Are Your Smoothies Up to Date?
By Stephen R. Farris
Nutritional health has come a long way since the 20th century. There have been numerous fad diets and all kinds of nutritional style drinks made from eggs, fruits and vegetables. Most of them wound up losing nutrients due to the way they were prepared.
Over the past 20 years or so, improvements have been made to the way we approach our nutritional needs. One of those is from smoothies.
Smoothies are probably the most popular nutritional drinks made and used by nearly everyone looking to change their eating lifestyle, as well as those that haven't quite transitioned completely. At first smoothies consisted of fruit and blended with a few ice cubes for consistency, giving them that milkshake feel minus all the calories.
But today folks add all kinds of other ingredients besides fruit. Green vegetables have been incorporated in smoothies, along with berries and even avocados. Are your smoothies up to date? Or are you still drinking the same dull version as before. Maybe it's time to change it up, be bold and experiment. You may find yourself more energetic and healthier than before too.
Watch the Sugars
One thing you don't want in your smoothies is any unhealthy additives like extra sugar. For better results, stick to whole fruits. Some whole fruits contain natural sugar, but you also get the health benefits from the fibers and natural nutrients and minerals found in them as well.
Time to Veg Up
As in fresh (or frozen) green, leafy raw vegetables. Spinach is probably the number one vegetable used to add to your smoothie mix and yes, you can blend it with the fruits in there too. Other fiber-rich vegetables you can throw in are celery and cucumber. Need a little iron, toss in a few carrots. Try making smoothies several different ways with fruits and veggies to give you variety.
Milk Does a Body Good
Milk based products, like yogurt, skim and soy milk will give your smoothies a protein boost. Almond and coconut milk can also be considered protein boosters, but not as much as natural dairy milk products, but still a good choice.
Overall, smoothies are a great way to start off your mornings and take very little time to make, especially if you have a fast-paced lifestyle and still need find a way to eat healthy.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sugar Hill, Ga.