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Ever since participating in Green July last year (wow time flies!), I've made it my mission to continue having at least one green smoothie per day. Usually I have enough time in the morning to blend up a little green concoction and drink it for breakfast in the comfort of my own home- no weird looks or funny faces from anyone 😛

However on busy days or days that I start work early it can be challenging trying to fit in time to prep, blend and drink the daily green good stuff. Now I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this little dilemma and thanks to a email from a lovely Wellness WA reader I've got some answers for all your green smoothie on the go questions!

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How long will a green smoothie stay fresh for after I make it?
Most green smoothies will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but you will lose some nutrients as it sits in the fridge. If you're rushed for time in the morning, making the smoothie before bed and storing it in an airtight bottle (glass is best) should see it stay fresh for breakfast the next morning. Another option would be to prep all the ingredients and put them in a zip lock bag, which can then be stored in the freezer overnight. That way in the morning all you have to do is add water or milk, blend and go!

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Can it be kept in the fridge at work and drunk at lunchtime?

Drinking green smoothies fresh in the morning is best, but if you want to drink it around lunchtime at work that's totally fine too! Again just make sure it is properly stored in an airtight bottle. If water separation occurs, just shake it around a little first before you drink!

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What fruits are best to use in a smoothie that won't be consumed immediately?

Smoothies containing bananas should be consumed immediately as bananas degrade more quickly than any other fruit (you may notice a weird change in the color and taste of your smoothie!). Other fruits and ingredients that are often included in green smoothies should stay fresh for the whole day. Berries are best!

Do you have any other green smoothie related questions? Leave a comment below if so, and our resident smoothie experts will answer all your queries!

Article by Kavisha, green smoothie addict who enjoys sharing the green love! She is currently studying for her Master of Wellness at RMIT University and blogs at Be Balanced. Be Well.

Be well,

xoxo

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I first heard about green smoothies when I attended a raw food seminar in 2009. Eating greens had always been a challenge for me, because although I loved my salads, fruits and vegetables, it was hard for me to sit down & find time to eat loads of leafy greens such as spinach or kale. At the seminar, I learnt that greens possess more valuable nutrients than any other food group and all these nutrients are stored inside the cells of plants. These cells are made of tough material and to release these valuable nutrients, the cell walls needed to be ruptured. In simple words, we need to chew our greens to a creamy consistency in order to get the benefits and chewing them thoroughly with our teeth does not always satisfy our nutritional needs as much as blending our greens!

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This is how I learnt that blending my greens and drinking them in a smoothie form was actually more beneficial for my body in order to absorb the nutrients. And smoothies on the go were easier to digest than salads on the go!

This recipe below is one of my favourite recipes, as I can always get the ingredients at the grocery store, and it is quick, easy, satisfying, cleansing, nutritious and tasty for my hectic lifestyle.

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Karen’s Quick & Easy Green Smoothie

♥ 1 handful of hydroponic lettuce
♥ 1/2 cucumber
♥ 1 ripe banana
♥ 1 cup of chemical free water
♥ 1/2 a Green apple
♥ 1/2 a Red apple
♥ 1/2 cup frozen berries

Blend for 2 minutes and add 1/2 avocado (optional) if you want a more creamy consistency or are a bit more hungry.

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Enjoy!

Article by Karen Then, yoga instructor & owner of Bikram Yoga Victoria Park!

Be well,

xoxo

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1. 7 day green smoothie challenge

This past week I undertook a challenge to see what difference (if any) drinking a green smoothie each day for one week would make to my life. UNFORTUNATELY! I fell off the wagon a few days in, I’m definitely not perfect and nor do I claim to be 🙂 I did however drink a lot more of them than I usually would (4-5) in one week, and I have to be honest I’m feeling pretty darn good. I recently found out about the necessity of rotating your greens when making these type of smoothies, and I have to say I am amazed that nature is so clever. Click that link and read all about why it’s best to rotate… I’m sure it will amaze you as it did me!

In light of that I’ve been flirting with cos (romaine) lettuce in lieu of spinach and kale this week, and LOVING it!

Cos lettuce, blueberry & cashew smoothie.

1 x cup of frozen blueberries
4-6 x medium sized washed cos lettuce leaves
1/2 x cup of raw cashews
2 x cups of water
Optional: 1 x banana

Blend for 1-2 minutes. Will make enough for 2-3 big cups. I find this smoothie incredibly refreshing and it’s absolutely my new favourite, mmmm! Recommended!

2. Echolife Clay Cleansers

I lurrrrve the way this clay makes my face feel. It’s very different to cleansers I’ve gotten used to, being that it’s a lump of wiggly clay in a glass jar, but I take a 10c piece sized amount, rub it into my hands with water and then massage all over my face. It’s perfect for my skin type which is combination – few dry bits, few oily bits, few pimply bits – I’m certainly not blessed in that department. After only a few days of using this I’m already addicted and I love that it’s so natural, I’m really getting back to basics with skincare at the moment, so after cleansing I press a few drops of rosehip or jojoba oil into my face while it’s still damp, for a double hit of natural goodness!

There is also another version I like to use, that contains castor oil, for when my skin is feeling a bit drier (hello winter!).

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3. Toasted cereal topping

This stuff. What can I say? It has transformed my breakfasts in the morning. I put a teaspoon of this wonder-mix, which contains organic raw linseed, sesame seeds, buckwheat, sunflower kernels, almonds and cinnamon. It’s gluten free, no added oils, sugar or salt, GMO free.

I stumbled across it one day at Farmer Jacks, Subiaco and haven’t looked back since. It gives an awesome nutty crunch and texture to my porridge in the morning and it just feels so -good- knowing that I’m getting that extra bit of easy nutrition to start my morning off the right way. I also sprinkle it into my smoothies and it gives it a really interesting flavour kick.

There are heaps of other rad products by the brand, Real Good Food, such as mixes with goji and blueberries, rice porridges, delicious looking trail mixes and MORE! Ps. I’m not getting paid to promote these! I just found them randomly and LOVE the prods, so want to share my joy!

Me at yoga… hah! Nah, it’s number one yogini babe, Kathryn Budig. Crushin’.

4. Sunday Yoga

A couple of weeks ago I took part in a generally unheard of activity… exercise, on a Sunday.

It was amazing! Admittedly, I felt a little smug as I was doing sun salutation after sun salutation when many people would still be in bed nursing a hangover from the night before. I quickly got over that and realised I was doing it for ME, not trying to be better than anyone else. It was a great note to end the week on, and I’m looking forward to it again soon.

The Yoga Company near the Subi train station (across from the road from Wagamama) do Sunday classes, if anyone knows anywhere else that does Sunday yoga, please leave a comment!

Just a couple of links for you this week… we’ve been too busy organising some excellent new competitions to browse too many other websites, but do let us know if you’ve come across anything interesting on your travels! 😉

Linkies:

♥ Foods that promote collagen production
♥ Foods that can help relieve stress

Past week n a bit:

♥ We checked out some superfoods that go ON your body, not just in!
♥ Green Smoothies: A new kind of beauty therapy – one of our most popular articles of all time!
♥ Beauty and wellbeing routine: Ashlea Ingham, Model & Miss Universe Australia Contestant!
♥ Planet Eve Organics – another ab-fab Aussie organic brand, LOVE!
♥ Say bye bye to cranky winter skin!
♥ We reviewed Bikram Yoga in Scarborough to see if we’d survive…
♥ Beauty and wellbeing routine: Lauren, Beauty on the Grove this lass is only 26 and already owns her own salon. What a go getter!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo
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