Smoothies Can Be Delicious – and Healthy. But You Must Make Sure You Do Not Add This to It!
If you make your own smoothies, using lots of vegetables and a little fruit, they’re going to be super-healthy and good for you. (Store-bought smoothies often have additives that are not so healthy). But there are some things that will make your yummy homemade drink much LESS healthy – so do not add this to your smoothie!
There are some sneaky-but-seemingly-healthy ingredients that can actually make your smoothie less healthy and/or make them very calorie-heavy.
So don’t make a mistake with your daily drink of goodness. Decode the options and reap the benefits of smoothies by avoiding these 5 worst ingredients.
Do Not Add Juice
You look at your blender. Is there enough liquid? Don’t be tempted to add some leftover orange juice or that can of frozen apple concentrate lurking in the freezer: Fruit juices add calories – and with no fiber, they add carbs but don’t help to fill you up. Although there may be some goodness in juice (depending on what you add), you’re really adding mostly empty calories. Half a cup of orange juice adds 13 grams of carbs to the drink.
If you go to a smoothie chain, you might enjoy a yummy drink – but do you know what goes into it? The Banana Berry Treat at Smoothie King, for example, uses a papaya juice blend that packs 69 grams of carbs and 30 grams of added sugar into a small serving. That’s roughly 10 teaspoons of sugar – 10 teaspoons! Do not add this to your smoothie!
So, what liquid should you add?
The best thing to add is water. Yes, not as interesting, I know, but totally calorie-free. I used to add a little orange juice to most of my smoothies, I enjoyed the flavor, but now I just add water (why waste calories – the smoothies taste good anyway). Often, I add sparkling water, which adds a little bit of fizz which I find enjoyable. You could also add milk – dairy or non-dairy, but make sure it’s unsweetened. However, it will add calories (but not sugar). Or add green tea – it’s healthy and virtually calorie-free.
Do Not Add Fat-Free or Flavoured Yogurt
Fat free or reduced-fat yogurts are big sellers. But they are NOT healthy. Heavily processed to remove the fat, artificial sweeteners and other additives are added to make them taste OK without the natural fats. Heavily-processed foods are really not good for you – plus, if you eat full-fat dairy in moderation, you actually lower your risk of diabetes1.
Flavoured yogurts are also popular – but yogurts with fruit on the bottom or mix-ins like honey can contain up to 28 grams of sugar (up to 10 teaspoons – yikes!). Even yogurts that are marketed as “healthy” can pile on the calories.
Plain, full-fat yogurt adds protein to a smoothie and helps keep you feeling full. Greek yogurt contains the most protein. Add a couple of frozen strawberries or raspberries if you want a fruity flavour.
Do Not Add Too Much Fat
Adding good fats like avocado or nut butter is a good idea. They keep you feeling full, as well as being healthy.
But don’t add too much!
Nutritionists consider one-fifth of an avocado to be one serving. One serving of nut butter is two tablespoons – although I only add one teaspoon to a smoothie – I can get the lovely taste from that amount.
And if you add frozen yogurt or ice cream to your smoothie, then it’s a dessert, not a smoothie any more. Do not add this to your smoothie!
A Yogurt D-lite from Smoothie King sounds healthy – but it contains frozen yogurt. As a result, this small drink holds 54 grams of sugar (and 38 of those grams are “added sugar”). That’s more than what’s in McDonald’s Hot Fudge Sundae!!
Do Not Add Sweeteners
You might add sugar to your coffee, but of course you wouldn’t add it to your smoothie.
But some healthy-sounding additives pile on the sugars –
- 1 tablespoon of natural honey adds 17 grams of sugar to your drink
- 1 tablespoon of agave nectar adds 5 grams.
- 1 tablespoon coconut nectar adds 13 grams of sugar and carbs
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes add a massive 24 grams of fat and 36 grams of sugars
To sweeten your smoothie, simply add a little fruit such as apple or strawberry.
Do Not Add Canned Fruit / Tinned Fruit
Canned or tinned fruit is often packed in syrup – one tin can have up to 20 grams of added sugar.
If you want to add fruit to your smoothie, keep the quantities small (ALWAYS have more veggies) and use fresh, whole fruit or frozen fruit (make sure it’s unsweetened and has no sodium or other additives).
Perfect!
1 A 2015 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Please Share this post – it’s easy – sharing buttons on the right!
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your FREE recipes for yummy smoothies that will keep you feeling full! Click here.