This morning, I went to the dentist and was told I needed to have my annual x-rays updated.  Ok, I said, but after a about 10 bite-beep!-change-film cycles, I asked why the hygienist seemed to be taking more shots than usual.  The answer:  she was taking baseline in-depth x-ray that will let them look at each tooth and root individually and compare it against any future problems.  Total, the bite-beep!-change-film happened 25 times.  TWENTY-FIVE.

Seeing the worried look on my face, she said, “Don’t worry, your insurance will pay for it.”  Noting that the look had not faded, she quickly added, “and the radiation isn’t too much–it’s just like a couple of hours in the sun.”

Um.  Hi, nice to meet you.  I’m the SPF freak who doesn’t spend even a half an unprotected hour in the sun!

So I was a little shaken up after the session–at least as much from the way it was just sprung on me without discussing first–and I felt all toxified from the radiation I was visualizing in my jaw, mouth, and head.  Not cool.

Valerie, as usual, came to the rescue, saying that chlorophyll is a natural radiation-clearer, and that green juices, especially wheat grass juice, is a good thing to drink after you’ve had an x-ray or been exposed to other forms of radiation.  The chlorophyll in green juices (and just plain greens, like kale, chard, and spinach) is believed to promote lymphatic drainage, sweep “free radicals” from the bloodstream, oxygenate blood and tissue, all while delivering a whopping dose of vitamins and minerals that are simply good for you.

I was on board, but a little intimidated as a wheat grass juice virgin.  It seemed, my inner 2-year-old said, a little yucky.  So I went to the Whole Foods and found a Green Goodness Fruit Smoothie from Bolthouse Farms.  Despite an ingredient list that contained broccoli, spinach, barley grass, Jerusalem artichoke, and, of course, wheat grass, I have to say this stuff was pretty tasty–because it also contained mango, apple, pineapple, kiwi, and banana.  It was like a rich, sweet banana smoothie, only greener.  I recommend.

The only problem with it was that the 15-oz bottle contained 280 calories (along with the long list of fabulous nutrients, from 30% of the RDA of folic acid, 120% of vitamin A, and 30% of vitamin B-12).  So I want to put the question to you, dear readers:

Do you know of any tasty green juices that aren’t so high in calories?  Or, do you think it’s worth the caloric extras for the nutritional gains in those juices?  Or, are you a fan of wheat grass juice and think I need to give my inner 2-year-old a time out?

(image via: http://www.answerfitness.com)

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