Opinion

The key to a good smoothie is the ingredients

No matter what plan you've tried, losing weight is not all that easy. A smoothie – if it's prepared the right way – can be a big boost.

This week, I'm going to share with you some of my world-famous smoothie recipes that have helped many in their quests to feel better and return to that youthful look.

These smoothies are fruit rich and blended with water instead of yogurt and milk. Convenient, ultra-fast and energizing, they can be used as a meal replacement. Choose your fruits carefully, because our bodies are made differently.

Fruits, of course, have a lot of natural sugar. Moderation must be the key in keeping blood sugars under control, even if you're not diabetic. If you are diabetic, you should use fruit smoothies as meal replacements only as needed.

Some of us have food sensitivities, allergies or other health concerns that require us to avoid or limit our intake of certain foods. Apply this knowledge to everything you prepare or ingest. Experiment with adding similar foods until the taste is perfect for you.

Remember this: The keys to a great smoothie are with the maker of the drink and the chosen ingredients. The fresher the ingredients, the better the beverage. So enjoy the smoothies and enjoy life again.

Glorious Green Smoothie

This is such a beautiful smoothie! It's cold and perfect after a hard workout.
2 cups (packed) red Russian kale
½-cup blueberries
½-cup strawberries, whole
½-cup water
¼-cup currants, dried green stevia powder to taste
(If you can't find dried currants use raisins instead)

Preparation:
Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Apple-Collard Green Smoothie

This is a wonderful winter smoothie! The sweet taste hits the spot and the collards keep you warm for hours!
2 medium apples
1 medium banana
5 leaves of collard greens
1 date
1/4 tsp. green stevia powder
1/4-1/2-cup water
(If you don't have green stevia, use raisins or another dried fruit instead.)

Preparation:
Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Strawberry Ambrosia Green Smoothie

Brings out the rich and sensuous flavor of the strawberries. What a celebration!
2/3 lbs. spinach (4-5 cups, packed)
1/2-cup water
1 ½-cups strawberries, whole
1 1/2 medium bananas
1/3-cup raisins
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Preparation:
Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Strawberry and Banana Green Smoothie

Amazingly, this smoothie tastes like strawberries and bananas even though it has three cups of chard in it.
3 chard leaves (3 cups, packed)
1 medium banana
1 ½-cups strawberries, whole
1 medium peach
3 medium apples

Preparation:
1. Juice the apples and pour into the blender.
2. Blend the juice and remaining ingredients until smooth.

Beet Greens Smoothie

Perfect for people who are new to green smoothies. You can't even detect the greens. Plus, it's red!
3 cups (packed) beet greens
2 cups strawberries, whole
1/2-cup mangos
1/2-cup blueberries
2 medjool dates
3 medium apples
(Save your beet tops for this smoothie!)

Preparation:
1. Juice the apples and pour into the blender.
2. Blend the juice and remaining ingredients until smooth.

(Dr. Timothy Moore teaches nutrition, heart disease and diabetes reversal through a plant-based lifestyle. He is a professional speaker, international wellness coach and personal plant-based chef. He is the author of "47 Tips To Reverse Your Diabetes." He can be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , visit him at www.cheftimothymoore.com or follow him at www.twitter.com/cheftimmoore.)