Product Review: Green For Life {Green Smoothies}, and a Giveaway

Before I tell about the product I am reviewing today, let me tell you a little story [you can find an in-depth recount of it on my August 2008 blog entry].

After moving to Washington State a couple of years back I met a young lady at the local nutrition store. Well, it was more like I ambushed her.

Demetrye and I were already vegan when we moved, and in a small town of Longview, where obesity rates soar up to 70%+ vegans and health seekers are a rarity. I quickly found out that there is only ONE health food store for the whole county of 100,000 people, which closes at 6 pm promptly. Forget about a Whole Foods or a vegan group/association or anything like that. It felt a bit lonely!

One day, while at the aforementioned nutrition store, I was informed that there was a raw vegan in town. The owner of the store gave me her name, and I was looking forward to one day meeting her. As I was about to leave the store she was coming in, and someone pointed her out to me. Being me… I went straight to her, all excited, introduced myself and started chatting away. Oops! I think I scared her at first. But… now the rest is history, as our families have befriended and we spent a lot of quality time together.

Darlene, my dear friend, introduced me to a couple of books that really influenced my life/health. One of them was: Green for Life, by V. Boutenko.

Green for Life

The book covers the results of the Roseburg study conducted by Victoria and Dr Fieber. It reveals the unique healing potential of greens, in particular Green Smoothies. This book is illustrated with anecdotes, diagrams and pictures.

Victoria was originally looking for a way to improve her family’s raw food diet, which cured her family of numerous ailments—a diet based on fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and avocados. While this eating regiment helped her family's health tremendously, Boutenko couldn't help but notice something was missing. After extensive research, she came to the conclusion that without a sufficient amount of greens one cannot reach optimal health.

Greens make our body more alkaline, add fiber, and provide a wide spectrum of prime nutrients. Chlorophyll effectively aids in the healing of many human ailments.

Green for Life explains why eating more green leafy vegetables can help normalize the acidity level in the stomach. Greens can give us so much energy we will actually require less sleep.

In addition to Victoria’s recount of her research, Green for Life includes 23 delicious smoothie recipes with ingredients like romaine, strawberries, and bananas, to get you started on drinking your way to a healthier life. Plus, Boutenko shares the testimonies of her research subjects who drank 1 quart of her green smoothie every day with astonishing results.

My Green Smoothie Experiment

Having read the book, although interested, I was a bit skeptical. I knew greens are good for us, but the claims that I read in the book were a bit outlandish even for me. And, being me, I decided to conduct my OWN experiment. I decided to go on a strict regimen of Green Smoothie drinking for 30 Days.

I made a list of things I wanted to observe—one has to have expectations, and kept a journal of my daily food intake. Here is one of the entries:

22 days after doing green smoothies EVERY SINGLE day, at least 16 oz. a day, I checked my foot and the wart fell out right into the palm of my hand!!! No zapping, no freezing and burning... It was OUT!!!

Don’t be alerted at me talking about warts with such enthusiasm. It is not warts that I am really excited about, but the power of God-given nutrition, that we—the human race—are yet to discover with all of our technological and scientific advances.

[and here is a shot of my fridge during my experiment days—being prepared helps to ensure a successful experiment]

So, if you are looking for a good read or a great present for someone you love, grab a copy of Green for Life! [click on the link to be taken directly to it]

Back to Eden Giveaway

Another way you might get a copy of Green for Life is by becoming a member of our on-line vegan forum Back to Eden.   I am giving away a copy of this amazing book to one "green" member of our community this week... and maybe more in the future.  Simply click on the link to find out more about the community and get your membership.  

Best of all to everyone!  Happy Tuesday and Happy Green Smoothie Drinking. 

Green Smoothie Challenge Continues!

Our Green Smoothie Challenge is going STRONG.  We already have a couple of pretty amazing testimonies.  One of our members, just a week after starting on Green Smoothies was healed of an exzema on her scalp.  Talk about miracles!

30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge Kick Off & a Giveaway

Good morning loves! As a part of our Vegan on-line Forum celebration, we at Back to Eden are kicking off a 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge. I will lead Back to Eden [B2E] participants week by week with simple green smoothie recipes that will enhance our health and even aid some in weight loss... I would like to invite the readers of Eat Healthy! Be Happy! Vegan Recipes blog to participate as well.

