I am reminded of Kermit the Frog’s song “It’s Not Easy Being Green”. Of course, Kermit was referring to being a frog. I’m talking about Green Juice!! It is so easy being green. Let me tell you the benefits and how easy it is.

Green Juice is all the rage with the healthy crowd. Some of my friends are starting to come around. They don’t call it “pond water” or “swamp juice” anymore. Some friends were even willing to taste it at a juice tasting party I held for New Year’s Eve.

Green juice has so many great qualities, I am just waiting for it to catch on as much as “Starbucks”.  An organic juice bar on every corner is what I am envisioning. We already have three organic juice bars here in Redding: Roots Juice Bar, Sky’s Pure Food, and Holiday Market.

Green juice helps to reduce inflammation, it is filled with protein (yes, greens have protein), lots of vitamin K and other vital nutrients. Greens are cleansing, detoxifying and alkalizing and when you put them together with lemons, you have a taste extravaganza in your mouth and your body just starts saying “Thank you!”. It’s easier than making and eating a salad. In addition to the nutritional benefits, green juicing also raises your vibration. High vibrational foods such as raw fruits and vegetables will always raise your the frequency at which your body vibrates.

I started drinking green juice when I was in the midst of chemo therapy treatments and reading about what is best for me. Due to the effects of the drugs, I couldn’t taste anything and was having trouble getting the nutrition I needed. So I put all kinds of green veggies into my Jack LaLanne juicer and drank it down with a straw. To any normal person, that juice would not have tasted good. To me, it felt like pure oxygen and energy pouring into my cells. I had more enthusiasm for living and I felt the life force of those highly nutritious vegetables giving me new strength.

After chemo treatments ended and I was finished with radiation as well, I went to see Ronda Nelson at Restoration Health as recommended by my friend, Kay Kosko. Ronda gave me a recipe for “Green Lemonade” that made drinking green juice heavenly. I have since made many variations on this juice and I share one of my favorites below along with a photo of a green juice in disguise.

I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

Have you joined the green juice craze? If so, what are the benefits that you notice? If not, what keeps you from trying it?

If you don’t have a juicer, they are pretty easy to find these days. They are as low as $100 for the Jack LaLanne, up to the high end juicers if you want to get fancy. Or just go have somebody else make you one at a juice bar.

 Phoebe’s “It’s Easy Being Green” Juice Recipe

4-6 leaves organic kale or chard

1-2 organic cucumbers (with skin on)

1 handful organic cilantro

1 whole organic green apple

1 whole organic lemon (with skin on-cut off ends)

1 inch piece of ginger (optional)

Place all ingredients into a juicer. I alternate the leafy greens with the chunkier veggies. Juice is best when consumed immediately after juicing, however, when I am traveling or have a busy day ahead of me, then I make 3 batches of this juice at one time and put them into glass bottles and keep in the fridge. You should drink them within 24 hours.