Smoothies And Weight Loss
Before you go jumping into smoothies thinking they are a magic weight-loss elixir, you should know that no single smoothie can promote weight loss on its own. Weight loss requires a total lifestyle change and not just drinking smoothies and thinking you are good to go. Smoothies should be used to complement other ways of losing weight. Hence in addition to smoothies, you need to stay active and exercise, watch what you eat, avoid stress, get enough sleep, and drink a lot of water.
When you look at weight loss from a big picture where you incorporate all the factors that weve mentioned above, then the weight loss becomes easier and more sustainable, which should be your goal. It is easy to lose weight compared to keeping the weight you lost away.
Another thing to note is that targeted weight loss does not exist. You cannot choose only to lose weight in one body part. Weight loss happens through the entire body. For that reason, if you want to lose belly fat, you need to lose overall weight to the point your belly as well as all the other body parts are small as you wanted.
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Grapefruit Pineapple And Black Pepper Smoothie
Image: Shutterstock
Total Time: 10 minutes Prep Time: 8 minutes Serves: 2
Ingredients
Benefits
- Blueberries are rich in fiber and antioxidants and also have anti-inflammatory properties .
- Oats are a great source of dietary fiber that aids weight loss. It also improves digestion and prevents tumor growth .
- Chia seeds promote weight loss and can protect you from cardiovascular disease and diabetes .
- Low-fat milk helps control the amount of dairy fat consumed and helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases .
Black Plum Smoothie Bowl
Black Plum Smoothie Bowl or Jamun Smoothie bowl is a refreshing and delicious, healthy and nutritious recipe for the summer season prepared using just 2 ingredients in less than 5 minutes. This can be served for breakfast, brunch, or even as a mid-day snack.
Smoothie bowls are one of the best recipes to try during summer where we look for ways for cooling down and also to cut down on time spent in the kitchen. No cooking is required to make a smoothie bowl and it keeps you energized the whole day. Smoothie bowls are also good for any diet – vegan and vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo and keto-friendly.
What is a smoothie bowl?
In short smoothie bowl is nothing but a soft served smoothie eaten from a bowl rather than a cup with added toppings like granola, seeds, dry fruits and nuts, or fresh fruits.
Are smoothie bowls healthy?
Homemade smoothie bowls are actually healthy and nutritious as there are no added sugars and are made with a base of frozen fruits like bananas.
What is the difference between a smoothie bowl and an acai bowl?
Smoothie bowls are generally soft served prepared similar to smoothie but eaten in a bowl with added toppings. Acai bowls are super thick and creamy smoothie bowls with a special ingredient, namely, acai berry puree.
How to make a smoothie bowl?
Assemble the base first, blend the smoothie, pour it into a bowl, and add toppings of your choice.
How do you thicken a smoothie bowl?
- Add more frozen fruit
Tips and substitutes
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What Liquids Work Best In Smoothies
If you want a thicker smoothie, you should use less liquid. Filtered water or spring water, almond milk, coconut milk, coconut water, organic fruit juices, freshly squeezed juice, and kefir are all good liquids to use in your smoothies if you are looking for a healthier smoothie to help with your weight loss goals.
Read Also: Best Diet Smoothies For Weight Loss
Not Based On Evidence
One of the biggest flaws of the 21-Day Smoothie Diet is that there is no research to back it up.
While smoothies can be a great addition to a well-rounded diet, theres no evidence to show that eating smoothies in place of other nutrient-dense foods can improve your skin, gut health, or immune function, as the diet claims.
Furthermore, the diets official website is filled with testimonials from customers claiming to lose large amounts of weight very quickly.
Not only is this unrealistic and unsustainable, but it could also be harmful to health .
summary
The 21-Day Smoothie Diet is not based on evidence and may be associated with an increased risk of nutritional deficiencies. It is also relatively high in carbs and sugar.
Read Also: Make Your Own Smoothie Bar
What Should I Avoid Adding To My Smoothies
While there are many foods you can add to your smoothie, there are a few things you may want to avoid. Leafy greens like baby spinach can offer you some balance with fruit in a smoothie and can help keep you from overindulging on calories.
Plain Greek yogurt is also good for a creamy and thicker consistency. However, fibrous and stringy veggies should be avoided. Celery, fennel, snap peas, and string beans, for example, will not blend well and should definitely be avoided.
Nutritionists Favorite Weight Loss Smoothies
For this selection, I asked the countrys top nutritionists to share with me their favorite weight loss smoothies, keeping the best weight loss foods in mind, and the results are all delicious and nutritious. Pay attention to the protein countsif its under 25 grams, you dont want them as a meal replacement, but rather paired with a meal.
All recipes serve one unless otherwise indicated.
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Pomegranate Tangerine And Ginger Smoothie
Image: Shutterstock
Total Time: 10 minutes Prep Time: 9 minutes Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 1 inch crushed ginger root
- A pinch of Himalayan pink salt
How To Prepare
Benefits
- Pomegranate helps lower cholesterol levels, regulates blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties .
