I have been drinking green smoothies for 7 months. There has been several flues raging around my office. I am noticing that they are commenting that everyone is getting sick but me. Who would have thought that a green smoothie would help me survive cube hell.

I remember back to how I used to feel on a daily basis before I incorporated green smoothies into my diet. I had already bought a Blendtec blender before I knew about Green Smoothie Girl (GSG). Then I came across GSG in my research to be overall more healthy. I started drinking green smoothies on a regular basis. I have not been sick since! If I start to feel run down, I drink a green smoothie, get some rest and I’m back full force the next day! Robyn, you have definitely taught me more than I have found from other resources. Your method, structure, and style of presenting the reasons why to drink green smoothies as well as eat whole, unprocessed health and vitality giving foods based on solid research is excellent!

In general, I do think the green smoothies help us stay well. We drink green smoothies nearly every day. We all have healthy constitutions and rarely got sick before green smoothies, but I love to find new and better ways to eat well so I am definitely sold on the smoothies. In an ironic twist of events, my 13-year-old son, who has probably never been sick before in his life, and who willingly drinks his green smoothie every morning, got the H1N1 flu, which was rampant at his school. He passed it on to his younger siblings, who also drink their smoothies. However, my sixteen-year-old, who refuses to drink the smoothies, never got the swine flu. This did not help my cause! But the flu was very short lived and all is well again.

Green smoothies are totally amazing. You will experience “Off the Charts Vitality”

Download my powerpoint presentations from my workshops for free on the left-hand side of my website: http://www.lifeforceman.com

Implement these strategies on a daily basis and be AMAZED.

All the best…John

I’m 85. Been on raw food for about 15 yrs., on GS for a few months. Have had no colds for all those yrs except this yr in april I got pneumonia because I tried a new diet I read about… big mistake! No sickness since being on GS…so thats what I’m going to stay on for the next 20 Yrs.

Green Smoothies are the secret to a healthy life! It revives and rebuilds your immune system. Forget supplements. The real truth is to enjoy the real thing it really does the trick! I have been drinking green smoothies of all kinds for about a year and always green. It has changed my life! Everything you need is in a glass.

I have been raw since the end of March 2009. I started with Ann Wigmore energy soup and green smoothies. I have not been sick a day since I started. I have had detox sympton and I am getting healthier every day. I wore an 18 in march and I wear a size 10 today. I do not know how much weight I have lost because my goal was to have a “light” and healthy body. Linda

for the person who was asking about iodine, I use kelp noodles in my salads. It is wonderful! Also eat a couple of brazil nuts a day for selenium. Do not eat too many, you can overdose. Been raw since March. No more neck pain, headaches or kidney stones. Will never go back to SAD.

I had not been taking green smoothies long but I have been on a healthy diet. I did take a flight from Scotland to south of England to go to my brothers Golden wedding anniversary, and ro see my daughter and grand children. My journey started on the Friday, I was back home on the sunday. Unfortunately I caught a very bad cold and upper repiratory infection on the flight. I have never had anything like this before for very many years, so I put it to the intensity of the on-flight infection. My recovery though not swift was good considering the nastyness of the infection. Harold Lane, who will be 78 in just over a week. 23 october 2009

Back in 2007 I introduced green smoothies and kefir to my diet, I started eating healthier and excersing more. I have been working with children for the past 10 years, and let me tell you the year I was making the green smoothies and kefir everyday I only got sick once w/ a mild cold, which is big for me because every year I always get sick with a cold, flu, upper respiratory infection, or bronchitis. So far this past year I have been on antibiotics 6 times due to the flu,bronchitis..etc. I haven’t been making the green smoothies as often but I have realized that I need to get back on track so my health is better this winter season. So to answer your question Yes I am a firm believer that drinking green smoothies aid in not getting as sick.

Hello again Robyn,

I’ve been going full blast with green smoothies since March after about 20 years of being an on again off again juicer. I try to have a fruit (banana, orange, berry, etc) based smoothie one day and a veggie (carrot, apple, ginger, parsely, celery, spinach – yum!) based smoothie the next. One meal replacement smoothie, 40 or 45 ounces, each day. Plus I’m adding acai, astaxanthin, spirulina, chlorella, hemp hearts, flaxseed, chia seeds and a few other supplements each day. And I’m now down to maybe one glass of fresh juice per week.

