Lettuce drink to health

Haven’t tried this yet, but sounds worth the effort.

“Forget salads. Leafy greens as beverages are the health-kick du jour. It sounds like something superheroes might drink but the “green smoothie” is gathering a growing – and, if the hype is to be believed, glowing – following. Fans of this home-blended fruit and vegetable drink say a regular dose will do everything from improve your sleep to amp up energy levels, eradicate skin conditions and basically make you feel great. Wells and his partner Runi Burton were so convinced by the power of this simple concoction that they set up a free online health initiative, The Green Smoothie Challenge (greensmoothiechallenge.com), in May. “I think the green smoothie is awesome,” he says. “In one glass you can get more than half of your daily allowance of fruit and vegetables in one hit. If people do that, they are probably doubling or tripling the fruit and vegetable intake they otherwise would have had.” There are many recipes but basically a green smoothie is a blend of fruit, green vegetables and water. “Vegetables, especially green, leafy vegetables, are packed with phytochemicals, which are really important for our health. They are full of enzymes and other chemicals we don’t even know yet and some of them can be damaged by cooking. “So liquefying greens like this means the fruit masks the flavour of the greens and, in one hit, you are getting a life-giving burst of enzymes, phytonutrients and fibre.” Breaking the greens down in a blender means they are a lot easier for the body to digest, Wells says (though not every blender is up to the task). BANANA FOR BEGINNERS – The simplest recipe is made with banana and romaine (or cos) lettuce. Bananas give the body an instant and substantial energy boost. Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein the body converts into serotonin, which is known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. Bananas are high in potassium and low in salt, a great combination to help reduce the risk of high blood pressure – a fact supported by the US Food and Drug Administration. The vitamin C and beta-carotene content of cos lettuce make it a heart-healthy green. Cholesterol becomes sticky when it oxidises and forms plaque on the artery walls. Working together, vitamin C and beta-carotene prevent cholesterol from oxidising. In addition, the fibre in cos lettuce binds to bile salts in the colon and allows them to be eliminated. The body responds by making more bile. As bile is responsible for breaking down cholesterol, the result is a reduction of cholesterol build-up. Ingredients – 1/2 romaine (cos) lettuce / 3 bananas / 2 cups water / Blend the bananas with water for 30 seconds. Add the romaine lettuce and blend until smooth. You can also add a few mint leaves for a fresh twist.” – Source

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