Smoothie drinks have become extremely popular in the last decade, have become a wellness trend, and are often sold ready-made as health food.
These versatile drinks are portable, suitable for all generations, and can be adapted to anyone’s taste or dietary preferences. You can easily prepare a smoothie yourself, but you can also buy it fresh or bottled in coffee shops and most major grocery stores.
There is nothing better than starting the day with a delicious and healthy breakfast, and we bring you several good reasons why it is wise to start the day with a smoothie.
Reasons to start your day with a breakfast smoothie
Morning dose of fruits and vegetables
First of all, we want to note that while some types of smoothies are loaded with vegetables and fruits, others contain sugar or other unhealthy ingredients. To that end, when buying, you must carefully choose your smoothie delivery brand and take good care of the ingredients on the back. The last thing you want is to get the opposite effect and drink an unhealthy smoothie instead of a healthy breakfast.
Eating enough fruits and vegetables is essential for good health. One to two or three cups a day can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer, and reduce the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or stroke. If you start your day with a smoothie, you will increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables, bringing many benefits to your health and vitality.
Increased fibre intake
Fibre aids the digestive system and can help reduce the chance of developing heart disease, diabetes, and colon cancer. Some fibre-rich foods you can add to your morning smoothie include raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, pears, apples, bananas, dark leafy green vegetables, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, ground flaxseed, and almond butter. These are just some healthy foods you can use to start your day and get enough fibre into your body.
A smoothie can be a substitute for a healthy breakfast
If you are on a weight loss program or simply watch what food you put into your body, a smoothie made from healthy ingredients can replace a meal and provide essential nutrients. Also, if you don’t have time to cook regular meals due to your fast-paced lifestyle and you want to avoid fast food, a smoothie is an ideal solution because of its simple preparation. You put the necessary and healthy ingredients in the blender and indulge in enjoyment.
Provides a nutritional balance of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals
The key to achieving nutritional balance in a smoothie is to use fruits and vegetables as the primary ingredients, enriched with healthy fats from seeds, nuts, nut butter, and protein.
Smoothies provide a source of energy and reduce food cravings
One of the advantages of drinking smoothies for breakfast is that they provide a sufficient source of energy and protein. Research has shown that a higher protein intake makes people feel fuller and reduces food cravings later in the day. Proteins are complex molecules that take longer to break down than carbohydrates, so they provide longer-lasting energy.
Types of Smoothies
Most smoothies can be categorised into one or two of the following categories—although there is considerable overlap between them.
- Fruit Smoothie: As the name suggests, this type of smoothie usually contains one or more types of fruit mixed with fruit juice, water, milk, or ice cream.
- Green Smoothie: A green smoothie contains leafy green vegetables and fruit mixed with water, juice, or milk. They tend to contain more vegetables than regular smoothies, although they often include some fruit for a sweet taste.
- Protein Smoothie: Protein smoothies usually contain one type of fruit or vegetable and liquid, as well as the main source of protein such as Greek yogurt, cheese, tofu, or protein powder.
How to adapt a smoothie to your needs
You can drink smoothies as a snack or meal replacement, but it’s a good idea to know which type to choose – especially if you have a specific weight loss goal in mind.
It’s a common misconception that smoothies are basically low-calorie snacks, but some smoothies contain over 1,000 calories, depending on their size and ingredients.
It’s best to assess your goals and calorie needs to determine what kind of smoothie you need.
When making smoothies at home, be sure to control the portion size. Fats like nuts, seeds, nut butter, full-fat yogurt, and avocados will provide more calories but increase nutrient density. Meanwhile, sweet additions like syrup will provide more calories without quality nutrients.
If you’re looking for a creative way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake and boost your immunity, a breakfast smoothie is definitely the way to go.
Featured image: Angelika/Motion Array
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