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GREAT GREENS – WHICH GREENS ARE BEST FOR YOU

1/16/2014

1 Comment

 
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In the last two weeks many people have been asking me whether kale is bad for our health. Some people have even heard that is can suppress the thyroid and slow down metabolism. To shed some light on the subject of healthy eating, and how to eat greens in particular, I would like to share with you my Z-tips on 5 GREAT GREENS.

First of all why eat greens? Greens are nutritional powerhouses. They are rich in Vitamins A, C, E and K. They also have loads of fiber, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc.





Benefits of eating greens include:


-       Blood purification with chlorophyll (the component that makes greens green)

-       Cancer prevention

-       Improved energy

-       Improved circulation

-       Stronger immune system

-       Improvement of intestinal flora

-       Improved liver, gall bladder and kidney function

-       Mucus reduction and clearing up of congestion



Side-effects of eating greens:

-       May affect thyroid function IF eaten in excess

-       Patients taking blood-thinners should to consult their doctors for proper consumption of greens. You can usually have greens without any problems if you stick to the same times and amounts each day.

Z-Tip: I believe in balance and in having foods in moderation. There is no perfect food on the planet and even the best foods can have a negative side-effects if they are over-used in large of quantities and eaten too often. Just like clothes, variety and bio-individual fit are the two keys to feeling and looking your best.

How to know if Greens are good for you?

Because of our bio-individuality, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to food. Just like we try on clothes, we often need to “try on” greens to see how they make us feel. As a rule of thumb, I suggest going for regular blood tests to find out your thyroid numbers. Then adjust your greens intake accordingly.

GREAT GREENS

KALE. Kale is one of the most nutritionally-dense foods available. It is not particular delicious plain, but is perfect for making chips, blended with fruit smoothies or added to salads and massaged with olive oil or avocado. (Superfood Kale Salad recipe is below)

COLLARD GREENS. Collards share the first place with Kale for their nutritional density. I like to use these leafs instead of tortillas and make wrap sandwiches with them. For example, you can spread hummus onto the dull side of the leaf, add sprouts, avocado, purple cabbage and shredded carrots, then roll everything into a tasty and healthy wrap.

SWISS CHARD. Swiss Chard is another fabulous green nutrient-rich vegetable, but you have to be a little cautious with it as it contains oxalic acid. This particular acid can deplete calcium from bones and teeth, which may lead to osteoporosis. I suggest not eating it raw and instead cooking it with something rich like oil, tofu, seeds, nuts or beans. This will help balance the effect of the oxalic acid.

BOK CHOY. Bok Choy is my favorite green vegetable to juice. It is very close in nutritional density to Kale and Collards, but it has much more liquid in it. When I am in a rush and want to make a quick juice, I put a few Bok Choy leafs through a juicer along with some pineapple and cucumber. You get a great-tasting beverage in minutes and the effects are much better than coffee.

PARSLEY. Parsley is a great herb to accessorize any meal, whether it is a light salad or a hot spaghetti squash. The two main benefits of parsley are its power to support your kidneys and its ability to help you detox from heavy metals. If you find yourself eating a lot of animal protein and/ or if you often eat tuna, I suggest adding parsley to your daily diet.

Couture Green Salad

1 bunch of kale, chopped
1 small head romaine hearts, chopped
1 Fuji apple, chopped
5 dates, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
.5 cup sprouted beans such as mung, chickpeas or peas
1/4 cup Goji berries
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

Mix all the ingredients together. Add dressing when ready to eat. Without dressing this salad can keep for a few days in the fridge.

 

Detoxifying Dressing:

3/4 cup lemon juice
1.25 cups extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
3 medjool dates
2 teaspoons pink Himalayan salt (or to taste)
1 cup filtered water

Place all dressing ingredients in blender and blend well. For a thinner or thicker sauce adjust the amount of water.


1 Comment
Ashe link
3/14/2014 04:57:54 pm

This is a brilliant explanation of the different types of greens out there. A photo of each in your next blog about greens would be really helpful as well. Thanks for the excellent summary.

Reply



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    Why ask me?

    - After many challenges and different crazy life experiences I am living my dream life and since my friends say I am pretty wisdomous  and I think I am a little bit funny too, I want to share my life approach with you so you can live the life you love as well.

    Here is a little bit about me: 

    - I am a creator of #1 Best Diet as selected by Harpers Baazar Magazine

    - I started my career in the corporate world and didn't even know how to peel a shallot

    - I have been a chef for celebrities for over 10 years 

    - I have a realistic approach to food and life

    - I have a great relationship with food and can even let chocolate go bad because I simply forget I have it at home (something I wasn't able to do 10 years ago)

    - I eat carbs whenever I feel like it without any guilt

    - I used to hate to cook and now absolutely love  being a private chef and a food relationship coach

    - I wear whatever clothes I desire no matter what everyone is wearing or thinking

    - I am in good shape and my body’s biological age is 13 years younger than the one in my passport

    -  I have experience being super poor, super wealthy and in between

    - I’ve worked in corporate world and am now an entrepreneur

    - I was married and divorced

    - I used to cry going to work because I was so miserable with my boss

    -  I’ve had an emotional eating disorder

    - I moved from Russia to USA alone at the age of 15

    - I’ve lived in Russia, Europe and on both coasts of USA

    - I have been super skinny and overweight

    - I have been insecure and unhappy with reasons and secure and happy for no reason

    - I used to wear glasses and healed my eyes with the power of thought and exercises

    - I created "Couture Nutrition®" so you can have tailor-made solutions for your body and soul

    - My brain usually comes up with jokes to soften stressful situations

    - I think color coordination, sparkles and rainbows are underused

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*Disclaimer: The information provided in this program is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise, diet, or other health-related program, as there may be underlying medical conditions or other factors that could affect your ability to safely engage in such activities. The creator of this program and its affiliates are not medical professionals and are not responsible for any injuries or health problems that may arise from the use of the information provided in this program. 
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