Really informative. Great research for raw foodists or not. Well written and easy to read. You will know why and how to eat more greens forever.

I'm a huge fan of Victoria but I was a bit let down with this book. I haven't really found a book with a lot of good smoothie recipes and this is not it. It explains the philosophy behind them and you quickly learn as long as you have a green lettuce, any type of fruit(s) and a sweetener if need be plus any optional items such as protein or psyllium powder, its really all about experimenting. If you want the philosophy, buy the book. If not; spend you cash on ingredients and look up recipes online.

If you want to eat more fruits and vegetables...especially vegetables/leafy greens then this is the book for you. Easy to read, straight forward and loving. You must want to change and once you begin you will be amazed at how much energy you get. Also there may be some detoxing Read and find out...as least be informed..I admit this is cutting edge material not everyone will be willing but that is all it takes is to be willing. The author is so loving and she did her homework so the data and research is there. Take a look.

This book was not entirely what I expected to read when I ordered it from Amazon; however, I still feel it was worth the time to read it! I was expecting more raw recipes, only to find that the focus is on incorporating more greens into one's diet. Knowing that, I wouldn't have purchased it... I eat a salad a day, that's plenty, right? Wrong!- according to Viktoria. I am happy to have stumbled across this book, as it provided me with a lot of useful information specifically on this much neglected 'food group' that I had not come across before. I've had other women in my office read it as well, all with good reviews. It is a super-fast read, accessible without being dumbed-down, and one I will pass around plenty I'm sure.

The principles Victoria discussed in her book were interesting, but I was disappointed to see that she rarely included any references to back up the claims. That's why I didn't rate this book with more stars.

However....it will have you hooked on green smoothies! There's no denying that leafy green vegetables are good for you, and this is an unbelievably easy and painless way to eat them. My husband and I bought a VitaMix (also highly recommended) eight months ago and I'm still drinking green smoothies on a regular basis. I also haven't been sick since, and I swear my skin is clearer because of the smoothies. I would wholeheartedly recommend trying a green smoothie for yourself--and this book is a nice introduction.

Even wild edible plants (weeds) can be used for greens, so it's not just for yuppies. What a great way to get more greens into your diet! I can understand wanting to see more scientific research like another reviewer, but I think the author's theory is strong - based on diet of chimpanzees. Just a few leaves of kale, dandelion, purslane, or spinach for example, some water, and a few fruits to make it sweet and thick; add to your blender. Blend, drink, rinse. Then you're on your way to better health. Easy, cheap, and very filling. Hey, I'd rather just live on frappuccinos and subway sandwiches, but I also want to lower my odds of ending up at the hospital. I've been drinking green smoothies for two months now and I am seeing some good changes - better skin, better moods & energy, weight loss, regular BMs, and I didn't catch my husband's severe cold, for a few.

I am convinced Boutenko is on to something big with the idea of green smoothies as a way to sustain some level of raw food intake. Yes, I'm becoming a bit of a groupie. Eating more greens is a diet change anyone can make and it might just give us (speaking as an American) freedom from the debilitating health cycle we seem to be in now: processed food -> degenerative disease -> hospital -> chronic medicine -> worsening health. This book may not have as much scientific data as possible (check out The Live Food Factor by Susan Schenck), and may be heavy on the anecdotes, but it is a very important work.

I did not find it to be an ad for the Vitamix blender. She mentions it on 2 pages near the beginning because this blender lasts much longer and blends more smoothly. I used a regular inexpensive blender for several weeks and it worked just fine. (I ended up getting a Vitamix because I can make more things with it).

I loved this book. It was easy to read and love the reciepes in the back. I feel so great since I started eating my greens. Great purchase!!!

The recipes for smoothies in this book taste surprisingly good. I say surprisingly good because they don't look like they would taste good. Some of the smoothies I made were bright green in color and others were a dark brown -- not very appetizing to look at, but once I tasted them, they tasted great! That's because the ratio of fruit is higher than the ratio of greens. So although you'd think a smoothie using kale might taste bitter, it actually tastes sweet. The funniest part about this experiment is the looks on my co-worker's faces when they see me drinking this stuff. They look at me like I'm an alien and I have to keep telling them that despite appearances, they actually taste great. They don't believe me, but hopefully you will. Try them, you'll like them!

