Smoothies Health Benefits

It's a new year. Have you started on your resolution to get healthy and fit, yet? You maybe
like most people who have a desire to eat right but don't know how. Or, maybe you are already
on the right track with your eating habits but you want new ideas to supplement a healthy diet.

This past year, I have been experimenting with different smoothies to help me stay on track and
give me that extra boost I need. It, especially, came in handy when I had some dental work done.

My dentist told me I could only eat soup for a few weeks. That was okay, but I like to snack on
carrots and apples. It was hard for me to bite down on something like an apple. So the
best way to have some of my favorite fruits and vegetables was by drinking smoothies.

Smoothies are fun to make and it is a guilt-free way to enjoy something sweet and savory
whenever you start to crave other unhealthy foods.  Also, they have so many health benefits

What Is a Smoothie

A smoothie is a drink, usually made with fresh fruit and/or vegetables. You can even add liquid such as fruit
juices, vegetable juice, milk, or yogurt. Many health-conscious people, like myself, are always raving about them.

Smoothies became popular during the 1960s and 1970s at local health-food restaurants and health-food stores.  Traditionally, smoothies consist of three parts:

    Liquid (base)
    Fruits and/or vegetables
    Ice

It's easy to confuse smoothies with milk shakes, which consists mostly of ice cream and processed sugar.  Smoothies only consists of all natural non-processed ingredients like fruits and vegetables. You don't need to add sugar or dairy products.

I remember several years ago, I started juicing to boost my energy. You get the juice by extracting only the liquid of fruits and vegetables into a container. But that's all you get, is juice.  You don't get the roughage that provides additional health benefits. Smoothies have a higher nutritional value than just juicing along because it includes the skin, which adds much needed fiber to your diet.

What I like about making my own smoothies at home is that they are simple to make.  And you get to choose a base of your choice such as:

• Water (filtered)
• Almond Milk (I don't like cow's milk but some people do use it in their smoothies)
• Soy Milk
• Yogurt (unflavored)Fruit/vegetable juice (Coconut water is great!!!)
• Tea (Green)
  
  
  

Which is Better?  Green or Fruit Smoothies?

Both, Fruit smoothies and Green Smoothies are good sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals.  Diets that tend to be higher in fiber are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and lower body
weight.  Because most American adults don't like eating vegetables, we achieve only half the recommended daily fiber intake, which is 25 to 38 grams.

Also, fiber gives you that full feeling so you don't overeat on the wrong stuff.  As a result, you
will consume less calories because you are not overeating.  Some people say it is better to eat your
produce instead of drinking it.  I agree.  But most people don't get their recommended daily fruits and veggies.  So drinking home-made smoothies is a lot better than not getting any at all.

It's better than nothing.

Personally, I prefer predominantly vegetable-based blends because they are a healthier choice.  Vegetables are high in potassium so it can help lower your blood pressure.  Fruit smoothies are good but I have to be mindful of my sugar intake.  Fruits tend to have a lot of sugar and contain carbohydrates - more than veggies. 

Take a banana for an example.  It has about 25 grams of sugar.  So if you are a diabetic
that's something to keep in mind.

However, I do like to blend a little fruits into my green smoothie just to give it some taste.  I know that sounds strange. But trust me you can't tell the difference.  I remember adding a half-cup of grapes to my green smoothie, which contained Kale and Spinach.  I was surprised when I couldn't even taste the kale or spinach.

Drinking Smoothies and Hooping

Did you know that drinking smoothies can, also, help you with hooping? They are the perfect combination to staying healthy. Most people don't realize what they put into their body can and will make a big difference in their ability to hoop effectively. This is true with any exercise regimen, if you ask me.

Think about it, smoothies are usually made of fruits and vegetables.  So, it's jam-packed with
vital nutrients, which is what the body needs to stay healthy and energized.

You can expect these benefits from drinking smoothies:

    Smoothies are a great way to build stamina and performance
    Smoothies boost's your immune system and relieve physical & emotional stress.
    smoothies helps you have a better digestion
    smoothies assist weight loss and more energy
    You will have a decrease in craving for unhealthy foods.
    Beautiful hair and radiant skin. :-)

I have found that the energy I get from drinking smoothies increases my desire to hoop longer and more often.  Not only that, I noticed my hair started to grow a lot faster and my skin is a lot better than ever before.

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