19 Jan
The Birth of Green Drink
Everyday for lunch I have green drink. 64 ounces of green drink. My drink has gone through several different reincarnations. First it was just a salad blended up in my Vitamix at the beginning of my lymphoma diagnosis. This was a survival tactic since I hated salad. It once brought me to tears to eat it, and now raw vegetables made up 90% of my food!
After learning more about Ann Wigmore’s Living Foods lifestyle, it transformed into her trademark “Energy Soup.” She incorporated living sprouts in her recipe along with avocado and sea vegetables.
During my pregnancy I began to play around with more known cancer fighters like kale, cabbage, broccoli, and broccoli sprouts to create “Cortney’s Kick-”Butt” Cancer Fighting Concoction.” Once I was declared in remission at 4 months pregnant I began to add more flavorful vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, and carrots into my drink.
This really is close to my current version I fondly call “Green Smoothie.” When it tastes too green I will add an apple to it to take the edge off, but this only lasts a few days before I’m ready to go hard-core green again. It contains only organic vegetables, tastes green and smells green.
I recommend the Vitamix to blend your Green Drink. Many popular smoothie chains such as Smoothie King or Tropical Smoothie use a Vitamix to make their super smooth smoothies. You can buy their basic model for about $450. If you have a standard blender at home, your smoothie will be much grittier which I find more difficult to consume. Try blending it a bit longer to remedy the gritty texture.
Another tip is to drink your smoothie at a COOL temperature. If it’s too hot it tastes even nastier, but if it’s too cold it gives you a brain freeze! The key for me was to hold my nose and gulp my smoothie about a cup at a time. Then, when I was done drinking I would swish water around my mouth and swallow. I would also visualize my cancer cells being restored to healthy ones or even exploding from the oxygen being brought to my cells! I was so proud of myself after I was done. It may have tasted gross, but what a miracle it was performing in my body!
Cortney’s Kick-”Butt” Cancer Fighting Concoction (During Cancer)
4 cups filtered water
1 cup filtered ice
1/2 avocado
2 brussel sprouts (ends cut off)
1 leaf kale
1/2 apple
3 handfuls of baby greens or spinach
1/2 cup broccoli
1 cup broccoli sprouts
1 cup lentil or mung bean sprouts (or both)
1/2 handful of sunflower sprouts
1/2 handful of buckwheat lettuce sprouts
1 tbsp dulse or kelp
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
“Green Smoothie” (Post-Cancer)
4 cups filtered water
1 cup filtered ice
½ avocado (no pit!)
3 handfuls of baby greens, spinach
1 cup broccoli sprouts
1 handful of sunflower sprouts or buckwheat lettuce sprouts
½ any color pepper
1 medium tomato
2 whole carrots (even the leafy tops are really good!)
1 cup lentil or mung bean, sprouted 2 days (if I don’t have these I will put cooked blacked beans or canned if I’m desperate!)
1 apple if desired (cut in 8 pieces)
Other additions or substitutes: cilantro, cucumber, 1 cup raw broccoli, cayenne pepper, oregano, coconut oil, or anything else you want to try!
Posted by Riah
In a mason jar! Great photo, Booba. Remember when we would put beer in a jar instead? Times do change!
Posted by Eddie
So, do you just drink it?
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
Yep, just chug it. I give advice on how to in Green Drink Psychology.
Posted by Jen Parsons
Great blog! Question: Is there a reason why you drink 64 ounces? My husband and I tried the fruity green smoothie today at lunch–20 oz each–and loved it. Tomorrow, we’ll be trying the “post-cancer” green smoothie. Twenty ounces is pretty filling, so I’m wondering if you can explain why 64 ounces might be better? Is it as simple as trying to get all of the veggie servings one needs for the day into a single meal? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
Hi Jen! Since the “Post Cancer” smoothie is a meal replacement, 64 oz is what it takes to keep me full for several hours. That’s really the main reason. Any less than 64 oz and I’ll start to feel hungry 3-4 hours after I drink it. Also, you’re on to me! In order to get in a variety of cancer fighting vegetables everyday, it requires more in the blender. I’m glad to hear you like it!