Although not a nutrition professional, Victoria Boutenko makes an excellent case for adding green smoothies into one's daily diet. Her strongest arguments include comparing the standard American diet and typical raw foodist diet with the natural chimpanzee diet, as well as dozens of testimonials.

There is at least one place, however where she got the facts wrong: On page 95 she says "chlorophyll provides iron to organs." In reality, the cholorophyll molecule contains no iron. While similar to the hemogloban molecule, the chlorophyll molecule has a magnesium atom in place of the iron atom.

That one error in no way negates the entire book. Most people definitely need more greens and fruit in their diet, and green smoothies are an excellent and tasty way to sneak in these good foods and nutrients. I've tried some of Victoria's smoothies in person when I've heard her speak, and they're always delicious. I always feel better when I drink green smoothies. Her book is quite motivating, and I plan to incorporate them into my diet every day.

I encourage people to read the book, get all fired up about green smoothies, make them and drink them every day. :-)

Advice for using the recipes: Making a green smoothie is more of an art than a science. Use them as rough guidelines. I noticed the Boutenko recipes often call for about 3 servings of fruit and 2 of vegetables + 1 cup water, so that's what I put in my green smoothie today: 2 small peaches and a large banana + about 5 leaves of dino kale. I added a few mint leaves for flavor. Be sure to taste your smoothie before serving to make sure it's sweet enough to be palatable. (Especially if you taste bitters easily like I do.) Mine needed a bit more sweetening, so I added a couple dates, being sure to take the pit out first. Dates can be very helpful for sweetening, as can extra ripe fruit.

Although not a nutrition professional, Victoria Boutenko makes an excellent case for adding green smoothies into one's daily diet. Her strongest arguments include comparing the standard American diet and typical raw foodist diet with the natural chimpanzee diet, as well as dozens of testimonials.

There is at least one place, however where she got the facts wrong: On page 95 she says "chlorophyll provides iron to organs." In reality, the cholorophyll molecule contains no iron. While similar to the hemogloban molecule, the chlorophyll molecule has a magnesium atom in place of the iron atom.

That one error in no way negates the entire book. Most people definitely need more greens and fruit in their diet, and green smoothies are an excellent and tasty way to sneak in these good foods and nutrients. I've tried some of Victoria's smoothies in person when I've heard her speak, and they're always delicious. I always feel better when I drink green smoothies. Her book is quite motivating, and I plan to incorporate them into my diet every day.

I encourage people to read the book, get all fired up about green smoothies, make them and drink them every day.

I have tried raw food diets but found it time consuming and difficult. This book has provided me with the solutions I have been looking for: healthy diet that tastes great, requies little prep time and leaves you feeling quite satisfied. I recommend giving it a try.

I have to say that the reviewers comments below is not one that is Accurate or Fair. This book is in no way selling or recommending any product(s)!

I've read this book and given copies to friends and family. The book is filled with facts about green smoothies that is absolutely incredible.
Victoria has poured lots of research into presenting a great testament to the benefits of green smoothies.

While most of these smoothies are made from kale, spinach, dandelion, or chard, they are incredibly delicious. The results of drinking these smoothies, can be seen and felt. Victoria clearly does not claim to be anything other than a researcher. But to her credit she has taken her family to new health heights and offers readers the same opportunity.

Having just attended a presentation by Victoria where covers much of the material in this book, I can say that she is living proof of being Green for Life!

This book will be (and is already) a classic!

I am very happy for the Boutenko family's new found health and hope that their story is true. This book felt like a lengthy high-pressure sale and was not enlightening or even that interesting. I expected to read about the health benefits of the raw or live food lifestyle, but instead found page upon page of advertisement for the VitaMix Blender. The last quarter of the book is filled with "testimonials" from folks happily using the VitaMix Blender. If you are looking for nutrition information or live food recipes, you will not find them here.

For years, I have had the "knowledge" in regards to eating more raw healthy foods, but cravings have gotten in the way of the type of success I've dreamed of. Victoria changed my perspective by showing we can focus our concentration on good health by drinking delicious green smoothies. The cravings are fading faster than I could have imagined. IN addition, I turned my neighbor on to this book. She came for a visit after two weeks of green smoothies, and said she was eternally grateful, let me know that out of all the things I've done for her, turning her on to this book was the greatest. Drinking the smoothies have already changed her life on every level. Get this book to see how easy improving you health can be.