Every week I will post a video that will outline our plan of action for that week. B2E members will also get a detailed list of recipes and ingredient list for that week. 

Watch the video, get involved also!

B2E members will get a lot of one-on-one attention, so, if you wish, jump on over to the Forum page and join us. If not, you can still follow along. You can find green smoothie recipes on my blog under Green Smoothie and Drinks categories. And make sure to interact with us too by leaving comments under blog posts.

For now, watch this video, take notes, and then read instructions under the video.

{RSS readers might not see the embedded video. Please click on this link: 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge, Week 1 to watch it.}

You know me, I can hardly do anything without giving something away anymore.This time is no different.  If you watched the video intently you would have seen certain suggestions I made to the Back to Eden members.  The first person to list them in order [and it has to be the correct number] who wants to get into Back to Eden, will get 1 months access to the forum for FREE!  Yes!  All you have to do is, list the suggestions I made in order [and it has to be just right], leave your name and e-mail address and tomorrow, after 2 pm I will announce a winner.  Deal? If you come to the post to make suggestions and see other responses, don't let it stop you, because it is all about having the RIGHT answer!

Also do not forget about Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Giveaway.  Today is the last day to enter!

Feeling Blogged Out: Momentary Intermission

We all get to a point of feeling being spread a little too thin.  Well, I think I reached mine, although very momentarily, but at the wrong time.  With several photography sessions, launch of our brand new vegan community and a few giveaways... and an e-cookbook in the working, well... a girl feels a wee bit tired. 

Like needing a big hug tired; eating a bowl of Dark Chocolate Coconut Bliss tired [no worries, I have not done it yet]; like watching a good movie, getting away from everything in the world tired.  But I know that come tomorrow I will probably feel 100+% re-energized and ready to take on the world.  [BTW, Audrey, did you get a chance to try CB ice cream yet?] 

Oh, by the way, talking about good movies, I heard that that The Blind Side is out on DVD. That is one movie I would watch over and over again, with a big bowl of ice cream and a big hug from my hubby to boot.  Oh, and a hot cup of Teeccino, vanilla flavor is my favorite. 

Yeah, I know, I am pretty random. But... life goes on.

So, while I am letting my mind calm down and sooth itself, I wanted to see if any of my readers had any pressing questions about topics that burden their minds that they want to me cover.  If you do, leave a comment and I will look into it.  How about that?

PS: UPDATE [the morning after]: As I expected and told you--I feel fabulous again.  I woke up with tons of ideas in my head.  I could have used a few more hours of sleep, but since that's not an option, a 20 oz of energizing green smoothie did the trick.  I am bursting at the seams!  Today I will be adding an update on my 7-day Detox Raw challange with pictures and vegan raw recipes [yum!].

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review and Giveaway, Celebrating Vegan Forum Launch: CLOSED FOR ENTRIES

Good morning, beautiful people! So, let the celebrations begin! The doors to Back to Eden, an on-line forum for health seekers from all walks of life, have been opened. The first giveaway is going to be available to Back to Eden members and my general audience readers alike.

Beautiful folk at Tropical Traditions sent me a jar of their coconut oil to try. And try I did. I used this coconut oil in about anything and everything you can imagine: smoothies, raw cheesecakes, roasting potatoes, putting it on my skin—you name it, I tried it. But let me show it to you first, since pictures might be worth a thousand words [so I get a video instead ;)].

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review from Elena Wilkins on Vimeo.
[If you are receiving this as e-mail and not seeing the video, click on the link and you will be taken to the Vimeo site to enjoy it.]

So, I have become a convert. The lightness of Tropical Tradition’s coconut oil has me sold on it.

Want a chance to win your own 32 oz. jar of Tropical Traditions coconut oil? Here is how you can do it. As always, I am going to give you more than one opportunity to win this drawing:

Along with your comment, make sure to leave your name and e-mail address so you can be notified if you win this giveaway. If you win the giveaway I will contact you to obtain your mailing and contact information.

You have to be a resident of US or Canada to participate [yes, Canadian friends! I love you that much!] 

Drawing will take place on Sunday, March 14th. 

1. Head on over to Tropical Traditions and subscribe to their newsletter, then come back and leave a comment under this post.

2. Visit Tropical Traditions Free Coconut Recipe web-site and come back to tell me which recipe you would like to make with the coconut oil you might win.

