Smoothies for Weight Loss
A wellness trend that has gained ground in the last few years, healthy smoothies are ideal meal replacements that are refreshing and satisfying as well as detoxifying, slimming, and energy-boosting. If optimal health and weight loss are your goals, you can’t go wrong with this one.
There are various incarnations of the healthy smoothie, depending on the purpose and the ingredients used. Breakfast smoothies are taken instead of a typical breakfast, fruit smoothies are fruit-based and taken any time of the day, and green smoothies are green from the vegetables they contain. Smoothies are a great source of essential vitamins and minerals, healthy fats, and micronutrients. They keep you hydrated, help your organs function better, fight the signs of stress and aging, give you strength and improve your focus for the day, give you glowing skin, and even put you in a positive mood. Additionally, the monounsaturated fatty acids from the fruits and vegetables in your smoothie target belly fat – a major concern for many who are trying to lose weight.
Smoothies are easy to prepare and contain significantly fewer calories than your normal meal. But they can be just as filling. Try drinking a green smoothie for breakfast and then replacing one other meal with a smoothie and you can cut your daily caloric intake by half or even more – safely and efficiently. You can even make a smoothie to indulge your sweet tooth instead of scarfing down something filled with sugar and unhealthy fats.
Tips for Making Smoothies for Weight Loss
- Always use fresh locally sourced produce.
- To clean fruits and vegetables, soak them in water with organic apple cider vinegar for 10 minutes.
- Don’t overcomplicate your smoothie. When making a green smoothie, the ideal ingredients are green, leafy vegetables with one or two kinds of fruit blended with water or ice. With fruit smoothies, you can combine up to three or four kinds of fresh or frozen fruit.
- Don’t add dairy to your green smoothie. Green smoothies are ideally taken on an empty stomach, and the combination of fruit and dairy may cause indigestion or bloating. If you must add a liquid to your smoothie, use water or fresh fruit juice.
- Thicker smoothies leave you feeling fuller. Add a frozen banana to your smoothie to give it the consistency of a milkshake.
- Add superfoods such as maca powder, spirulina, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, virgin coconut oil, and moringa powder to boost your smoothie’s health benefits.
- To make your smoothie, place the fruits and the liquid in the blender and puree. Add the vegetables and supplements and blend until you get the desired consistency.
- Drink your smoothie immediately or place it in the freezer for later.
Basic Recipe for a Green Smoothie:
You will need:
- 1 mango, chopped
- 1 frozen banana, chopped
- Handful of spinach
- Handful of kale
- A mint leaf
- Water
Place the banana, mango, and water in a high-speed blender and puree. Add the greens and mint and blend until smooth. Pour in a glass and drink first thing in the morning.