I found this book an answer to having better health habits and a good way to include my family. I especially like that the author did all the research and came up with this book. It was wonderful! I have already advised all my friends to buy,read and use the materials. My goal this year is to be more healthy than every before!

This book has changed my life. It turned on the light bulb to being
a smarter eater and consumer of greens. Every morning my wife and I have a green smoothie and our health has only changed for the better. This book was not only an easy read but a great eye opener. I would definitely suggest the purchase of this book.

Victoria gives great information on why we need dark leafy greens in our diet, and a very palatable way to "drink" them. I've been drinking green smoothies for over a year, and they make me feel so great! I also went on a 1 week retreat where all we had to eat/drink was green smoothies and fresh fruit, and wow! what a transformation. I also recommend all of the Boutenko books, 12 steps, cook books, etc.

I am now in the process of transitioning to an all raw vegan diet. There are many health benefits, and this book is the best introduction. Victoria really does her research! Enjoy....

After reading this book, which was referred to me by three different people within 2 weeks, my husband and I started drinking green smoothies every morning. Within about 2 weeks coworkers and friends were telling us both that we looked great. I feel better, my digestion is way better and I enjoy waking up to a great smoothie every morning.
Try it - you'll love it! Plus, they taste great.

I thought the message here is certainly good information, and I've started following it. What I didn't care to see was the filler material like the responses to the study she conducted. I just skimmed over it, most everyone had more or less the same response, so she could have saved a tree or two omiting it.

Further, the book had a bit of a late night infomercial feel to it. The author suggested the green smoothie would cure everything from moles to depression, and even suggested it might cure cancer. The moles and warts falling off her body is one thing. I don't know if I necessarily believe that. I'll write again to inform you if my mole falls off.

But, suggesting to go down a path of nutrition for curing cancer? Now you're playing with lives here. Get some oncologists to back this theory and maybe I'll take it a little more serious.

That said, however, the information is very good once you get past these points I've mentioned. I truly beleive the idea of adding greens by means of blending is a great idea. I tried some of the recipes, and they're OK. My first attempt was like drinking minced rope. And this is coming from someone who actually *likes* drinking psyllium husk (powder form, not capsules).

It did not take me long to improve upon some of the recipes. They definitely provide a good flavor base. None of these smoothies taste green or "icky" at all. It was the fiber content that nearly choked me.

With lettuce greens and such, they can go right into the blender. The harder stuff like Kale or chard I run through the wheat grass juicer and add the green juice to the whole fruit base. I get plenty of fiber anyway.

Over all, I think this is a very good book. I just question some of the "miracle cure" claims. I may be wrong about it, and I apologize to the author if I am. But, some of those claims were just a little too much to swallow.

Don't not buy it because of what I say here. Do buy it, and follow the advice of the author. But, just weed through the hype. No pun intended.

I know this sounds quite dramatic, however this book did change life. I lost my cravings for sweets and I gained energy. My digestion and egestion had improved dramately. I have even lost a few pounds (5 lbs).The book was recommended by my brother and now I recommended it to so many people. Drinking puree Kale sounded really gross, however it is quite pleasant. Please give it try, your body will thank you

This is a wonderful book. Intelligent, informative, its a fast & easy read...but you'll want to take in all the knowledge she has to share. One of the most important books i've ever read. Enlightening. I am a 60% raw foodest, and enjoy & value the green smoothies that have become a big part of my diet. Highly recommended!

I read the book and applied it. Plain and simple truth followed by plain and simple preparing of green smoothies.
Three weeks now and the children (13 and 11) ask for it everyday. They can appreciate the changes that their bodies and minds are experiencing.
They also are changing their diets on their own. Small changes but good ones.
I am in awe of the power of green. I though it wouldn't hurt anything just to try it and the benefits have been so worth the small effort.
This book is simple to understand and apply.
I highly recommend it.

I wasn't sure about the book before I bought it. I did not want a raw book that was transitional and nut based. I was not disappointed. I do green smoothies every morning and this book confirmed the positive health attributes of doing so. There is a lot of easy to understand basic nutritional info. This is a good basic book that should be read by everyone who wants to transition to the 'correct foods' and move away from processed foods.