3. Follow me on Twitter, and Twit about this giveaway, then come back and leave a comment about it. You can Twit about this giveaway once a day and get an additional entry by coming back each time and leaving a comment about it.  Make sure to mention your Twitter @ username.

Twit this Text:

Tropical Traditions Giveaway: Organic Coconut Oil http://bit.ly/a6qNB7 to celebrate the launch of #vegan forum http://bit.ly/9BGoL1

4. Friend me up on FaceBook and post about this giveaway with a link to the post, then come back and leave a comment about it. As with Twitter, you can FB post about this giveaway once a day and get an additional entry by coming back each time and leaving a comment about it.

5. Sign up for my Newsletter [on the right side of the blog at the top], then come back and leave a comment about it. Make sure to confirm your subscription first, by going to your e-mail box and responding to the e-mail requiring a confirmation. If you do not confirm your subscription your entry will be disregarded.

6. Follow my blog [look on the right hand side panel and you will see a list of followers that you can add yourself to], then leave a comment about it.

7. Add my blog to your blog roll, then come and leave comment about it, along with the link.

8. Subscribe to my RSS Feed, and leave a comment about it.

9. If you have a blog, mention this giveaway in your post, directing to my post and leave an additional comment under this post.

10. If you are a member of Back to Eden forum, you get an extra entry.  Add a separate comment and mention that you are, indeed, a member of our community [and I know if you are ;)]. And, yes, if you decided to join the community now, you would qualify for this extra entry.

And so that you all know, Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

And one more thing: you can also acquire a complimentary copy of their Virgin Coconut Oil book by taking part in their Referral Program: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/referral_program.htm. If you have any questions on how it works, please visit their Customer Services page.

Don't forget folks, that the doors to the fist wave of Back to Eden on-line vegan forum are open.  Sign up to get support, to grow, to get encouraged, to get vegan and raw vegan recipes, green smoothie recipes, etc., and to learn ways to improve your health through a plant based diet.  

The Big Reveal: On-line Vegan Community and 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge

Vegan on-line Forum: Back to Eden opened it's doors! 

Health seekers from ALL walks of life are welcomed to participate.  Watch this video to learn details, and then read instructions on how to sign up.

[if you are receiving this post as an RSS feed to your e-mail, make sure to click on the link to see the video, of head over to the blog] 

 

Benefits of being a member of Back to Eden
1. Community Support;
2. For the first month of the existence of this community, weekly chats with me [as a group], and then it will happen on a Need-to-Have basis;
3. Recipes, tips, guidance;
4. Privacy to ask questions and receive responses
5. Occasional member only perks and giveaways

To become a Member of Back to Eden
On-line Vegan Community/Forum you must do the following:
1. Want to improve your health through a plant based diet;
2. Be open minded and willing to learn;
3. Be willing to give back to the community;
4. Be nice, courteous and compassionate

How to Enroll
Back to Eden is a fee-based forum.  The fee is $10/mo.  Members have an option of paying monthly [there will be an opportunity to do it here and within the Forum; or set up a Recurring/Automatic Payments set up through PayPal.

Once you subscribe and make your payment, you will receive an e-mail from me with instructions on how to log into the community.  Please make sure to include your e-mail when making a payment.

Please allow 6-12 hours for me to respond with a Welcome e-mail.

Monthly Subscription
$10/mo

Recurring Monthly Membership
$10 each month, comes out automatically

Questions?

E-mail me, Elena, at elena[dot]wilkins[at]gmail.com [make sure to replace [dot] and [at] accordingly].

Hope to see you in Back to Eden [B2E]

30-Day Challenge 

To celebrate the birth of our on-line vegan community, I am issuing a 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge.  Details will be spelled out in the Forum. 

The Challenge will be guided with recipes, tips, videos, weekly chats with me, and even some goody giveaways, which will be available ONLY to Back to Eden members.  It will be fun, exciting and educational.  A perfect way to fulfill your New Year resolution to shed weight and improve your health.  

So, don't wait!  Sign up today and tell others!

Today's Giveaway 

As excited as I am, I am feeling very generous.  If you watch the video in this post in it's entirety, you might notice a little anomaly.  The first person to respond and make a comment under this post to identify what it is will get First Month Membership fee waived! 

So, get to registering, watching, and spreading the word to others.  If the numbers get too overwhelming we might close the doors temporarily to make sure we can accommodate everyone that signs up.