Per Golubka’s instructions: “Take some familiar greens, or better yet, be adventurous and pick the brightest leaves with the strangest name. A bunch usually serves about three people. Add a banana per person, the riper the better. Stop here for a classic combination, or go on to add some kiwi, apple, grapes, mango, or berries for a more fruity flavour. Add about 1/2 cup of water per person and blend well until smooth and bubbly. Generally, this kind of smoothie tastes like fruit, but some greens overpower the sweetness. Those include collard greens, Swiss chard, and, the mightiest of all, arugula – nothing can mask its presence.”

Oster Classic Beehive Blender – Blue, Chrome, Copper, Red

Oster 14 Speed Blender

Magic Bullet Express

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Strawberries are a delicious way to add more antioxidants and fiber to your diet.  According to the California Strawberry Commission, a serving of strawberries, just 8 berries, contains more vitamin C than an orange, and 2 grams of fiber!  What’s even better, is that a cup of strawberries contains just 50 calories.

I’ve found that the best and fastest way to get my daily intake of fruits and veggies is to make a power-packed morning smoothie. Here’s a strawberry smoothie recipe to get you started.  It also contains blueberries–another superfood!

Strawberry & Blueberry Smoothie

• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 banana, peeled
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 1 individual size container of yogurt

Combine all ingredients in a blender, or smoothie maker, and blend until mixture reaches desired consistency.  To add a little zip, replace some of the milk with orange juice.  Yogurt can be any flavor, depending on what you like.  I’ve also added a handful of uncooked quick oats to this recipe for increasing my whole grain intake.

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I have almost all the risk factors for contracting skin cancer: pale skin, blue eyes, freckles, an immediate relative who has been diagnosed with skin cancer and a history of being burned several times over.  To add fuel to the fire, I live between Southern Cali and Australia, I love the outdoors and I hate putting on sun block!  All this considered, I still have a fantasy that I can not only eat to protect my skin, but also perhaps, ingest my way to reversing the skin damage I already have!  Here’s what the experts say I’ll have to eat if there’s any chance of making my dreams reality.

• Vitamin A – Found in carrots and low-fat dairy products such as yogurt.  A vitamin A supplement is also recommended for it’s dramatic benefits to the skin, however use caution in taking it if you’re pregnant – it can harm the baby in large doses.
• Antioxidants – The best sources are berries: blueberries, strawberries and blackberries.  These protect skin cells from DNA damage.
• Essential Fatty Acids – Found in salmon, walnuts and flax oil.  Some women prefer to take fat from their butt and shoot it into their face to look younger.  I think I’ll try eating more salmon first.
• Oils – Make sure it’s cold-pressed, expeller processed or is extra virgin.  Commercial oils are full of crap and heated when processed which ruins the good stuff.  Oil is high in calories however so you only need two tablespoons per day.
• Selenium – has been proven in some studies to prevent skin damage.  Brazil nuts are a high in selenium.
• Green Tea – can be useful if put on the skin as well as digested.  Green tea has been proven to prevent and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
• Water – An oldie but a goodie.  Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses per day.  Your skin will thank you!

Check ou WebMD for a full report on healthy foods for skin.

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Want to know my vote for the most healthy and refreshing drink ever?

A chilled, fresh coconut. If you’ve never tried one, you’ve got to experience the bliss. They are so sweet and delicious you can’t believe it’s pure nature. And whatever you’ve heard about coconut being fattening or bad for you in anyway is completely wrong. I’ve read so much about coconut water, it’s meat and oils that it’s got me believing it’s a super food. I’ve heard testamonies from people that claim that eating a spoonful of cocnut oil every day has not only improved the look and feel of their skin and hair, but also helped them lose weight! These were not quacks or salesmen, but real live friends standing in front of me with glowing skin and svelt bodies. For a full list of the benefits of coconut check out the coconut research center.

Coconuts can be found at health food and grocery stores. They are also popular at Thai restaurants. You should be able to buy them for $1-4. If you can have them pre-cut, I recommend you do. If you don’t have them prepared in advance, you’re going to need a butcher knife to hack into it. Once you drink the juice, the meat can be scooped out and eaten. Make sure you serve them chilled.

Imagine a Tiki-style party this summer. Or just enjoy the benefits yourself after a long day’s work. The coconuts can be a fun drink for kids and adults alike, so get one for each member of the family.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neloqua/328041456/

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After all that barbeque this 4^th of July, possibly the best thing you can grab for dessert is a healthy slice of watermelon. It’s low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and also a very good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. If you want to try something new and absolutely delightful with this 4^th of July tradition, squeeze some fresh lime juice on it. It takes the flavor to a gourmet level and increases your vitamin C count for added health benefits. If you’ve been asked to bring a dessert to this year’s All-American shindig, this might be the easiest, healthiest and most appealing dish of them all. It will certainly be the most refreshing!

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