This book has truly changed my life and I purchase it for all of my pregnant friends and friends with small children. I was having a lot of difficulty getting my three year old daughter to eat green leafy vegetables. I followed some of the recipes in "Green for Life" and my daughter loved them, me too! I've even gotten her playgroup friends drinking them. Their moms are so grateful! I make these green smoothies every day and you only need the produce you find at the grocery store, how easy is that? I am forever appreciative of this book. It's a quick read with big, easy, life changing ideas.

This book changed my life after reading it. I knew what I had to do. The answer was eat more greens. But I hated eating greens and so did my family. However, drinking your greens was not a bad idea! The recipes in the back of the book are very yummy! Now we are getting our greens and feeling great! I even got my dad to start drinking them and now he is feeling wonderful! This is a man that has many ailments and much pain. He woke up one day after about a week of greens and said "I am feeling great! If this is what I feel like after greens then, GO GREENS! ".

Enough said....

This is a great book to get you started on the way to better health. It tells you how to get more greens in your diet in a delicious way. I have given this book away and recommended it to many others. Everyone loves it. It is a good way to get more raw food into your diet, a good beginning to going raw. If you are trying to go raw, this book will help tremendously.

This was such a fantastic book. Also a very quick and easy read for anyone. As a vegan I found it to be very informative and since reading this book, I have been doing the green smoothies daily. I can't tell for sure as of yet how much of a health benefit I am getting from them, but I will say that there is a noticeable difference in the way I look and feel since I have started. Also, the importance of the information that Victoria talks about in the book is something that everyone should know, whether you live a vegetarian, vegan, raw food, or omnivore lifestyle. If anyone is considering whether or not to get this book...I highly recommend it!!

This is a great book. It's an easy read with eye-opening information about nutrition. I bought two books and gave them as gifts to two of my best friends. I just started drinking the green shakes, and they are delicious. Since I just started drinking the shakes, I still don't know what kind of an impact they will have on my life, but I am excited about the prospect and am confident that these green shakes will work wonders. I've only been drinking them for a little over a week, and I am beginning to feel a wonderful difference. Thank you Victoria Boutenko!

I found "Green for Life" an excellent source of information. The cost of the book is under priced in my opinion. Victoria did a lot of research talking to Jane Goodall, did a research study on her own w/ a doctor, she gives other websites for helpful information on how to live better lifestyle. (That was refreshing by the way, most other books I have read they gave links but only so they can make extra money. Victoria is not about that in my opinion, she is about helping people)

Her recipes, and studies about green smoothies are excellent. She only gives a 10-12 recipes, but still you can find so many more out there on the net. Plus of course you can try it on your own and experiment. She gives all the information you will need to branch out on your own.

I work as a vitamin consultant and every customer I talk to I recommend her book. We are taught to eat our meat, potatoes and breads all our life. It is nice to see that we can have an alternative to a better life style.

I have a personal trainer. She inspired me to read this book. She eats all RAW food and looks incredible. She is only 30 but looks like she is in her early 20's. She recently did a fat test. The scale showed her metabolic age to be 13.

I have been on Victoria's plan for 3 weeks. I have lost 8 pounds, my skin is better and I have more energy. I am not totally raw though so perhaps when I make the complete transfer I will do even better.

Here is another recipe for you: In a blender: 1 cup of ice. 1 cup of Ionized (or just bottle) water, 1 apple cored, 2 peeled lemons, 1 half dollar size of peeled Ginger Root, 3-5 bunches of Spinach Leaves, Sprinkle 3-5 shakes of Stevia on top (natural sweetner) add 1 more cup of Water. Blend. Yum. It's the best! In the glass for more punch stir in a 2-3 shakes of Cayenne Pepper and for even more health add some Chia seeds. Wow what a Smoothie!

This is a great little book that gives some useful information in a format that is very readable. Was helpful to hear the stories of her family and the process they went through as they discovered the greens. Practical suggestions and realistic tips (like if you don't have variety in your greens you'll get bored and stop). Love the recipes that get you started in the back. Can feel the freshness and plants' energy in every smoothie and really appreciate how accessable it all is (the reading, the dietary changes, etc). Anyone can improve their nutrition and health with one trip to the store (and a Vitamix which I already had)

If you are looking to transition to a more healthy style of eating, this would be a good place to start. It as a very easy read, without a lot of morality or spirituality involved, more plain common sense. The book is roughly 150 pp, however, only the first hundred or so talk about the smoothies and benefits. This is really all the author needs to get the point across. The last 50 pages are testimonials from an impromptu study that the author did near her home in Oregon.

