There is a lot more to smoothies than their delightful looks and taste. This creamy, rich beverage that comprises various ingredients that are blended into a concoction has tremendous benefits. This post will shed light on the 13 benefits of drinking smoothies and how you can maximize them.
1. High Nutritional Value
Smoothies have high nutritional value as they contain many essential nutrients depending on the ingredients used. Fruits and vegetables offer a balance of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
You can add healthy fats by including avocado, nuts, and seeds, and high protein ingredients include almonds and other nuts, peanut butter, flax seeds, soy milk, and many others. Here are some great blending tips with RootsAndBulbs to help you create the best smoothie.
2. Great Substitutes For Breakfast
Do you need to run out of the house first thing in the morning, with no time for a full breakfast? Substituting with a smoothie or protein shake is a good alternative as it contains all the nutrients you need to get you going.
Smoothies will also work if you don’t have much of an appetite in the mornings. However, thinking of the ingredients to use might be a tough one. Green smoothies are a great place to start; the National Health Service recommends them for breakfast.
3. Helps In Weight Loss
Smoothies are an effortless way of losing excess body weight without having to skip meals. Fruits like berries are great for weight loss because of flavonoids, which are important for losing weight.
Green vegetables like kale and broccoli are great for burning extra calories. Also, smoothies keep you full for a long time, reducing the constant urge to snack or eat large meals. High protein smoothies also help prevent muscle loss when on a calorie-restricted diet.
4. Prevents Dehydration
Drinking the recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day may seem like a challenge to some. Delicious healthy smoothies will make it easier to meet the requirement as lots of fruits and vegetables contain water. You can also increase the water intake from smoothies by starting the day with a milk-based or water-based version.
5. Enhances The Body’s Immunity
Some ingredients used in smoothies include nutrients such as beta-carotene, which boosts the immune system. Antioxidants mop up free radicals, strengthen the immune system, and prevent many degenerative diseases.
You can add some Matcha green tea powder to make your smoothies rich in antioxidants. Many fruits and vegetables such as grapes, berries, apples, and sweet potatoes are natural antioxidants.
6. Aids The Digestive Process
By drinking smoothies, you are consuming fruits and vegetables in liquid form. Therefore, it is easier for the body to digest and absorb nutrients faster. Fiber-rich smoothies also enhance the digestive process.
Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, celery, and fruits like carrots, strawberries, and blueberries, are alkaline foods. They can reduce the acidity of gastric contents, decreasing the discomfort of acid reflux and heartburn.
7. Improves Sleep
Are you having difficulty sleeping at night? Taking healthy meals with smoothies that contain bananas, kiwi and oats provide adequate amounts of calcium and magnesium. These help to induce sleep and maintain healthier sleep patterns. People who drink smoothies daily have more regular and satisfying sleep cycles.
8. Keeps You Hydrated
60% of the human body consists of water, and our bodies depend on water to carry out essential activities. Most health practitioners advise we take up to 6 glasses of water per day but achieving this can be difficult sometimes.
Luckily, you can improve your water intake with smoothies. Fruits contain a high percentage of water, with fruits like watermelon consisting of about 90% water. Your smoothie can contain a blend of water-rich fruits and vegetables to help improve your water intake.
Fruits like oranges, grapes, honeydew, and cantaloupe are also great sources of water asides from watermelon. For vegetables, you should stick with cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, and Romaine lettuce are great sources of water.
9. It Gives The Skin A Glow
Vitamins are highly beneficial to the skin. Fruits rich in vitamin A such as pineapple and cucumbers can help in reducing acne. These antioxidants also protect the skin from cellular damage caused by free radicals, thus preventing wrinkling and spots.
Fruits that contain carotenoids, such as mango and pumpkin, are very important for the skin and complexion. Mixing them into your daily smoothie will give your skin a radiant glow.
10. Boosts The Brain
Many nutrients can help improve brain function. For instance, coconuts are rich in magnesium, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. These help the brain function optimally and improve memory retention.
Mental alertness and concentration are also greatly improved by omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, it is a good idea to incorporate coconuts into your blend. Protein powder also contains nutrients and fibers that help boost energy levels in the brain.
11. Strengthens The Bones
Spinach, green vegetables, and citrus fruits are great sources of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin D3, and vitamin K, which are nutrients that build bones and improve bone health in general.
Dairy-based smoothies are an easy way to boost your calcium intake. If you’re lactose intolerant, almond milk and soy milk are great options. Combining these nutrients with 15-20 minutes of sunlight exposure every day strengthens the bones.
12. Reduces Cancer Risk
It is a trite fact that cancer is not entirely preventable. However, one amazing benefit of smoothies often contain nutrients that significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
Studies have shown that cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale prevent cancer. Antioxidants keep the cells healthy by neutralizing the harmful effects of free radicals.
13. Detoxifies The Body
You can cleanse your body system with the right blends of fruits in your smoothies. Excellent detoxifying fruits and vegetables like garlic, papaya, and beets help cleanse your blood and mop up toxins accumulated in tissues.
Wrapping Up
Drinking smoothies has many great potential health benefits, especially if they contain healthy ingredients. Although smoothies are great snacks, their benefits differ depending on what they contain. As such, it is ideal to figure out what you want from your smoothie and get the right fruits to serve your purpose.
