155 healthy smoothies: everything you need to know about making delicious smoothies and understanding their health benefits (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest thing to put in a smoothie? ›

Smoothies are high in sugar.

Free sugars include any added sugars (including honey and maple syrup) and are the kind we should all be cutting down on to protect our teeth as well as lower our energy intake to help maintain a healthy weight.

In conclusion, smoothies can be a great way to increase intakes of fruit and vegetables in our diet, which would have many health benefits. However, they may contain large amounts of added or natural sugars, which can contribute to dental problems and obesity.

This can be milk, or a dairy-free alternative such as soya or almond milk, natural or flavoured yogurt, fruit juice, or for a tropical flavoured smoothie, low-fat coconut milk or coconut water. It's important to add the liquid to your blender before adding the fruit, as this will prevent the blade from getting damaged.

Avocado and nut butters are popular ingredients to add some protein and healthy fats. You may also wish to include chia or hemp seeds. For a bit of sweetness and some extra nutrients, you can add some blueberries, banana, pineapple, orange, or mango. Honey or other natural sweeteners can also be included.

But, there is a common mistake that people make when preparing their smoothie of choice. The new study found that smoothies combining bananas with berries proved to decrease in flavanols (a key nutrient in berries) after being blended together. Considering the health benefits of flavanols, this presents a problem.

The present study suggests that regular consumption of a phenolic-rich smoothie improves the liver antioxidant status, prevents metabolic disorders and ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by high-fat diet consumption.

Smoothies rich in fiber and protein keep you full longer, while those made with fruits and vegetables increase your daily vegetable servings. As long as you are drinking smoothies made from a variety of fruits and vegetables and low in refined sugar, there would be no problem with consuming smoothies every day.

You'll end up with half-blended ice that's still in large chunks, which can ruin the texture of your smoothie or shake," says Anja Wolf, CEO and creative director for kitchen tips website I Love Cookware. Ice can also damage blender blades and "cause the motor to overheat and eventually break down," she says.

What makes smoothies bad for stomach? ›

Digestive Issues

A while we're on the subject of stomach upset, certain fruits and veggies are so powerful that you may experience some stomach distress if you drink too much of them. Too many leafy greens or wheatgrass can do this. For others, too much beet will do the same.

Hard To Digest Ingredients

If you're adding nuts or cashews to your smoothie, they can cause problems as they're hard for the digestive system to break down. Another common culprit could be your protein. Many cheap proteins are filled with unnecessary fillers and artificial sugars that can cause digestive upset.

However, it is important to remember that the nutritional value of a smoothie is determined by what ingredients are used. Some recipes include excessive amounts of added or natural sugar that can contribute to dental carixes (also known as cavities), diabetes, and obesity (Palacios et al., 2009).

Though fruit is a healthy smoothie ingredient, you can get too much of a good thing —i n the form of calories and carbs. A general rule of thumb is to stick to around 1 cup of fruit per smoothie. That's about a serving.

Add natural sweeteners: If you want to avoid added sugar, there are plenty of natural sweeteners you can add to your smoothie instead, such as honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar. Start with a little bit and add more to taste until you find the perfect balance of sweetness for you.

Smoothies rich in fiber and protein keep you full longer, while those made with fruits and vegetables increase your daily vegetable servings. As long as you are drinking smoothies made from a variety of fruits and vegetables and low in refined sugar, there would be no problem with consuming smoothies every day.

Almond milk is a win-win-win for most smoothie combos. Go for the unsweetened versions when picking it up to avoid extra sugar and calories. For best results, we recommend Unsweetened almond milk on Amazon. Coconut water is often referred to as “nature's energy drink”.

Unsweetened almond milk would be the best option as it is low in carbs, sugar, calories and has a lower fat content than most dairy milk.