Smoothies: is blending fruit a good idea?

Smoothies come in handy to bridge this time deficit that we face. They also taste delicious, making them seem like the perfect solution for nourishing our bodies with sufficient nutrients during our busy lives. In my practice, I recommend smoothies to my patients to guarantee well-balanced and healthy nutrition. I never suggest pure fruit smoothies though, only the ‘green’ versions of a smoothie, which is made up of much more vegetables than fruit.

Recently I have noticed that many people don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables, and therefore do not sufficiently reach their body’s daily nutritional needs. Eating the recommended three portions of vegetables each day seems to present a challenge for many people. The vegetables in our diet provide countless important vitamins, minerals and fibres, as well as secondary plant compounds - even more so than fruit. Green smoothies are therefore an ideal solution to cover our recommended daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. Their low sugar and calorie levels, compared to sweeter alternatives, make green smoothies real winners. For weight loss, one should definitely choose green smoothies over pure fruit smoothies. Some fruit smoothies on the market might even have higher calorie and sugar levels than certain soft drinks. Furthermore, most fruit smoothies only have a short-term effect on satisfying our hunger.

Green smoothies, in my opinion, are reasonable supplements if there is no other way to cover one’s daily consumption of nutrients. I generally advise my patients to prepare their smoothies fresh from scratch, as the amount of vegetables in store-bought products is often next to nothing. Readymade products are also mostly enriched with fruit juices to make the drinks’ consistency smoother. With their liquid consistency and increased sugar levels, the store-bought products have a very short satiation effect and in many cases contain far more calories than the equivalent amount of fruit.

Smoothies are without a doubt a delicious and healthy refreshment. However, green smoothies are much better than the pure fruit versions, as they contain many healthy nutrients and are especially effective when trying to lose weight. Green smoothies, that are quickly prepared with fresh vegetables and a small amount of fruit, are an ideal nutritional supplement. Enjoy!

Yours,

Nelly Kress – nutritional coach

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