I’m 62 years old, and for me, after a lifetime of a normal frequency of colds and sore throats, I know that if I am just reasonably regular – say three servings a week of juice or smoothies – I never get a cold, or a sore throat, or even a sniffle… not ever.

Plus there are so many other benefits to the the smoothie a day lifestyle.

I’m a believer and I can’t recommend it strongly enough.

Best regards,

Dave in Ottawa

H1N1 Flu Update at our house:

We’ve pulled through! I NEVER GOT IT! I feel great! I suppose it could be lurking inside, but the way this virus spreads (like WILDFIRE), I should have had symptoms long before now. I’m grateful I’ve been able to nurse everyone else. Once we realized this was the Flu, I kept thinking that I would be surprised if any of my family was hit too hard, simply because of the way we are “trying” to eat on the whole. Here’s the rundown:

Son, age 8: mild fever for a day, tired and cough for a day, then back to school. He’s always been my best eater, and not big on sweets.

Husband: No fever. In bed one day. Tired and achy. Occasional cough.

Daughter, age 6: Tired and sore throat first day. Fever on and off for about 36 hours. Then she woke up yesterday and said: “I feel EXCELLENT!” She still has a cough.

Daughter, age 4: My hardest hit. She’s also my sugar magnet. She was sick for three days, with fever on and off for 36 hours and vomiting along with the cough. She suddenly turned around yesterday evening. Still has a cough. My husband and I realized she has not been sick since she was 6 months old. This is her first heavy duty illness. We wonder if that had something to do with the severity.

Twin girls, age 21 months: We were most concerned about them because they are so young, and just little things, but they have fared the best of all! Each had a mild fever for a few hours, and now just an occasional cough at night and runny nose. Other than that, you wouldn’t know they’re sick! They’re running around as usual. I give them little to no sugar, all whole foods, and green smoothies daily. They come running and screaming (with delight) when they hear the blender going every morning.

The results this week make sense in light of our diets. My husband and two daughters, ages 6 and 4, have had the hardest time with transitioning to all whole foods and reducing meat and dairy. Compared to the others in our family, they eat the least amount of fresh fruits and veggies overall, and much prefer SAD foods if they can get their hands on them- and they do, whenever Daddy is in charge. Still, on the whole, they fared well with the Flu. No trips to the doctor, no medicine at all. Relatively short duration for all of them.

I had a glimpse of how serious this Flu could be in persons with weaker constitutions. It’s a sneaky little Devil- the fever is off and on- just when you think it’s over, it strikes again, and harder. And then the surprise vomiting for one of ours. This Flu moves fast and furiously. I can see how the congestion could turn into something much more serious for some.

Myself? I’ve been drinking Green Smoothies for a little over 3 months. I stopped eating all meat and dairy at the same time and now keep it to less than 5%. I was having strange aching in my legs, pain in my tailbone and lower back pain for a year after having my twins. I was also feeling very “unwell” every night. I prayed one night for help- ready to do whatever it took to be well for my family- and not just well, but full of life and energy. I also prayed specifically about the amount of meat that was included in a diet I was undertaking. I had an immediate answer to prayer that night when my Bible opened right up to the Book of Daniel, Chapter 1. Reading this illuminated further what is written in the Word of Wisdom (LDS Doctrine). After that, I experienced a quick succession of people and events that led me to read The Golden Seven Plus One and The China Study. Out of the blue, I felt like I should start my own personal blog (after swearing I didn’t have time for a blog), and through doing that, quickly learned about Green Smoothie Girl. Green Smoothies have made all the difference for me in helping to make my changes permanent. They have literally changed my taste buds, and made it so that I crave living food, know when enough is enough with sugar, and have little to no taste for meat or dairy. What an answer to prayer!! I forgot to mention that all of my pains were erased within 48 hours of making these sudden changes. I know that sounds incredible, but it’s true.

My cleansing symptoms have been more drawn out than most. I experienced a lot of fatigue and headaches for about 2 months, as well as a surge of acne and hair loss (handfuls in the shower) and was extremely irritable! But I persevered, knowing that these were the answers God led me to. The underlying problems inside were probably more severe than I realized, so the cleansing and rebuilding is taking awhile. I no longer have the fatigue, headaches, or irritability, and my hair loss and acne are finally improving. I woke up one morning a few weeks ago and suddenly wanted to start RUNNING! I run over a mile nearly every morning without getting winded at all. Pretty good for starters! I didn’t have a lot of weight to lose- maybe 15 pounds, but I’ve lost 12 of that.

