Can I have fruit in a green smoothie? It pulverizes the ingredients, so I was just wondering if I could continue to have smoothies with fruit.
We use different greens (spinach, kale, chard), but mostly spinach.
We are trying to decide what to trade out the yogurt with....we have always used Fage 0% plain....but I'm sure it is a no-no due to the pasteurized skimmed milk. It says it contains lactic acid which enhances digestibility of casein....???
I've never tried almond milk or anything like that....any advice? We would love to continue our smoothies. If I can continue, I will limit fruit to two one or two different kinds to simplify.
Thanks,
Terre
Green Smoothies
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Terre,
Some members are able to utilize smoothies without problems, while others have problems with either the fiber or the fructose in the fruit or berries. Many fiber and sugar problems with MC are dose-dependent. Moderation is fine, but if we try to overdo it, we pay the price.
Bananas are fine for most of us, and frozen bananas make a reasonably good substitute for yogurt. And most of us do OK with mangoes. Many love to add blueberries or a few strawberries. Beware of citrus fruits, because most of us have problems with citric acid until after we recover. We each have to determine which ones we can tolerate. And because of the fiber and fructose, we have to be careful that we don't overdo it.
Please be aware that all three of the greens you listed contain high levels of oxalic acid. The problem with oxalic acid is that it is known to cause increased motility for many people (which can translate to D for some of us). More than that, if plants that are high in oxalic acid are not cooked thoroughly, the oxalic acid tends to tie up calcium, not only making the calcium in those plants unavailable, but possibly preventing the absorption of calcium from other sources in the diet that are eaten soon afterward.
What happens with the calcium that is precipitated out by the oxalic acid? Calcium oxalate is the most common component of kidney stones, so people who are prone to developing kidney stones, generally find it prudent to minimize foods that contain high amounts of oxalic acid, especially in the raw state.
That said, we all respond differently to various foods, medications, and this disease itself, so YMMV.
Except for those members here who are sensitive to it, I would guess that most of us use almond milk as our preferred substitute for cow's milk. It's actually very good, and many of us prefer it to cow's milk. Some of us use coconut milk with very good results. It's also possible to use hemp milk as a healthy alternative, though some of us don't use it because we experience mild bloating after ingesting it. Hemp milk is richer than cow's milk, and contains more nutrients. I prefer the taste to cow's milk, but I stopped using it because of the bloating issue.
Tex
Some members are able to utilize smoothies without problems, while others have problems with either the fiber or the fructose in the fruit or berries. Many fiber and sugar problems with MC are dose-dependent. Moderation is fine, but if we try to overdo it, we pay the price.
Bananas are fine for most of us, and frozen bananas make a reasonably good substitute for yogurt. And most of us do OK with mangoes. Many love to add blueberries or a few strawberries. Beware of citrus fruits, because most of us have problems with citric acid until after we recover. We each have to determine which ones we can tolerate. And because of the fiber and fructose, we have to be careful that we don't overdo it.
Please be aware that all three of the greens you listed contain high levels of oxalic acid. The problem with oxalic acid is that it is known to cause increased motility for many people (which can translate to D for some of us). More than that, if plants that are high in oxalic acid are not cooked thoroughly, the oxalic acid tends to tie up calcium, not only making the calcium in those plants unavailable, but possibly preventing the absorption of calcium from other sources in the diet that are eaten soon afterward.
What happens with the calcium that is precipitated out by the oxalic acid? Calcium oxalate is the most common component of kidney stones, so people who are prone to developing kidney stones, generally find it prudent to minimize foods that contain high amounts of oxalic acid, especially in the raw state.
That said, we all respond differently to various foods, medications, and this disease itself, so YMMV.
Except for those members here who are sensitive to it, I would guess that most of us use almond milk as our preferred substitute for cow's milk. It's actually very good, and many of us prefer it to cow's milk. Some of us use coconut milk with very good results. It's also possible to use hemp milk as a healthy alternative, though some of us don't use it because we experience mild bloating after ingesting it. Hemp milk is richer than cow's milk, and contains more nutrients. I prefer the taste to cow's milk, but I stopped using it because of the bloating issue.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
You are a wealth of knowledge!
