Green smoothies but no detox wonder drug?

Green smoothies do not always do what they promise

09/17/2014

Smoothies have been the trend drink among the health conscious for some time now. They consist of pureed vegetables and fruits, are said to help with weight loss and have a digestive, detoxifying and even rejuvenating effect. In Hollywood, the smoothie diet, which consists exclusively of green raw porridge, has become indispensable. Celebrities such as Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Colin Farrell are to swear on the vitamin bombs. In conversation with the online edition of the magazine „Focus“ explains the nutrition expert Monika Bischoff of the hospital Barmherzige Brüder in Munich, what should be considered in a cure with green smoothies.

Green smoothies are made from pureed green vegetables and some fruit
Those who opt for the green smoothie diet will eat only pureed green vegetables for one and a half weeks. Some fruit may also be added to the blender to enhance the taste of the green juice that needs getting used to. The raw food drinks should not only melt the pounds, but also rid the body of waste products, a kind of fresh cell and beauty treatment. This is what many women's and fitness magazines read. The inventor of the green smoothie diet, Victoria Boutenko, justifies her diet concept with the diet of monkeys that eat almost exclusively green leaves and little fruit and are never ill. The author of the bestseller „Green for Life“ must have thought that what is good for monkeys can also help people. In fact, green leaves are a very hard to digest food for human digestion. Therefore, Boutenko swears by the pureeing of the vegetables. Spinach, Swiss chard, black cabbage, rocket, leaves of carrots and wild herbs are easier to digest.

Green smoothies are vitamin bombs, but contain little protein
In terms of taste, green smoothies initially take some getting used to, as they contain many bitter substances. „We are simply no longer used to this taste“, explains Bischoff to the online magazine. The nutrition expert thinks it makes sense to open the sense of taste again. Once you get used to it, the smoothie can be easily integrated into your daily diet. However, those who only feed on the green raw-food drink could develop deficiencies. „Undeniably, green smoothies are true vitamin bombs“, emphasizes the expert. But not enough protein would be provided by the vegetarian diet. In addition, they do not provide vital fat. „For more than ten days, this one-sided diet is therefore not recommended“, advises Bischoff. The green smoothies can be supplemented with protein powder, for example. In addition, unsalted nuts are suitable as a snack.

A diet based on leaves is harmless in itself. „Man has become an omnivore“, so Bischoff. Shells and seeds, as well as leaves that would otherwise land on the compost, such as kohlrabi leaves, can also be processed into green smoothies. „This is not harmful“, emphasizes the nutrition expert.

Beware of excessive enjoyment of green smoothies
But there are also some toxic substances contained in green vegetables, but only play a role in the consumption of large quantities. This applies, among other things, to oxalic acid, which is contained in rhubarb, for example, and can promote kidney stones. In addition, goitrogens have a deleterious effect because they inhibit the binding of iodine and thereby prevent the formation of thyroid hormones. But: „A real danger with green smoothies does not exist. Most of the pollutants are excreted by the body - and the health benefits of green drinks far outweigh“, emphasizes Bischoff. „They are brimming with healthy plant substances and the greener the better.“

No detox cure with green smoothies
Nevertheless, the nutrition expert holds much that has been said to green juices, in question. Although the weight can be reduced by a few kilos within a week and a half with a green smoothie diet, the body primarily loses water . „After a week you have it back“, explains Bischoff. For a sustained weight loss it is essential to have a change in diet accompanied by adequate exercise.

Often, in connection with the green smoothies of one „Detox“ spoken. Detox means the purification and detoxification of the body. „But that is precisely what she is not suitable for“, so the expert. „Scientifically speaking, there is no slag, garbage and toxins that accumulate in the body and therefore detox is nonsense.“