Adding a variety of leafy greens to your diet promotes nutritional diversity; greens are packed full of nutrients and antioxidants.  However when juicing or making green smoothies you need to ensure that you are rotating your greens every 2-3 days. This means that you do not juice Kale for 2 weeks straight!

Why should we be rotating our greens? 

Well, all greens contain a small amount of toxins and if you are consuming just one type of green, what can happen is that you will create a build of alkaloids in your system.

Basically, leafy greens carry a small amount of toxins that protect plants from being entirely consumed by other animals, it enables the  protection of the  plant species. As humans, if we consume these toxins for long periods of time, they can build up with what is called alkaloid build-up and can affect our energy as well as our thyroid.

SYMPTOMS OF ALKALOID POISONING AND OXALATE BUILD-UP

The symptoms of alkaloid poisoning vary depending on the type of greens consumed.

Common signs can be any of the following. They can also be mild.

• No desire to eat that particular type of green
• Tingling in the fingertips or lips and anywhere on the body
• Spaciness (with too much kale: low iron and tiredness)

HOW TO AVOID ALKALOID POISONING

Alkaloid poisoning is not dangerous, and is easy to avoid by simply rotating your greens each week.

Oxalates are naturally occurring compounds found in almost all plants, and in animals and humans.  Diets focusing on high oxalate foods like a  cruciferous vegetables like kale and spinach can cause short-term problems. If you are sensitive and have preexisting lung, kidney or thyroid problems, it is suggested that you avoid medium oxalate foods as well. 

THIS IS WHY ROTATING YOUR GREENS IS IMPORTANT !

By rotating your greens, you prevent any chance of alkaloid build-up. You also ensure that the variety of greens provides different phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, micro- and macronutrients and antioxidants are all absored by out bodies for optimal health.

THERE IS NO NEED TO STOP JUICING OR HAVING GREEN SMOOTHIES – IT IS REALLY SIMPLE, JUST ALWAYS BE MINDFUL AND ENSURE YOU ARE ROTATING YOUR GREENS.

IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT GREENS INCLUDE:

• Kale
• Spinach
• Collard Greens
• Bok Choy
• Beet Greens
• Chard
• Carrot tops
• Dandelion Greens
• Lettuce
• Celery
• Cilantro
• Spirulina
• Barley Grass
• Wheat Grass
• Super Greens
• Vita mineral Greens
• Supergrass