Are there any greens I could safely add to the smoothies?
Right now, we add various fruits...but I am going to start adding just two to see how I do and then go from there and try alternating different types. Maybe I'll learn which ones I can tolerate in the smoothies.
Thanks,
Terre
Are there any greens I could safely add to the smoothies?
Right now, we add various fruits...but I am going to start adding just two to see how I do and then go from there and try alternating different types. Maybe I'll learn which ones I can tolerate in the smoothies.
Thanks,
Terre
Terre,
I'm not much of an authority on greens. Hopefully someone who uses them regularly will see your post and offer some insight from their own experience.
Tex
I'm not much of an authority on greens. Hopefully someone who uses them regularly will see your post and offer some insight from their own experience.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Terre,
I have green smoothies several times a week. Our preferred green is kale, which I believe is safer in its raw state than spinach and chard, from an oxalate perspective. I've heard from farmers that chard must ALWAYS be eaten cooked. I sometimes use parsley, cilantro, and baby salad greens too. My base is usually a banana (freeze any that are getting overripe), almond or coconut milk, some frozen berries, chia or flax seeds, and sometimes mango, peach, a half beet or avocado if I have them available. I occasionally add an orange or clementine, but Tex is right, the acidity of citrus can bother me. My husband adds lime and whey protein to his so I can't drink them. I often pour mine before he adds his extra ingredients. I usually put a scoop of L-glutamine in my smoothies. We use a Vitamix, so the flax and chia seeds are well pulverized.
I have green smoothies several times a week. Our preferred green is kale, which I believe is safer in its raw state than spinach and chard, from an oxalate perspective. I've heard from farmers that chard must ALWAYS be eaten cooked. I sometimes use parsley, cilantro, and baby salad greens too. My base is usually a banana (freeze any that are getting overripe), almond or coconut milk, some frozen berries, chia or flax seeds, and sometimes mango, peach, a half beet or avocado if I have them available. I occasionally add an orange or clementine, but Tex is right, the acidity of citrus can bother me. My husband adds lime and whey protein to his so I can't drink them. I often pour mine before he adds his extra ingredients. I usually put a scoop of L-glutamine in my smoothies. We use a Vitamix, so the flax and chia seeds are well pulverized.
1987 Mononucleosis (EBV)
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
Zizzle, we have a Vitamix and I love it!
Before my diagnosis, I used the whey protein, but like you I have now stopped. Thanks for the info on the kale and I will begin using the almond or coconut milk. As far as the other ingredients, we use fresh fruit or frozen and also add flax seeds.
What is the L-glutamine for?
Thanks,
Terre
Before my diagnosis, I used the whey protein, but like you I have now stopped. Thanks for the info on the kale and I will begin using the almond or coconut milk. As far as the other ingredients, we use fresh fruit or frozen and also add flax seeds.
What is the L-glutamine for?
Thanks,
Terre
I like Blue Diamond, although some people react to the thickeners like carageenan. All the brands are pretty similar. My fav is their combo of coconut/almond milk. Tastes most like regular milk (the coconut and almond seem to balance each other out)
1987 Mononucleosis (EBV)
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
2004 Hypomyopathic Dermatomyositis
2009 Lymphocytic Colitis
2010 GF/DF/SF Diet
2014 Low Dose Naltrexone
L-glutamine is a supplement used by body builders because it is claimed to promote healing for damaged smooth muscle tissue. Since the muscles in intestines are also smooth muscle tissue, it's thought that the product may be helpful for promoting intestinal healing for people who have an IBD. A few members have reported that it seems to have helped their recovery (at least one feels that it made a remarkable difference in her recovery), but most members who have tried it apparently haven't been able to notice any significant difference, judging by their posts.Terre wrote:What is the L-glutamine for?
I haven't seen that one yet — I'll have to keep my eyes open the next time I restock almond milk.Zizzle wrote:My fav is their combo of coconut/almond milk.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.