Smoothies, You May Be Doing It All Wrong

Smoothies have become a health holy grail. For the fitness conscious and those hoping to shed those extra pounds, smoothies have become the breakfast and lunch food of choice. But beware, your choice to trim down and add fuel your body the right way may be causing you more harm than good. 

1. It’s all in the numbers: Ensure you measure your ingredients. While it may be tempting to throw in all your healthy ingredients during that rush hour, not measuring is likely to lead to a calorie overload. Don’t underestimate the impact of liquid calories. 

2. Mix your nutrients. Since many of us use smoothies as a meal replacement, especially following a workout, ensure your recipe contains protein, carbohydrates as well as a small amount fats. Protein not only helps build muscle but is essential to maintaining a healthy metabolism. 

3.Try to use fresh fruit and greens in your smoothie. Combining fruit with leafy greens and vegetables will help keep the fructose level of your smoothie down. Also, opt for full cream milk and yoghurt options as they have significantly lower sugar content. Ensure you also lower the amount of honey you put in your smoothie.  

4.The right fillers: Some smoothie recipes can be quite dense so while it may be tempting to add juice to the mix, add in ice or water instead to avoided added calories.

5. Take it to the next level: Smoothies are an easy and effective way to inject superfoods into your diet.  These may include chia seeds, kale, and blue berries. The list is endless. Do your research and mix it up. While you may have a favourite recipe, a successful diet relies on variety.