The author states that she did a mountain of research to back up her theory about green smoothies, I would like to see more of her sources quoted. Studies, papers, even quotes from experts. While I am fully on board with most of her theories, trying to get others to go along without scientific proof is a tough sell.

Also, a couple of the testimonials seem a little far-fetched and this small complaint goes along the same vein as above, proof. I have no doubt these people are into the lifestyle, and benefit greatly from the smoothies. However, I really do want to see some medical proof of moles falling off, male pattern baldness starting to come back, and gray hair returning to color. I believe one person even said their cancer was cured.

If you get nothing else from this book, get the recipes. It is a very simple start to getting your daily greens. Don't try to quit your current eating habits cold turkey. Read this book and get the theory. It will give you more to think about when you open the fridge for a snack. Slowly use these smoothies to start a gradual change. Personally, I just use organic 'spring mix' in almost every smoothing I make. This way I get benefits of several different leafy greens everyday.

I have recommended this book to several friends and family as a starting point...give it a shot.

I hate EATING my veggies, so I thought I'd give this a try. I discovered that I love DRINKING my VEGGIES!!! The recipes in this book are SO simple to follow!! My energy level is up, my skin looks flawless again, my IBS is non-existant, I can go on and on! My husband had a horrible and mysterious rash all over his chest and stomach for 6+months. Drinking the green smoothies has made that go away. My girlfriend had a cyst on her buttock for many years that puzzled the doctors, so they never treated it. A week after drinking the smoothies, it began to drain and is now gone! She also had a rash that was basically SCARRED on her ankle....GONE NOW!! I have been spreading the word to all who will listen!! It has changed my life! PLEASE help yourself by reading this book, regain your life back! Live by the words of Jack LaLanne, "If man made it, DON'T EAT IT!!!"

This book presents a simple but radical idea-Improve your health by radically increasing the amount of greens in your diet.
The real genius of the book though is in the acknowledgement that most of us find greens too boring to eat in large quantities,and in Victoria's solution.
Green smoothies are an easy and palatable way to get plenty of greens into your diet.
I used to do a lot of juicing.Since reading this book,I've discovered that green smoothies are far more nutritious.And the best part is,they only take a fraction of the time to prepare and clean up.
This book is concise and easy to read.If you follow its advice,I believe it will make a positive contribution to your health.Recommended.(But as a previous reviewer said,be wary of the wild green edibles,which Victoria's family recommend for green smoothies.I agree that it's too easy to mistake a poisonous weed with one that is nutritious.I will only use store-bought greens.)

This book was an easy read. It contains simple delicious smoothie recipes and after a while one can easily come up with different smoothie combinations to break out of the same monotonous taste. I've been using these recipes for a month now and have noticed a difference in my energy level in the mornings and afternoons. Fantastic! These smoothies also help cut down on sweet cravings and snacking.

I had really chalked all this up to another "fad diet" until I got a case of terrible indigestion and acid reflux that had my digestive system roiling for months. I went to a nutritionist and he put me on a raw foods detox program for a month. I got this book trying to find out more about the basis for this diet. The information in the book is interesting and makes sense to me in a way that I believe I will always eat under this program. I just recently had a physical and compared it to the physical I had 2 yrs ago. I have always considered myself to be healthy but was shocked to compare the results. 2 yrs ago my cholesterol was 233; it is now 165. 2 yrs ago I had 40% body fat. I am now below 30%. My friends say I look really healthy and my skin is glowing!

Pros:
* Easy and fascinating read
* I now understand the power of greens.
* Truly energising recipes - my teenage son is hooked!
* I'm also hooked!

Cons:
* Since reading the book, my son and I have enjoyed smoothies every day. Unfortunately, although there are 7 pages of recipes, it's not enough! Hopefully, Victoria Boutenko will write a (larger) book just devoted to green smoothie recipes!

Great book, very well written. The ideas are supported by scientific research. The style is consistent. Real world examples are very inspiring!

Because of this book, I was inspired to start drinking Green Smoothies. I had been battling chronic fatigue syndrome for over 7 years. The combination of eliminating processed sugars, eliminating wheat, and drinking Green Smoothies "cured" me. My husband got his wife back and my kids got their mom back.

