When people start exploring the concept of raw diets they come across the word ‘greens’ many times. They visit the super markets and find all sorts of vegetables, fruits and greens stacked all together. For many people who have been used to eating processed food diets and by and large non-vegetarian foods, the concept of raw foods may be a little confusing. This becomes all the more confusing because raw food diets generally comprise of vegetables – and ‘vegetable’ is the most diverse group of food items encompassing anything from roots like beetroot, carrot, radish; flowers like cauliflower, artichoke, broccoli; fruits like zucchini, tomato, cucumber; stems like potato, sweet potato, ginger and many others such divisions. And, then are the greens, which form a good part of raw diets. But what really are the greens? Greens are of course considered vegetables. But is this definition enough?

It is necessary to highlight the irregularities in classification of vegetables because they do nothing by way of providing guidance to people. They simply add to the confusion and make people choose wrong food groups by combining foods that are not correct and may even harm them. Roots and some stems are rich in starches while cucumbers, tomatoes and other fruits have almost no starches; instead they have completely different nutrient spectrums. In fact, the entire category of vegetables has perhaps the richest and most varied range of nutrients. The greens remain most debatable because the greens have not been studied properly so far for all their rich nutritional significance.
Most people think that the richest source of proteins is various kinds of meats. This is just a misconception. Dark green leafy vegetables are a rich source of proteins and contain large amounts of amino acids. In addition, the groups of essential amino acids in the greens can be easily used by the body in constructing the proteins that are necessary for the human body. Plants were human being’s first foods. In fact till about two centuries ago greens formed an essential part of our food. But then came the invention of processing the foods. It was the need of the day because of the starvation, wars, famine and other situations present at that time. Processed foods were a boon in such troubled times and were used to save numerous lives. Little did we know at that time, that the same processed foods would be so problematic to us in the later times.   
As great component of raw diets is a green smoothie, which combines greens with fruits and also incorporates several other interesting concoctions. Most greens are quite pungent so just the idea of making them a part of the raw diet, that too in generous quantities, is irksome to most people. Raw diets need not be tasteless. In fact, experimentation adds more value to a raw diet than any other single activity.

Since we are still in the process of reawakening of the concept of raw diets and especially of the benefits of greens, we sure have a need for lot of experimentation. So, just let your creative juices flow and let the benefits of green smoothies begin to enrich your lives.

  
Why Greens in Raw Diets Benefit You

Greens form an integral part of raw diets. There are several ways in which greens can be consumed. Making the green smoothies part of your daily diet is a very good way to start on greens. The greens form an entirely different category of food groups. They are mainly leaves. So they have to be understood for what they are and for the nutrients that they can add to your life.
Plants form the initial life on the planet. They are different from the animals because they are the only living creatures that can synthesize their own food. The animals have to be dependent upon the plants for their food. This is one of the basic differences between plants and animals.  
The plants produce food through a process called photosynthesis. A key element in the process of photosynthesis is chlorophyll. It is because of chlorophyll that in the presence of sunlight carbohydrates are generated in the cells of the leaves. This is the basic sustenance mechanism of all green plants. Chlorophyll is responsible for giving the green color to the leaves of the plants. Chlorophyll is the base through which all carbohydrates are generated.
Greens are a different category of food group because of the presence of chlorophyll in them. The nutrients stored in the green leaves comprise proteins, carbohydrates and water mainly, along with several vitamins. Green Smoothies recommended by Victoria Boutenko are rich in greens. So they give the benefits of chlorophyll present in the greens.

Victoria Boutenko was depressed. Not only was she obese, but she had an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). She also had edema, which is an excess of fluid in bodily tissues.

Her husband, Igor, had a severely overactive thyroid. He was also in chronic joint pain due to rheumatoid arthritis.
Their children also had health problems. Sergei, their son, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. The youngest of the Boutenko family, Valya had asthma.

As a family, they decided that it was time to do something. In 1994, the Boutenko family began to eat more raw food. Once they began this raw food diet, they realized that all of their health conditions improved. After years or eating a diet that is mainly comprised of raw meals and snacks, they continue to live in health.

The family now helps others through books, videos, blogs and websites, educating others on the raw food diet and easy ways to eat healthier. They offer products, recipes and tips to all who may be interested in a healthier meal plan.

"Greens Can Save Your Life" DVD by Victoria Boutenko is inspirational lecture which will will show you how dark green leafy vegetables are a rich source of proteins and amino acids. In her DVD Victoria addresses some of the most intriguing questions regarding health. Is anything missing in the raw food diet? How do Chimpanzees eat in the wild? Did you know that Chimpanzees DNA is very similar to Humans DNA? What is green smoothie and what are its benefits? Why is it hard to love greens? What is the nutritional value of greens? Fiber - the magic sponge. What is the significance of stomach acid? How can greens make the body more alkaline? Why is healthy soil more valuable than gold?
 

Health Benefits of Chlorophyll in Greens:

• Chlorophyll is known to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Chlorophyll is good for quick healing of wounds as it builds and repairs the tissues.
• Chlorophyll helps improve the magnesium levels in the blood stream, which is needed for carrying oxygen to all cells and tissues. This increased oxygen flow strengthens the red blood cells and people experience an increase in their hemoglobin percentages when they ingest chlorophyll.  
• Chlorophyll helps in assimilating heavy minerals like calcium.
• Vitamin A, C and E are also delivered by chlorophyll.
• Chlorophyll is known to have anti-mutagen and anti-carcinogenic properties.
• It is also a great deodorizer, which can be used in mouth washes ,sprays and in reducing body odor.  

Chlorophyll is the only unique ingredient that you cannot get from any other animal source. You can get it only through consumption of greens. Chlorophyll is destroyed with excessive heat. Hence the green color of the leafy vegetables disappears after they are cooked.
Green Smoothies will supply you with the unique benefit of chlorophyll and you can learn more about it in Victoria Boutenko " Green For Life" book