Are smoothies healthy for you?

Are smoothies healthy for you?
Are smoothies healthy for you? Image source: Pixabay

Smoothies are quick to prepare and can be used to encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. When we juice or blend fruit, we are actually exposing the natural sugars inside the plant cells. This basically turns sugars into “free sugars”, which is the kind we should reduce.

Sugars that are too high in sugar can lead to tooth decay, increase blood sugar levels, and even cause excess calories. It’s important to eat your smoothie with other food and limit how many glasses you drink. No matter how many different fruits or vegetables you use or how many glasses you have, smoothies and juices count as one of your five-a day.

What is the difference between shop-bought and homemade?

Shop-bought smoothies often contain cheaper, less processed ingredients like fruit purees or juices. These smoothies contain concentrated sugars and remove many of the nutritional benefits from whole fruits, such as fibre, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Shop-bought smoothies can also be sold in larger portions than the 150ml recommended portion and contain additional nutrients like vitamins B vitamins and vitamins C and E.

Homemade smoothies contain all the fiber and are naturally rich in vitamins because they are freshly prepared and can be consumed immediately.

Is it better to use frozen or fresh fruit?

Research suggests that some nutrients, such as vitamin C, can be found in frozen fruits and vegetables at harvest that are sometimes higher than their fresh counterparts. However, the body’s ability to convert beta-carotene into vitamin A may decrease when frozen. It will all depend on what the vegetable or fruit is.

It doesn’t matter if you use fresh or frozen fruit for your Fruit Smoothie. Both count towards the five-a-day. If you are increasing your child’s daily intake of frozen fruit, that is a good thing. Frozen produce can be useful as a backup when you aren’t able to get to the supermarket.

What fruit is the best for smoothies

A mixture of fruits and vegetables will reduce the amount of sugar in your homemade smoothies. Low-sugar fruits include berries and fruits with stones like peaches, plums, apricots, and plums. They can be mixed with vegetables such as spinach, kale, celery, cucumber, and beetroot.

How often should you consume smoothies?

Smoothies can be part of a balanced diet. However, it is important to emphasize fresh and frozen fruits as well as lower-sugar fruits. You should include yogurt, kefir, milk or other protein sources, along with healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds, or avocado. Children and adults should not consume more than one serving of smoothies per day.