Smoothie – Healthy Green Blend

Most smoothies, if you’re like me, are based on what’s in the cupboards and fridge. However, it is relevant to post such recipes every now and then to increase inspiration when the time comes. Unless you are one of those who copy the recipe, go to the grocery store and take exactly what is written. And while you’re drinking your smoothie (or not), take a look further down at the research on coconut oil.

With a blender mix the following ingredients:

• 4 cups of water
• a large banana
• a big pear
• half a cup of liquid coconut oil (see below)
• 6 strawberries
• a little cayenne pepper
• a little stevia powder
• 4 cups of leafy green vegetables
• half a cup of berries (like blackberries, raspberries or whatever).

You can also add wheatgrass. This is because wheatgrass juice powder contains a lot of nutrients and enzymes that make your digestive system work efficiently (in case it isn’t). It obviously contains chlorophyll (plant hemoglobin if you will) in addition to all the essential amino acids. Not bad for weed! Let’s not forget: B vitamins, antioxidants A, C, E and beta-carotene, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, sodium and sulfur.

Coconut Oil

Instead of doing a full blog post on the subject, I’m going to include the results of my research on coconut here. Indeed, we sometimes see it appear in recipes and we wonder if it’s really worth buying it (it’s not cheap).

As usual, I begin (and end) my research with our online database of tutor-student questions and answers.

MCFA and Coconut

I understand that MCFA protects your heart and stimulates blood circulation. How many MCFAs are there in coconut oil?

The main saturated fatty acid in coconut oil is lauric acid, which is a type of MCFA (medium chain fatty acid). Some sources claim that it increases cholesterol, other sources claim that it increases them. In fact, it depends on what coconut oil replaces in the diet. If it replaces polyunsaturated fats (as in many vegetable oils), it is likely to increase cholesterol; if it replaces butter or lard, it can have a neutral effect or even lower cholesterol. In summary, the best oil is vegetable oil (especially virgin olive oil).

What Kind of Fat in Coconut Oil?

Another question that can be found on the student center:

There are several types of fats. The ones you should avoid are trans and too much saturated fat. Trans and saturated fat can increase LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels in the blood. Trans fats can also lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels in the blood. Trans fats and saturated fats are found in:
• dairy products high in fat, including butter and whole milk
• foods of animal origin high in fat
• palm oil, coconut oil, lard

So, to help reduce intakes of trans and saturated fats, choose low-fat dairy products and lean meats when choosing these foods.

On the other hand, unsaturated fats are beneficial for your health. Unsaturated fats are found in:
• nuts and seeds
• avocados
• fish, such as herring, mackerel, salmon and trout
• vegetable oils, including olive, canola, safflower, and sunflower oil

Virgin Coconut Oil

Course 343 refers to hydrogenated or untreated coconut oil: what’s the difference?

Oils can be hydrogenated by commercial industry to extend their shelf life. Unfortunately, during hydrogenation, healthy fats are converted into a new type of fatty acid called trans fat. These trans fats have the physical properties of saturated animal fats. It builds up in your arteries and can lead to blockages. This can cause your “bad cholesterol” to rise, increasing your risk of stroke and heart disease. This is why p. 119 says the hydrogenated form of coconut oil has given coconut oil its negative reputation. So you should always buy “unprocessed”, “virgin” oil, however expensive it is.

Our tutor has spoken!

Now you have the whole truth about coconut oil, which should be bought in virgin version.

There is a lot more in our student center, but I’m running out of space … I’m not going to write a novel on the subject, it’s a blog after all!

 

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