blender/nutrition

Question
QUESTION: Dear Ms. Ross,

It is convenient for me to have lunch from a blender.  I mix soy protein, a
variety of fruits and a little canola oil with water, and blend until smooth.  I
have heard that processing the fruits reduces the nutritive value of fruits and
vegetables.  Is that true?  Does it reduce mineral & vitamin content?  If so,
how?  If so, is there a way to blend a meal that does not compromise its
nutritive value?       Thank you so much!    Diana

ANSWER: Diana-
Blending meals is great and gives the digestive tract a break- there are 2 important things with this type of nutrition though- 1) to make sure that you are blending the proper ingredients for balanced nutrition and 2) to make sure you consume the drink right away- it is true that the longer the drink sits the nutrients oxidize and it looses nutritional value. Based on the recipe you presented in your correspondence I would change some of your ingredients- I would opt for a raw coconut oil versus canola oil as canola oil has no nutritional value at all and just becomes stored in the body. Also I would switch away from a soy protein to a hemp protein- soy can be very dangerous for women as it affects the hormone levels in the body especially on a daily basis, however hemp is full of omegas which are really important for women and the absorption of minerals into the body. Lastly I would make sure to add some sort of green like spinach or kale to your mixture for added chlorophyll and protein- if you are blending it with banana, berries or mango you can't even taste it but you will notice a difference in how your body feels almost immediately. I hope that helps, if you need any additional advice in this area or references on where to purchase any of the above ingredients just let me know- Peace and Blessings
Chef Jenny

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Chef Ross,

Wow!  Thank you for your amazing answer.  I'm sort of stunned!  I will change
from the soy protein, thank you.  Also, my husband drinks this too.  

First, is there any reason why men & women should not have the same
ingredients?

Second,  I am staying away from spinach because it is so high in something--
I think it was oxalic acid--which is a problem for my husband's tendency to
kidney stones.  The kale is a great idea.  Do you have other ingredients
recommendations?  

Third--is this too many questions?--I'd like both of us to start taking a
multi-vitamin.  We're both 50 years old.  But when I've looked at the vitamin
packages at the market, they seem to have 300% of daily recommended of
some things, or even 400% or 500%.  That doesn't seem right!  Do you
recommend a particular multi-vitamin?

Thank you SO MUCH for your thorough answer!  Diana

Answer
Hello Diana-

No problem, I know how many questions there are when making dietary choices!! As far as your drinks go there is no reason you can't share the same drink, it should be great for both of you and you many consider adding some superfoods to it over time- I recommend maca root, it's great for men and women- it is high in amino acids, hormone producing for both men and women, but works as an adaptogen to bring balance in the body, it can be found as a powder in most health food stores, also Supergreen mixtures are good as well- look for blends that contain both land and sea vegetables- these are good as you can't really taste them with the fruit but are high in B vitamins, chlorophyll and protein- There is a brand actually called SuperGreens that is really good. These are good to add over time but not necessary to make a complete meal. Also I have many clients that add almond butter to their smoothies that really enjoy the adding alkaline forming benefits as well as protein. But the kale alone will make a tremendous difference. As far as your vitamins go there are 2 companies that make good 1 a day multi's that I am familiar with one is called Solaray and they are available through Whole Foods and other health food markets and the other is DEVA and on their website lists all the nutritional information and where you can find them in your area- www.devanutrition.com. Overall though if you maintain a healthy diet their really shouldn't be any need to supplement with vitamins no matter what your age is. The most important thing is to make sure to get enough dark leafy green vegetables, fruits, sprouted grains, and healthy fats. Usually I ask people to check in and see how they are feeling and how their body is reacting to their daily food intake and we can see from the result of that what specific vitamins or supplements might be necessary for a period of time. Live Blood cell analysis is another good way to figure that out as well - there are several naturopaths that offer this service and they just check the live blood cells and look to see if there is anything missing like iron, etc. and usually make suggestions from there on what to either add to your diet or supplement with. Hope that helps!
May you enjoy vibrant health!
Peace and Blessings,
Chef Jenny

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