3 smoothie changing greens

When you think of a smoothie what are the ingredients that come to mind? Strawberries? Blueberries? Kiwi? Milk? Whey Protein Powder? Mint? Green Spinach?  Avocado?

When was the last time, or the first time, that you've had a smoothie with any of the last three ingredients? If you haven't then I hope I'm about to change the way you enjoy your after-gym or breakfast smoothie experience. Forever.

Mint, the most obvious of the three, is one that many still have not had a chance to experiment with in their smoothies. Mint is amazing to use in your breakfast smoothies because of Mint's natural smell stimulates digestion through its aroma. The oil from mint is also useful to help calm stomach inflammation. Mint's aroma further helps to seduce headaches and can relax you after that late afternoon workout and pairs well with a chocolate whey protein shake. Half a handful of mint in a smoothie goes a long way and freshens your breath to boot!

Now many readers may shake their heads as they think "Mint I can understand, but spinach?" Interestingly enough spinach neither adds nor subtracts from the flavor of your everyday smoothie. So why try it out? For starters there are a good deal of vitamins and antioxidants that can boost your immune system. It also contains a competent source of fiber and iron. While fiber will help your digestive system the iron, a component of hemoglobin which carries oxygen to blood cells, can help you maintain your daily energy levels. Throwing this lovely green into your smoothie is an easy fix for an all berry smoothie.

Perhaps the strangest of the three avocado (which is a fruit?!) wouldn't seem like something you would ever want to blend up. You might be surprised! In using avocado to blend a smoothie it can give it a very rich creamy texture and won't take away from the taste your aiming for. Avocado will also add some needed potassium and when eaten can enable the digestive system to better absorb fat-soluble nutrients. It pairs better with a vanilla but can also go well with a chocolate whey protein.
  

The only thing I can say is whats the least harm it could possibly do to try out these ingredients for a little while? Making green smoothies a part of your weekly intake might be just what your body is craving! :)


Mincado smoothie:

1/3 cup frozen blueberries, raspberries and strawberries (mix and match)
1/2 cup whole milk (or 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup milk)
1/2 avocado
3 sprigs of mint
2 big spoons of cottage cheese
scoop of whey protein

Alcohol Free: Day 1

I wasn't expecting day one to be hard. Maybe alcohol was not a good thing to give up. Instead I should have given something up that hits more close to home for me. What would that be? Not dressing up for 100 days? Being bald for 100 days? No vegetables for 100 days?

All these would probably have been more difficult. But I digress from changing, seeing as once we've made a start in a direction there is only to go forward day by day.

I'm also sure that being in school will make this a bit too simple. Today I spent all day at home with my nose in one book after the other. A section from The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, another from Regarding the Pain of Others by Susan Sontag and last but not least 20 pages from my reader about the 1972-74 Ethiopian Famine. Had I done this while I was in the military and/or in Korea I am sure it would have been much more difficult seeing as the drinking culture there was so much more highlighted.

Perhaps this will actually become harder than I'm giving credit? Maybe by day 60 I'll be itching for a drink? Perhaps I should go out tonight to test how one feels completely sober around friends. It could be a totally different experience all together. 

The 99 beers that remained on the wall.

Ever read an interview or column about one of your favorite heroes or idols, only to come across something you just weren't expecting to hear? I'm not talking about what their favorite color is or how they own a house on a private bank off the Maldives. Something like 'Superman never drinks.' It really doesn't hit you in the way that you may expect. "My, my" you think, almost scoffing "I never would have guessed!?" As if this is something that intimidates us? Somehow it changes our internal view of these individuals, whether we admit it or not.

In a way the consumption of alcohol seems to be an access card. It opens up the doors to social experiences that seem to be otherwise unobtainable. Would you go downtown if you didn't drink anything? Occasionally, when you are driving everyone home but otherwise why wouldn't you drink? Are there social ramifications to not drinking alcohol? Will you lose the chances of meeting that guy or girl because you weren't brave enough to talk to them? Could choosing not to drink benefit you in the slightest as it seems to help famous authors, politicians, and entrepreneurs? Is this a special gift that truly separates them into a category all their own?

Who knows. But the curiosity as to what changes this might bring to ones life has killed this cat. Along with my friend Nate Meier at his blog (I EMANATE, MIRE.) we have set off on a 100 day experiment to do just this. One hundred days of reflection on what one might experience totally free of alcohol.