Posted by swollenmystery
Thanks so much for posting your green smoothie recipe. I’ve read through most of your posts and you are truly a great blessing and your story is an inspiration to those who are suffering with chronic illness. I’m attempting to heal 4 years of severe autoimmune arthritis associated with lyme and a leaky gut. Now 3 weeks in to an intense detox protocol with raw vegetable green smoothies as my foundation for nourishment and each day and I’m modeling them after your cancer fighting smoothie recipe. Thanks for your help!
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
I am so happy to have been of help! I try to be completely authentic. It’s not easy at all to live with chronic illness. With an alternative cancer approach you have to be on a tight regimen and can no longer eat conveniently and freely. I’ sure you feel similarly, dealing with a true chronic illness as you are. Please let me know if I can be of any help. Lately, I’ve also been adding ginger and turmeric to my “Post Cancer” smoothie. The last 4 days I have added cauliflower which gives it a creamier taste. Always experiment with new variations.
Posted by Christina
Any thoughts on juicing this concoction vs. a smoothie?
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
Hi Christina,
Sure! My thoughts: I personally like the fiber of it the vegetables filling my belly. Not sure if juicing it would leave me hungry- I’ve never tried it! Also, when I started my anti-cancer protocol I didn’t own a juicer but had a Vitamix already. The Vitamix is also easier to clean up, so it wins in that category. The argument FOR the juicer would be that the nutrients would be absorbed quicker without the fiber, but I personally am a smoothie girl. Either way, you’re going to have to get used to the “flavor” of these veggie smoothies.
Posted by Meet Cortney Campbell! | Raw Living Fuel
[...] conventional foods. I eat a TON of nutrient-dense, organic vegetables: a big, colorful salad and 64 ounce veggie smoothie everyday. I rarely eat meat, but when I do, it is grass fed, free-range meat or wild-caught fish. I still [...]
Posted by Tonya
Do you steam the veggies or just throw them in raw. I have a vitamix but just got it and am afraid of breaking it
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
Hey Tonya!
I would chop or break larger fruits and veggies like carrots and peppers, broccoli crowns, apples etc into 2 or 3 pieces, but greens can go in as is. DO NOT STEAM. Not only would it deplete the purpose of a veggie smoothie and its nutrients, but I don’t imagine the texture would be so great. (: Let me know how it goes! Glad you got a Vitamix! You’ll be happy with how well it blends!!! (:
Posted by Patty Cuoco Schoen-Jones
Hi enjoying your blog very much. Can you please tell me why you do not use the pit of the avocado? Thank you so much. Patty.
Posted by Patty Cuoco Schoen-Jones
Also, the date an time of my post is incorrect. It is March 22, 2012 2:35 PM Thank you.
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
Hi Patty!
Sorry about the wrong date- not sure why it does that. Anyways, I am glad you asked this question because it sent me off into research land! I have never eaten the pit, primarily b/c I never thought to! However, this information from Victoria Boutenko is interesting and helpful! http://www.rawfamily.com/news/2009/04_09_1.html
Posted by Lisa
Hi, i enjoy reading your blog. When you started your cancer fighting diet, did you lose much weight?
Thank you so much
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
Hi Lisa! I sure did, but mainly because I hated vegetables and wouldn’t eat much. NOT recommended! Once I got the hang of green smoothies, salads, and the Budwig protocol, my weight stabilized and I thrived!
Posted by Rich Ferguson
Please enjoy this highly entertaining clip called Green Drink Magic! Feel free to share this video or the recipe! : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvV7jcJyWcA
Posted by lisa
Hi Cortney, When you do the cottage cheese/flax oil, do you grind the seeds to sprinkle on top?
Posted by GreenDrinkDiaries
Hi Lisa!
Nope, no time for that! I buy Barleans Organic Flaxseed Oil and mx it with the Cottage Cheese with an immersion blender. Nothin’ fancy! (: