Green Smoothies, Fiber, and the Squatty Potty

One of my good friends posted a question on Facebook this week that caused a huge debate — “Are you on team juice or team blend?”

I’ve wanted to be a juicer.  I even tried it for a week.  I wasn’t very successful.  Perhaps it was because I don’t have a great juicer, or maybe it’s just because I was too lazy to clean it every day.  For whatever reason, I became a green smoothie fan instead.  The main benefit of blending over juicing can be explained in one word.  Fiber.

Insoluble Fiber in green leaves — think spinach, kale, chard, etc. — has many benefits:

• Helps to control weight by providing bulk
• Slows down absorption of simple sugars
• Removes many carcinogens from our system
• Speeds the passage of food through the intestines, preventing toxins which cause colon cancer
• Prevents and treats constipation
• Prevents varicose veins and hemorrhoids

Blending greens and fruit into a green smoothie is one of the best ways to get ample amounts of fiber in your diet.

Basic Green Smoothie

Ingredients

1. 1 cup water (or almond milk, coconut milk, etc.)
2. 3 cups greens (spinach, kale, collards, etc.)
3. 1 ripe banana
4. 1 cup frozen fruit

Instructions

1. Put the water and greens in your blender and blend until smooth.
2. Add the fruit and blend to desired consistency. 

In addition to getting fiber from green smoothies, bathroom habits also contribute to your colon health.   I have to admit, when I started blogging about health and fitness, a post about the proper position to use the restroom never crossed my mind.  As I did some research, I was surprised how much the topic has been discussed.  Everyone is talking about it, from Dr. Oz to Nurse Midwives to Mother’s who favor home births.

I was a little hesitant when asked to review the Squatty Potty toilet stool, because who likes to talk about their bathroom habits online?  Not me.  But don’t worry, I’ll keep the TMI to a minimum.  

If you think about it, how many toddlers have you seen squatting to use the bathroom in their diaper.  There must be some natural instinct that causes them to do that.   When you sit on the toilet, your colon becomes like a kinked garden hose.  I’m sure you get the picture.  The Squatty Potty helps align your body into a natural squatting position with your knees above your hips, which opens up the colon and makes elimination natural and easy.  My favorite thing about this solution is that it’s natural.  Another natural benefit for the ladies is that the squatting position promotes complete emptying of the bladder as well.  This helps prevent urinary tract infections.   

I love the design of the stool and the fact that it tucks right under your toilet so it’s not in the way for family members who may not want to use it.  It comes in different heights, so make sure to get the correct height for your toilet.  In my package, I also received some Turdle-Loo Potty Spray which would make a fun white elephant gift idea this time of year — maybe with a roll of toilet paper.  🙂  

To learn more about the Squatty Potty, check out their website and Facebook page, and follow their Healthy Traditions pin board on Pinterest. For a limited time, you can receive 15% off any purchase at the Squatty Potty website using the discount code “Squat4Health.”

GIVEAWAY!!

Now for a giveaway!  One lucky reader will win a Squatty Potty and a $50 gift card.  Please enter the giveaway below.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo courtesy of gameanna | freedigitalphotos.net

I was financially compensated for this post. The opinions are completely my own based on my personal experience.  I will only endorse products or services that I believe are worthy of such endorsement.