Why Are Smoothies Unhealthy?

Find out which ingredients to add or avoid when drinking a smoothie

Drinking smoothies is a common method to hit the daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. Being a great source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fiber, smoothies are also easier to digest as they are blended.

Avoid smoothies that contains high sugar, fat, calories and unhealthy ingredients should be avoided. These smoothies could cause adverse effects such as obesity or diabetes.

Here are several ingredients that you should keep to a minimum when drinking smoothies.

Dairy Milk

To create thick and creamy smoothies, several dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and ice cream can be added into the drink. Avoid consuming such drink on a regular basis to avoid illnesses.

If you are on a weight loss program, you should minimise your intake on dairy products as well. Opt for healthier options such as unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk.

Sugar

Smoothies that uses fruit juice as a base tend to have high sugar content. Such drinks will definitely spike your sugar levels due to its high levels of fructose. Consuming too much sugary drinks will cause you to crave for more food, which might lead to binge eating.

Use fruit-infused or coconut water as a base if you are making your own smoothie. Consider using natural sweeteners such as stevia so that you will not exceed your calories intake or sugar content.

Artificial Sweetener

In order to cut back on calories, you might be tempted to consume artificial sweeteners such as Splenda or NutraSweet. However, these sweeteners are harmful as they can increase your body’s chemical load that could result in more health issues.

Here are some tips to make a healthier smoothie:

Use fresh fruits

As compared to using canned fruits, use whole fruits to blend your smoothies. Containing high amount of fiber, drinking the smoothie requires a longer time to digest which makes you feel fuller during the day. Bananas are good options to achieve your desired texture of milkshake.

If you crave for a thicker smoothie, you might want to freeze your fruits beforehand.

Add vegetables

You can also incorporate vegetables in your smoothie. Depending on the type of vegetables that you are using, it might enhance its sweetness or just provide a tinge of green essence. You can use spinach and kale that has neutral taste or squash that provides mild and sweet taste.

You can also make savoury smoothies by adding herbs such as basil leaves.

Mix non-fat dairy products

Go for non-fat yogurt or cottage cheese products so that you do not have to worry about exceeding calories. Besides ensuring that you consume sufficient vitamins and minerals, you should also have adequate intake of calcium to ensure good bone health.

For healthier options, you can ask for lower sugar when ordering from a smoothie store. If you were to make your own smoothie, add in nutritious ingredients so that you will be able to gain the most benefits while keeping your calories intake at a minimal level.

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