The book explains why we need more dark green leafy vegetables in our diet, how to make the greens taste better (Green Smoothies of course), and what health changes you can expect after drinking them.

I was especially impressed with the information on how much protein is in dark green vegetables.

When I say this book changed my life I have to add that not only was it the missing "key" where my cure for chronic fatigue was concerned... I also got a new job because of this book! In the book she recommends using a Vita-Mix machine to process the greens. When I watched a local Vita-Mix demonstration, I said to myself, "I could do this", and long story short... I am now a very happy and fulfilled Vita-Mix show demonstrator!

Whether you want to become an "all raw foodist" or you just want to find an enjoyable way to increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables in your diet, I HIGHLY recommend, "Green For Life".

This in my view is the most important book written on raw food by Victoria Boutenko. It is the cutting edge of the raw food practice. Clear and practical. It is my #1 on my raw bookshelf and I follow it in my day to day life. Works wonders.
Highly recommended!

Boutenko is earnest and enthusiastic, and I find her writing sytle and personal story endearing and probably somewhat enlightening too. She has certainly gotten my attention.

However, I remain skeptical of many of her claims, and I desire something that is a bit more cautious and scientific in its evaluation of raw foodism. She might be right, but she needs to get some more scientific evidence on her side and let go of some of the almost-dogma. She is almost _too_ enthusiastic, and I would find her claims more legitimate if she also weighed in on what is not known or what is a possible drawback to raw foodsim. Calling it a cure-all is a little over the top. In her defense, though, I think she does do her best to attain legitimacy--I would just like to see some more of it outside the enthusiastic world of raw foodists. (Needless to say, "healing" and "powers" is not of my personal language.)

Read it though, if you're interested. Its a good jumping off point and, I must say, green smoothies are pretty tasty! (And healthy!) I'm happy to know about them now.

Great book all about Green Smoothies and the why & how about them. Very practical and well written!

This book reminds all of us that the foods we eat are for our health and vitality, and to meet our most fundamental nutritional needs. Victoria's detailed research on human nutrition is both informative and inspiring. Her version of the green soup advocated by Ann Wigmore is both palatable and energizing. I drink them almost every day now!

This is a great book and one of a kind! The recipes are very good, although I was disappointed that there were relatively few of them (a few pages). I was able to notice an immediate different in my energy levels upon drinking only 1/2 of the daily quart of green drinks recommended. If you need a lot of energy for staying up late or getting up earlier in the morning, using these drinks is a great strategy. I did notice some indigestion and have read in Mary Enig's 2005 or so book about a coconut oil diet she invented that indigestion is often a consequence of drinking green drinks. She recommends cooking leafy greens for sound scientific reasons and using only 4 oz juice a day from fruit juices once in awhile if one desires, also for sound scientific reasons. She largely refutes the idea that drinking lots of juices is the best way to cleanse the body or get enzymes. Drinking bone broths helps the body cleanse itself as amino acids in these are used by the liver to cleanse. Juices, she says, don't have as many enzymes as people think. Andrew Weil and other doctors recommend sparing use of juices, and mostly or only fruit, these days. However, I think this book is very useful for persons wanting to resist coffee and snacks for awhile, start a diet, build energy levels, slim down; and I think the author is probably right when she writes that modern jaws/teeth don't masticate greens as well as they once did and this is why we don't get as much energy from chewing salad greens as we once did. So possilby the truth about what is best for us is somewhere between Enig's perspective and the perspective in this book, weighted more towards Enig. I'd drink less than a quart of green drink and chew it well before swallowing and stick to largely fruitier drinks most of the time.

