies.

ABG, you typed Jay twice. It's Brissyguy! =D

+ But my yogurt has no sugar (it tastes ew) and is organic so I'm pretty sure that means no hormones. I'm not going to use much I'm actually thinking of chucking it in the freezer because I told myself last time not to buy yogurt again but it was on sale ...

I (L) COCOA

Anyone ever try a pumpkin pie smoothie?

I'm reading various recipes and a lot of them call for different things like either dates, honey, agave, vanilla - I even saw one with banana?

I'm considering making one tomorrow, but the idea of it being green turns me off. I adore the yummy color of pumpkin but I guess I have to think of the nutrition first.

My recipe concept:

Libby's pumpkin (though it's technically cooked)

Stevia

Unsweetened almond milk

Either dates or a banana

greens (probably spinach because it's so darn mild)

Or maybe I should stick with regular fruits and greens and just whip up a pumpkin pudding (because I'm too lazy to attempt raw crust from nuts and such) and call it dessert

Brissyguy,

Oops!! Sorry about that, haha. That's what I get for replying so late at night! haha

gMARIAs,

I've never heard anyone mention putting pumpkin in their smoothie, but why not?! Let us know if you try it!! I bet pumpkin blended with some almond milk, cashews, vanilla, and cinnamon would be really good!

Guys, you're all legends! Especially you, ABG!

Straight after my exam this morning i spent 100 of the best euro i've ever put down to get Philips blender. Then about 6euro in Aldi on Spinach, oranges, apples, pineapple and ginger.

Made about a litre of juice from maybe 200gms of Spinach, a chunk of pineapple, a peeled orange and chopped up medium apple and a slice of ginger.

And it tastes lovely!!!

Regardless whether it improves my skin, its here to stay in my diet!

Thanks Guys

John

Quick question on the quality of the greens.

Would Aldi veg do? Or would it need to be organic?

What about using the stems of the spinach? I didnt, but wouldnt it be a good sourch of fibre, so i could drop using Psylium Husks?

Leave the stems in it's all good. Aldi fruit is fine, I love Aldi! We have a few here in Australia and the produce is so cheap, yet it's at a very high standard! I shop there only occasionally because it's locations aren't near the city CBD.

Ginger is great! Put a slice in only (It can be very overpowering) and it's so fresh! It smells and tastes great and ginger cleanses the body.

100 Euro Blender. Sounds pretty good to me! Good luck with it all!

Late night posting isn't good ABG =p get some sleep.

Don't do a pumpkin smoothie for god's sake! I make pumpkin soup. It's savoury. It'll taste nicer as a soup

Welcome joconnor, and thanks for those kind words!! So glad you're so exciting about green smoothies!!! Brissyguy is right about leaving the spinach stems - it's only the tough stems, like kale, that you might consider removing. Kale stems have made NASTY smoothies before for my sister and I.... we learned our lesson. LOL

Brissyguy,

I'm really glad you post here - you give awesome feedback. Oh, and I'll try to get some sleep!! haha

Just now, I had an apple/carrot/celery juice - two apples, about 3-4 carrots and some celery. I asked the juice maker to add in more celery but she was reluctant to do so cuz celery doesn't produce much juice. =[

Awe schmucks, ABGF - I'M really glad you post here, no - I'm glad you made the thread! Just sharing the information I've collected and making the world a better place Trust me - I don't say that alot but you bring out the best in me

Skytenshi - I just read your signature and I think scrubs might break me out too. It's just I have skin congestion and using an exfoliating scrub feels good and it makes me think it helps with congestion ... tips? *_*

Aw, thanks Brissyguy!!!

Skytenshi,

Sounds like some tasty juice!! Celery is great to juice with - it's been a while since I've juiced it, but I don't remember it being skimpy with juice! haha

I just mix spinash with water. And drink it. I dont add fruits Im good with the taste actualy...

joris,

Wow!! I suspect you have your reasons for staying away from fruit, so it's great that you're okay with just water and spinach alone!! Don't forget to rotate your greens - maybe try some collards and kale as well, and a little lemon and parsley thrown in would be tasty as well.

I eat a lot of fruit. But i want them outside my spinash. I mean the taste of the spinash stays kinda bad. So why spill fruit if you also can enjoy them I just kinda drink the spinash as quick as possible. 2x a day 1 glass. But eh today i ate 1.5 big orange and 4apples Thats much

LOL joris!! I totally understand where you're coming from. I'm that with some foods where I just see no point in ruining something delightful with something else! haha Spinach really is so mild in flavor though that I think for most of us, we enjoy it with the fruit. Maybe just try 1/2 apple, and a teaspoon of lemon juice... you won't believe how much better that'll make your spinach taste. I just hate to think of you having to scarf down a spinach drink everyday while possibly holding your nose at the same time. haha

maybe its the lemon juice , i will try it. Thanks ABG

btw why do you take them, i take them because it feels like i get more energy from them, and my skin tone seems to look nicer. Maybe red marks fade a little quicker. But it didnt have that much inpact on my breakouts i guess.

Goris,

Have you ever tried wheat grass juice? I never have, but can't wait to do so. As soon as I move out of my parents when I am making some money with my blog I will be all over it.

I have a green smoothie in the morning as part of my breakfast 6 days out of the week. Ever since I started doing this I have never been more energetic. I NEVER feel tired during the day anymore. I begin to feel tired right around my bedtime. It's so awesome you have no idea. Of course going to the gym 5 days a week and many other things contribute to this. But, I feel so Amazing in the morning after my green smoothie and my digestive system has improved dramatically as well.

Cheers to green smoothies!

I only drink smoothie casually because I don't like the taste I am concern to add different kind of fruits

My skin looks nice, even though I don't even drink green smoothie at all... However, every time I drink green smoothie, my skin looks smooth and I go from laziness mode to energetic mode. So I want to get back at it for school

You think adding fresh lemon ( squeeze the juice out ) and parsley would help?

spinach, water, lemon and parsley sounds good?

I think half of banana would not hurt at all.. because you said leafy greens are sugar killer. Ha ha