We are now nearing the end of January and I am proud to report that I have stuck with this new healthy habit! In addition to adding greens to my diet, for a month I also cut out cola, coffee, breads/pastas, sugars, processed food and fast food. Yes, I slipped a couple of times but overall I'm amazed at my strength!
So what exactly is green energy and why was I so eager to give it a try? Well, according to Lee Holmes, a guest blogger on the Wellness Warrior:
“Green juices are the best medicine we can give our bodies, and are particularly beneficial for those who have digestive system or mal-absorption issues. Juice is easily absorbed as juicing breaks down the cell walls of fruits and vegetables so that they are pre-digested already. This means that the power-packed nutrients are getting directly into your system.
Juicing is also a wonderful way to ensure that we are consuming our recommended servings of greens too. Let’s face it, no one wants to be eating four cucumbers and three bunches of spinach at 7am, but juicing enables us to get a healthy amount of vegetables in one go to power-up the day.
Another benefit of using greens in juicing is that it oxygenates the body due to the addition of chlorophyll and enables us to release stored toxins in our bodies. Chlorophyll helps in neutralising the pollution that we breathe in every day. If you are a smoker (or have been in the past) it’s a fantastic supplement for your diet. When you ingest chlorophyll, your haemoglobin count is elevated and as a result of this, you’ll find that your circulation improves and you’ll have much more energy. Not only is it a blood enricher with special nutrients that build iron, it also cleanses and improves the health of the intestines, uterus, and lungs.”
The first paragraph alone convinced me to give green juice a try. Any way I can help my body to absorb nutrients and give my digestive system a break at the same time – I will take it!
I tested out three different brands of bottled green juice. I chose to buy bottled juice instead of spending the money to buy an expensive juicer then possibly realizing this wasn’t for me. I also chose organic brands with the ingredients clearly labeled.
Happy Plant Extreme Green
This was one of the last products I tried. I was a bit skeptical, because the expiry date was nearly a month after the "open" or "purchase" date. Hmm. It did taste great, though!
This was one of the last products I tried. I was a bit skeptical, because the expiry date was nearly a month after the "open" or "purchase" date. Hmm. It did taste great, though!
Bolthouse Farms
This product was tasty and delicious. No negative review here. I actually alternated this one with Arthur's (below). The juice is "best" one week after opening. I stuck to that and all was well.
Arthur’s Smoothies
Again, similar great taste and one week expiration date after opening.
So what's the big deal, you ask? I started noticing differences within the first 2 days. This is not a joke or over-exaggeration! I have nothing that I am trying to sell here - only one hundred percent shared experience. I've been energetic in the morning and those post-lunch-time-sleepy-times have all but dissapated. Sugar was hard to cut down, but the green juice is so tasty...almost too good to be true.
I have to admit, I have gotten much of my motivation from the Wellness Warrior. She is smart, Australian and beautiful (inside and out)! I follow her blog and learn new things every week. She also has a free downloadable green juice/smoothies cookbook. Check it out at the link above.
You can buy the above products at pretty much any grocery store (I am in Canada so I can't speak for other parts of the world). They weren't terribly pricey, especially considering how long they last. One botte and I'm good for the week. I just chug a bunch at breakfast. This is probably the most lazy way to go about it, but at least I'm trying. I keep a bottle in the fridge at work and a bottle in my home refrigerator.
What are your green energy habits? I would love to hear from you and share green juice recipes!
Hope your bellies are comfy,
Sher
You can buy the above products at pretty much any grocery store (I am in Canada so I can't speak for other parts of the world). They weren't terribly pricey, especially considering how long they last. One botte and I'm good for the week. I just chug a bunch at breakfast. This is probably the most lazy way to go about it, but at least I'm trying. I keep a bottle in the fridge at work and a bottle in my home refrigerator.
What are your green energy habits? I would love to hear from you and share green juice recipes!
Hope your bellies are comfy,
Sher
Great post. I've recently gotten back into drinking green smoothies. I like the store-bough Happy Planet and Bolthouse Farms varieties but I've also been doing my own in the blender -- far cheaper than a quality juicer and you also get all the additional fiber of the whole fruit. Kale, spinach, celery, with a banana and a hunk of pear for sweetness is awesome. I like to throw in a little hemp oil for Omega-3 content along with a hunk of ginger. Green energy all the way!
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