Are Smoothies Really Healthy?
Filed under Juice & Smoothie Bars
Smoothies are fun, they're refreshing and at times, healthy. Smoothies are everywhere now, from your local fruit shop to your health food store to your fast food joint. But, are they always healthy? Sometimes they are anything but.
Ingredients
Smoothies are usually made of healthy ingredients such as milk (full fat or skim, soy, rice or almond) and fruit. On the occasion, however sugar, flavouring, chocolate or sweetened syrups are added for taste, much a nutritionist?s dismay!
If you are looking for a smoothie that is bursting with healthy ingredients, your best bet is to keep it as simple as possible. The best ingredients would be a liquid base such as milk such as soy, rice, cow or almond. The liquid could also be coconut water. The bulk of the smoothie would consist of frozen fruit such as banana; a green leafy vegetable such as kale, perhaps some chia seeds or protein powder and if desired a sweetener such as maple syrup or rice syrup.
The Worst and Best Smoothies
From a nutritionist?s standpoint, the smoothies in the list of ?best? contain fibre, protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and no cane sugar. The worst smoothies would contain nothing but empty calories. In other words, it would be a smoothie that is anything but nutritionally dense.
3 Smoothie Recipes
Banana Smoothie
- � cup milk such as soy, cow, rice, almond
- 1 frozen banana
- 2-3 leaves kale
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed
Blend altogether. Add � cup ice and blend all ingredients again until smooth.
Vanilla and Chai Smoothie
- � cup milk such as soy, cow, rice, almond
- � cup plain yoghurt
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- 2 pinches ground ginger
- 2 pinches ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground clove
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (if desired)
- � cup ice
Blend altogether. Add � cup ice and blend all ingredients again until smooth.
Peanut Butter Smoothie
- � cup milk such as soy, cow, rice, almond
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons raw peanut butter
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or rice syrup
- � cup ice
Blend altogether. Add � cup ice and blend all ingredients again until smooth.