Having a baby changes your life forever! I totally agree – however, I have a limit on how many of these changes I’m going to accept for the long term. Maybe you do, too. I realise that some women are comfortable with the ‘baby-weight’ that is still with them even when their child is 10-years-old. While others just accept the idea that feeling run-down comes with the territory. But, I know that we have alternatives. Being a mother is not synonymous with muffin tops (bang bellies), a strained immune system, nor a variety of digestive problems. One can’t truly celebrate motherhood while suffering from a constant lack of energy nor an overload of toxins that starts to age and discolour the skin. So, what’s a girl to do? We have to go into our kitchens, dust off those blenders and start drinking those green smoothies. Yes! The secret weapon that you’ve been waiting for.
A green smoothie is not a green juice nor a vegetable juice. In its purest form, a green smoothie is a creamy blend of leafy greens, fruit and water – no strainers, no sweeteners. Unless you use deeply colored fruit like blueberries or mangoes, the smoothies will come in various gorgeous shades of green because of the potent, healing chlorophyll we get from the leaves. You may use any leafy greens that you have in your kitchen, e.g. Callaloo (Green Amaranth), Lettuce, Cabbage or Kale. So, there is no need to buy any imported, exotic ‘superfood’, plus the fruit can either be fresh or frozen (because their primary purpose is to ‘sweeten’ the greens). Now, if you want to use coconut water, 100% fruit juice or a plant milk (like almond milk), that’s fine. But, don’t use any pasteurised, sugar-added, artificially-flavoured, or carbonated liquids. Just keep it as simple and pure as possible.
Green smoothies are great for us because the leafy greens are full of vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytonutrients which all work together to strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol, aid in detoxification and waste elimination, as well as, increase our energy levels. Just a few spins around the web and you’ll find even more ways you will benefit from drinking your greens. Whether you choose to add a green smoothie to your current lifestyle as a daily kick-start habit or use green smoothies as meal replacements for a weight loss challenge, within a few days your body will tell you that something’s different. Maybe you want to drink them for a 3-day fast or gulp them down for a 7-day detox. Either way, you will definitely supercharge your body and jump-start your life for a healthier you. The most important thing to remember, so you can enjoy your green smoothies, is The 60/40 Rule. For me this means that for every 2 cups/handfuls of leafy greens, I throw in 3 cups/handfuls of fruit. This balances out the flavours to ensure your smoothie always tastes amazing.
The coolest part about blending up green smoothies has been sharing them with my baby! As soon as she started solids, she was slurping up green smoothies. It’s a perfect way to transition from breastmilk to solids, because they are nutrient-dense, all-natural and easy to make (especially if you prep the greens and fruit in little bags and store them in your freezer). So, don’t spend another day feeling drained or being depressed over the pudge and flabs. Grab your greens and fruits and start blending.
Didan Ashanta is a natural living enthusiast who blogs at DidanAshanta.com. She currently lives in Tokyo with her husband and 9-month-old daughter.
