Nutrition Benefits
Eat more fruit and you will increase your intake of fiber, vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate and potassium. If you add yogurt or milk to your fruit smoothie, it will also help you meet your recommended calcium intake. Vary your fruit choices and aim to include those of varied colors in your smoothies, which will incorporate different mixes of nutrients. The color of fruits and vegetables is based on the phytochemicals they contain, and these plant chemicals work along with vitamins and minerals to improve your health.
Health Benefits
If drinking fruit smoothies makes it so you eat breakfast instead of skipping it, you'll be able to concentrate better, be less likely to gain weight and be more likely to be in a good mood, according to Joan Salge Blake, R.D. Increasing your fruit consumption can help lower your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and constipation, and consuming low-fat dairy products helps lower your risk for osteoporosis, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
Healthiest Ingredients
When making your fruit smoothies, include lots of fresh or frozen fruits. Extra ripe bananas and berries are particularly good options, but most fruits work. For extra nutrition, consider including a handful of greens or a small amount of avocado, cooked carrots or beets. You can increase the fiber and your intake of healthy fats by adding flaxseeds or nuts to your smoothie. Healthy liquid options include 100-percent fruit juice, low-fat milk, soy milk, almond milk, water and green tea.
Considerations
Check out the ingredients and calorie counts for store-bought smoothies, as they are often filled with added sweeteners and calories. Incorporating sweeteners like honey or sugar increases the calories of your smoothie without providing any additional nutrients. Watch your portion size to make sure you don't end up consuming too many calories and gaining weight.
No comments:
Post a Comment