This is a great book and one of a kind! The recipes are very good, although I was disappointed that there were relatively few of them (a few pages). I was able to notice an immediate different in my energy levels upon drinking only 1/2 of the daily quart of green drinks recommended. If you need a lot of energy for staying up late or getting up earlier in the morning, using these drinks is a great strategy. I did notice some indigestion and have read in Mary Enig's 2005 or so book about a coconut oil diet she invented that indigestion is often a consequence of drinking green drinks. She recommends cooking leafy greens for sound scientific reasons and using only 4 oz juice a day from fruit juices once in awhile if one desires, also for sound scientific reasons. She largely refutes the idea that drinking lots of juices is the best way to cleanse the body or get enzymes. Drinking bone broths helps the body cleanse itself as amino acids in these are used by the liver to cleanse. Juices, she says, don't have as many enzymes as people think. Andrew Weil and other doctors recommend sparing use of juices, and mostly or only fruit, these days. However, I think this book is very useful for persons wanting to resist coffee and snacks for awhile, start a diet, build energy levels, slim down; and I think the author is probably right when she writes that modern jaws/teeth don't masticate greens as well as they once did and this is why we don't get as much energy from chewing salad greens as we once did. So possilby the truth about what is best for us is somewhere between Enig's perspective and the perspective in this book, weighted more towards Enig. I'd drink less than a quart of green drink and chew it well before swallowing and stick to largely fruitier drinks most of the time.

Victoria Boutenko has helped us all to understand the philosophy of the living foods diet; and she has shown us how to make the transition to it: green smoothies. My doctor has been converting his patients to the living foods diet using these green smoothies; so we all bless Victoria for showing us how to make them. She also explains why we should be eating only living foods, and why we feel so much better when we do. She has lots of testimonials from people who have recovered from excruciating illnesses -- even terminal illnesses -- by switching to a living foods diet, with the help of green smoothies. I highly recommend this book first to anyone who is considering "going raw." After you have finished "Green for Life," I recommend reading Dr. Douglas Graham's wonderful book, "The 80/10/10 Diet," to obtain even more appreciation of living foods.

Green for Life
Not feeling well? REALLY not feeling well, but can't quite put your finger on what's bothering you? Victoria Boutenko, a Russian immigrant, has written about her family of five, everyone of whom had some nagging health issue, each one different from the other. She made drastic changes in the family's diet and their health improved, to a person, dramatically.
Still, she sensed something was missing and set out to discover what it was. Her solution - drinking a green smoothie every day - is radical. But a solution like this is what many of us need to discover for ourselves and we can with the recipes found in this book. Our family of two now feel deprived, and yes, sad, if we don't drink our daily smoothie. Boutenko talks about the effects this diet change has on not only her family but many others and this makes for interesting reading.
I recommend this book and say to you that if you try the green smoothie recipes found in this book for a week you will feel healthier, happier and just plain GOOD.

This book is easy to read and provides clear logic as to why all of us would want to be consuming green smoothies. Victoria Boutenko has done the scientific research, and shares the personal experiences which back up her claims.

This book is unpretentious, demonstrates an excellent research ethos and provides valuable insight into the workings of the food we eat. It presents valid research with adequate references and is a good read. It does not present itself as being infallible but presents its readers with enough information to begin to take responsibility for their health. Particularly, it offers anyone with illness an insight into the workings of nature in terms of healing via accessible food. It does not bully its readers into "going green" but rather provides an invitation to the self discovery of eating "green" and not just horribly presented menus and a swift telling off.

I think it could be a valuable resource for all families interested in all things concerning health and food.

This is one of the best infromational books I've ever read. I have a health disorder that I am going to try and fix with the help of this information. I felt stuck with Dr.'s telling me "there is really nothing I can do for you!". I ordered this book, received it and was so depressed I let it sit on my night stand for about two weeks. I picked it up when I was board one night and could'nt put it down. It gave me so much hope! I will with out question get better now. I will be very happy to share this with my Dr. that has not a lot of hope for my condition. Thanks for giving me the inspiration to try!

At 61 years old I had developed a number of cronic health problems that could not be reversed with conventional medicine. Five months ago my wife and I (after much research) started on an organic raw food diet to improve our health. Fortunately one of the first books we purchased was 12 Steps to Raw Foods, because the "green smoothies" that Victoria writes about are packed with nutrition and completely eliminate the cravings for junk food. The results of this diet are truly asounding even miraculous! These are the conditions that are now completely gone: Migrain headaches, arthritis in my hands, sleep apnea and tendenitis. My triglycerides have dropped from 2000 to 245, my blood pressure is down to 102/68 and my cholesterol is 110. In the process I have lost 30lbs and am still losing 6-7lbs/mo. With all of my "itises" gone I am able to lift weights and run again. We will never go back to the old way of eating. Victoria's new book, Green for Life, has added greatly to our "smoothy" recipies and new valuable information for our new lifestyle.