Our family’s favorite smoothie: spinach, kale, mango, strawberries, water.

Thanks for everything!

Wow what a wonderful response, I too drink GS and I have added the amazing greens to my morning routine and I may get the start of a soar throat. At once I just up my greens and extra vitamin C. and I feel better the next day.

Thanks for such a wonder website full of information.

to everyone’s health

Rhonda D.

of course! they bring vitality and healthiness to your life! thanks for introducing me to green smoothies! all my family are becoming green addicts after reaping the benefits.

i am just getting started with the blender so i dont think i was sick but i would like some copys of smoothies drinks so i can make them thanks you margaret elza

I have a hard time to digest GS. I have a chronic duodenal ulcer in remission. Every time I drink GS, I get sick for at least 2 days with no energy at all. BTW, I can eat any ingredients of my GS in salad (no blending) with no problem. I’d be happy for any suggestion.

You bet your bottom dollar! Since beginning green smoothies last year I can only remember 2 separate days of being on the couch ill. I’m sure I’d have avoided that if my diet were closer to whole/raw. However, every one of my friends and their families seem to have been ill for a week at a time and more often. The health affects from Green Smoothies are the best preventative medicine IMO.

Pure and simple. I have been about 85% raw for the past 3 years and have been having about 4 green smoothies a week for about 3 months now. Previous to the green smoothies I felt great and now that I am drinking them consistently I feel my immune system stronger than ever. So the answer is a YES! I do get sick less while drinking my green smoothies and will continue to do so for the forever!

I don’t drink a lot of green smoothies. I tend to eat seasonally based on what I get from the CSA, so in the spring…lotta smoothies. In the summer…lotta fresh tomato sandwiches.

Starting a couple of years ago, I made more of an effort to go vegetarian. And at the beginning of this year, more vegan. We’re still omni’s but I rarely cook meat at home, and we don’t eat out very much either.

I went from getting sick many times a year to…well…I haven’t been sick in a year and a half. My son hasn’t been sick either (and he’s been in daycare/preschool). Our 3-person family eats between 25 and 30 pounds a week of produce, and I think that’s a HUGE part of why we stay healthy.

My company gives me 5 sick days a year, (use or lose), they’re getting their money’s worth from me!

I have been drinking green smoothies now for 29 days, dear hubby for 27, and everyone else (my 5 children) for 26 days!

My 3 youngest children had EVERY symptom of Swine Flu (we don’t do any vaccines and were definitely not doing that one!). Their symptoms were all there but were very minor and only for 3 days. DH and I felt like our bodies were fighting something, but we never got it. Not even congestion.

I haven’t had to take an afternoon nap in 3 weeks! That’s huge!

Immediately after I found out about your site, my husband was scheduled for oral surgery–involving two teeth–one was a wisdom tooth that had never come in but the root was wrapped in nerves and now it was infected so they had to open it up. I had 10 days to make a difference. I made green smoothies daily, but being new at it, my husband drank only about 12-20 oz. a day. After surgery the doctor said when he opened up the gum, it looked very bad and he feared the worst–either cancer, or fast growing tumor–making cutting through the nerve necessary–resulting in facial paralysis. But as he got to the bottom, it didn’t look that bad–he was able to save an adjacent tooth, leave a tip of the root so as not to disturb the nerve. Cancer tests were negative, and he cleaned all the infection out. Best possible news. But he said several times, it was a very rough surgery and my husband would have lots and lots of swelling and and be very, very black and blue all the way down the neck. RESULTS: My husband had almost no pain–took 1/4 the meds, he had only a tiny bit of swelling–size of a marble–and no bruising at all anywhere. He was up working every day and went to church on what was supposed to be his worst day. Only difference, he seemed to need a nap each day. I believe the green smoothies made the difference. I add citrus to each smoothie.

