Do Smoothies Really Help with Weight Loss?

April 2017 | Reading time: 2 minutes

Nowadays, smoothies are all the rage. You can find them in stores, at the gym, at beauty salons, and in malls. But how good are these beverages, really? Do they live up to the hype? It all comes down to the ingredients used. The smoothies available on store shelves are often loaded with sugar and artificial flavours. If you make your own smoothies using calorie-laden ingredients, you might end up gaining weight.

What do Slimming Smoothies Look Like?

These beverages are typically made with fresh or frozen fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and green powders. You also need to use a liquid base, such as water, coconut milk, or almond milk. Unlike juices, smoothies preserve the fibre in fruits and veggies, which helps prevent insulin spikes. Rich in nutrients, they can replace one or more meals.

However, they’re not all good for weight loss. Certain ingredients, such as peanut butter, milk, and fruits canned with syrup can add extra calories that you don’t really need. Common mistakes, such as skimping on protein and fibre, adding too much fruit, or using sugar in your smoothie recipe, may add inches to your waistline. To get lean, stick to low-calorie, high-protein ingredients, such as:

• Goji berries
• Coconut water
• Almond milk
• Raw cocoa powder
• Kale
• Spinach
• Maca
• Green algae
• Coconut oil
• Greek yogurt
• Spirulina
• Avocado
• Chia seeds
• Cayenne pepper
• Vanilla
• Cinnamon
• Herbal tea

Use stevia for sweetness. To cut calories, replace milk or fruit juice with unsweetened ice tea or water. Leafy greens should come first on your list.

The Surprising Benefits of Smoothies

These nutritious, healthy drinks can help you slim down and boost your energy. High in antioxidants, they fight inflammation, oxidative damage, and premature ageing. The fibre in smoothies kerbs hunger and keeps your blood sugar levels stable.

It takes just a few minutes to make these drinks. All you need is a blender and simple ingredients that you might already have at home. Try new recipes each day to keep your varied diet and satisfy your cravings. Green, coffee, protein, blueberries, and citrus smoothies are not only delicious but healthy too.

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