Are Fruit Smoothies Healthy?

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Who doesn’t like a good fruit smoothie? Being able to pack all your favorite treats in a single drink is the ultimate dream come true. As with all things that taste good, making sure you are putting the right ingredients will help in determining if fruit smoothies are healthy for you.

When trying to find the answer to that question, it all comes down to the ingredients. Smoothies can be a great way to get all your necessary nutrients needed to sustain a healthy living. Where people tend to get in trouble is when they add ingredients that are not beneficial to their health.

Also making sure you are aware of the portion size you serve yourself since you have to be careful of packing on too many calories in one drink. So whether you consume smoothies as a meal replacement or a supplement, making sure you are putting the right ingredients is important when it comes to your health.

Smoothie Benefits

If you are someone who struggles getting your daily recommended amount of fruits and vegetables like I do, then having a smoothie can be a great way to satisfy this important need. What makes having a smoothie so simple is the fact that you can pack all the necessary nutrients your body needs in a blender and pour it in a cup.

Whether it is protein, fats, carbs or fiber, you are able to pack all this in one drink and if made properly, enjoy the great taste as well. Depending on how you make your smoothie, below are some of the many nutrients you get to benefit from by having a smoothie:

Protein
Essential Fats
Carbs
Fiber
Vitamins
Potassium

Store-Bought Smoothies

You want to be careful when buying store-bought smoothies as they can contain high amounts of added sugar, which is sure to increase your calorie intake and not your nutrients.

Although some of these store-bought smoothies claim to have natural sugars, making sure you check out the ingredients and the total sugar content is key to getting the main benefits of a smoothie.

It is recommended that you get 24 grams of sugar per day for women and 36 grams for men. So if you can avoid buying your smoothies, I would suggest making yours at home since you control what is put in them.

Unhealthy Smoothies

I know when you hear the word smoothie, it’s easy to get excited and think about all the goodies that can be put into a smoothie. So If you are someone who is trying to manage their weight, I would highly suggest you proceed with caution and make sure you control your portion size and what you put into it.

Remember, when it comes to managing weight, losing or gaining weight comes down to how much calories are consumed to how many calories that are burned.

So make sure you are aware of what you are putting into your smoothies as the ingredients can contain high amounts of sugar. Just because you get to make your own smoothie doesn’t mean you should be reckless with it.

Unhealthy Bases

It is important that we start off with the liquids as this is essential for making a great smoothie:

Milk – more and more people are starting to learn that milk may not be the healthiest thing when it comes to consuming dairy, especially if you are lactose intolerant. With all the antibiotics and hormones that are fed to cows, you want to make sure to avoid milk if possible.

Tap water – I’m sure you could find articles that can argue for why you should drink tap water, but there is plenty of information about how chemical toxins can be found in tap water as well. I mean all you have to do is look at Flint Michigan. So definitely be aware of the water that is coming from your sink as it may not be as clean as you think.

Fruit Juices – As always, make sure to read the labels on store-bought juices as many of them tend to be just water filled with a lot of sugar.

Unhealthy Ingredients

Now this is the part where people like to get creative with their smoothies and add all types of goodies to them. Below are some ingredients i would avoid adding to your smoothie:

Cheap protein powders
Non-organic peanut butter
Chocolate
Whip Cream
Ice Cream
Turbinado

Make sure to use common sense when fixing up your ultimate fruit smoothie.

Make Your Smoothie Healthy

By now you should know what are the unhealthy options when it comes to preparing your smoothie, so now let us work on what makes a smoothie healthy for you. Now what would a smoothie be without its fruits and vegetables right? Just makes sure when adding fruits, try to stick to berries.

Although pineapples and mangos are good for you, you want to make sure you manage how much of them you put in as they contain high amounts of sugar. So moderation is key when it comes to certain fruits.

Healthy Bases

Clean filtered water – Whether you are using a filter connected to the sink, or bottled water that is actually filtered properly, making sure you are using good clean water is important for your quality of health.

Alternatives to Regular Milk – Try using either Almond milk or coconut milk as they are much more healthier options for you. This is a great alternative especially if you are someone who is lactose intolerant.

Fresh Juices – If you want to go the juice route, make sure to use either freshly squeezed juice or a juicer. Making sure you are getting natural sugars that are good for you could be the difference in your overall health.

Healthy Ingredients

Organic Peanut butter
Quality whey protein
Fresh or frozen fruit
Fresh or frozen vegetables
Organic Honey
Oats
Flax seeds or oils
Raw nuts

These are some of the many ingredients you can add to your smoothie masterpiece. There are many more you can add, just make sure to use common sense when adding your own ingredients and you will be on your way to a more healthy YOU.

So please feel free to leave any comments below on how you like to make your smoothies and if you agree with my list of ingredients.