I have been drinking green smoothies every day since Memorial day weekend. So far, I have lost 10 pounds, and my skin no longer has dry patches (eczema, I guess). I have been sick August, September, and I’m sick right now (end of October). I had a sinus infection, strep, and now who knows (flu?- though it feels more like a sinus infection). I haven’t taken any antibiotics. It may seem discouraging- but this is pretty normal for me (sick about once every month except in summer when it is allergies). I have been at the end of my rope for several years and have been looking for the right answer for my body. I have followed the advice of Sally Fallon and the Weston Price foundation (which I still respect), but I believe that I have had too much emphasis on fat, meat, and dairy (even though it has been raw/cultured). I put on 30 pounds and remained as sick as ever. It has not been until I started drinking green smoothies and adding more raw into my diet that I have felt a change. Even though I already do a lot of the 12 steps (kefir, sourdough, sporatic sprouting, saurkraut, natural sweetners, gardening, and whole grains), I am starting from the beginning and absorbing the details that I am obviously missing. Thank you for giving me the courage to stand strong in my desire to be like Daniel in the Bible. I already stick out with my family, church, community, but I see that there are a lot of you out there.

Thanks, Pat. I just learned about raw kelp noodles and ordered some. Can’t wait to try them. I’m sure my thyroid will love them and they will make a nice side dish for a green smoothie meal.

For Patti and anyone else who is concerned about the goitrogens in the greens, also strawberries.

At the time I started GS I was diagnosed slightly hypothyroid, but not yet on any meds. I was less energetic than usual, felt a bit sluggish, and was hopeful the GS would help.

For the first 2 weeks on them I felt wonderful, but then suddenly I went downhill. Very fatigued, bowels slowed down and I developed terrible constipation worse than any I’ve ever had. I just felt plain awful. Had a colonoscopy to check for problems, was given the all clear, but the doc said it’s possible that being hypothyroid could have caused it (he did not know I had been diagnosed hypothyroid).

In fact, my whole digestive system had almost stopped. I wasn’t able to eat much food without feeling uncomfortable because the peristaltic action of the digestive tract had slowed considerably, which happens with hypothyroidism.

It finally dawned on me that all the greens and also the strawberries were full of goitrogens and most likely were a major factor in how I was feeling. They contain a substance that binds to iodine and prevents it’s uptake into the thyroid, thereby resulting in reduced thyroid hormones, which are made from iodine.

So I reluctantly quit drinking the GS and after a few weeks I gradually started improving. I was afraid to use raw greens after that for quite awhile unless they were cooked, which reduces the goitrogen content.

Lately I will have 2 smoothies/week and do throw some green stuff in there in smaller amounts. I figure I’m getting the benefit of the nutrients even though I’m not eating them every day, in addition to the salads and cooked vegetables I eat.

I also have to question the ‘naturalness’ of humans eating a predominantly raw diet, or eating greens in their raw state so frequently, and out of their season. What human would regularly chomp on the tough leaves of kale or some of the other difficult greens? Is it possible Heavenly Father intended some of these to be cooked, or at the very least to be eaten in their season? I have seen nothing in the Bible or WOW that focuses on raw food as a preferred way of eating. Certainly, it has it’s place for a period of cleansing every so often. Moderation in all things seems wise, even with ‘healthy’ foods.

It is well known that one can develop a sensitivity to any food if it’s eaten often enough, hence the advice to those with allergies to never eat the same food more often than every 4 days, so as not to sensitize the body to it.

That said, for a short period I did feel well on the GS, but those with a tendency towards thyroid problems need to be aware that the goitrogens in the greens can have an adverse effect.

O.K. maybe you won’t believe this, but I sure do. Over the last couple weeks many of my friends have been down with a terrible virus. I don’t know what it is officially called, but the symptoms are a raw sore throat, sneezing, running nose, vomiting, head ache, body aches, and extreem fatigue. Although I had a bit of scratchy through and slight mucus, I neve went into the full blown thing. I felt a bit peaked so I had less soothies with fruit and more with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and cayenne. I’m well after only a couple of easy days. Some are still down and counting. BTW–We’ve been green smoothie-ing for about 2 1/2 months. We drink 1 or 2 quarts per day. I’ve lost 10 pounds. My skin is clearer and free of acne (unless I fudge and eat chocolate). Some wrinkles are smoothing out. Digetion issues are better. My son has gained back his health from his bout with H1N1 last summer, where he lost over 15 lbs. His acne is clearing. My husband has lost nearly 15 lbs and looks much healthier. We all feel happier and more energetic.