- Tangerines are a great source of vitamins C and A, folate, and dietary fiber, which help boost immunity, improve eye health, and promote weight loss .
- Ginger helps to improve digestion, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, prevents neurodegenerative and heart diseases, and delays aging .
What Should You Not Mix In A Smoothie
There are certain ingredients that should not be mixed in a smoothie. These include raw eggs, dairy products like cheese and sour cream, large pieces of fruit like halves of apples and pears, as well as uncooked vegetables such as celery and carrots.
Additionally, it is important to note that certain ingredients used in smoothies may interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins and antioxidants, such as green leafy vegetables. Furthermore, blending alcohol with fruit or other foods will make it easier to consume larger amounts of alcohol, which can result in unwanted negative side effects.
Therefore, it is important to avoid mixing such items into your smoothie. Lastly, it is recommended to not blend hot beverages as well as carbonated drinks, such as soda, into your smoothie.
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Plums Help With The Nervous System
To add to the many things plums are responsible for, they are also able to make ones nervous system healthy. This is due to the fact they contain vitamin B6 . This vitamin is known to help with the normal functioning of the nervous system. Plums also have amino acids referred to as Tryptophan that are responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This helps improve ones sleep, level of concentration and appetite. They also help in the healthy growth of our brains.
Banana And Plum Smoothie Recipe
The banana plum smoothie recipe tastes best with sun-ripened raw plums. The stone fruit is a good source for vitamin A, C and K. Transform this seasonal smoothie into a healthy breakfast replacing drink by adding a quarter cup of oats before blending.The oats provide longer-lasting slow-burning sustenance and with this help to stay alert for longer. For variation add a quarter teaspoon of vanilla essence and, or ground cinnamon.
It is in the cooks’ hands what base liquid to add. Plums work well withfull cream milk or yogurt as well as with kefir. The liquid basedetermines how creamy the smoothie tastes. By choosing anut-milk, soy-milk or rice-milk, the plum smoothie supports a vegandiet. The amount of liquid in relation to pureed fruit gives a more orless runny fruit drink.
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Apple And Great Grains Shake
This shake tastes like apple pie in a glass, but you wont find 58 grams of protein in a slice of Grandmas famous dessert. Most blenders will be able to handle pulverizing an apple, St. Pierre says. Leave the skin on for extra phytonutrients.BLEND THIS:12 oz water, milk, or yogurt2 scoops vanilla flavored protein1 apple, core removed, and sliced into wedges1 cup of spinach¼ cup of uncooked oatsIce as neededCinnamon to taste535 calories, 58 g protein, 13 g fat, 46 g carbs, 9 g fiber
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Sagittarius Horoscope For November 2022
SagittariusKyra Jay for xoNecole
November is a breakthrough month for you, Sagittarius. You are noticing the mental restrictions that have been in your life recently and are putting the worries and fears to rest once and for all. This is a month to take action on what has been inspiring you, and about being your biggest advocate and supporter. Know that once you decide on something the whole universe conspires to make it happen for you, and with this perspective, you can tap into your inner courage and confidence more.
The second half of the month is all about you and all about shining in your truth and glory. Venus, the planet of love, moves into Sagittarius on November 16th, Sagittarius Season officially begins on November 22nd, and there is a New Moon in Sag the next day on November 23rd. You are seeing previous blocks in your life being lifted, and your path ahead is feeling a lot more abundant and stable than it has been. This is your month to put yourself first, pave new paths, and be bold.
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Green Apple Lettuce And Honey Smoothie
Image: Shutterstock
Total Time: 7 minutes Prep Time: 5 minutes Serves: 2
Ingredients
- A pinch of Himalayan pink salt
How To Prepare
Benefits
- Green apples contain antioxidants such as catechin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, etc. that aid weight loss, prevent asthma attacks, and prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases .
- Lettuce is low in calories and rich in vitamins E and C, potassium, iron, and carotenes that help support liver health and improve digestion .
- Honey has antimicrobial properties that help to protect the gums and teeth. It acts as a natural medicine for cough and helps to heal wounds and prevent microbial infection .
Thumbs Down: Be Wary Of Store
When you blend a smoothie at home, you have control over the ingredients. Not so at smoothie shops and convenience stores.
Smoothies purchased at stores often contain added sugars in the form of turbinado,’ says Goodson. This added sugar can quickly add up to lots of calories. Be sure to evaluate the calories of all the ingredients and smoothie servings sizes if weight loss is your goal.
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Are High Protein Fruit Smoothies Healthy
Crave-worthy fruit smoothies are indeed healthy if you mix them right! Be sure to follow these pointers and youll end up with a good-for-you smoothie.
- Dont add juice from the grocery store shelf to your smoothie. Choose liquids like coconut water and unsweetened almond milk like we did for the 5 High Protein Fruit Smoothies for Weight Loss found in this post. Other good choices are hemp milk and soy milk.
- Add healthy fats like Greek yogurt and avocado. That way, along with the fat, youll get extra protein from the yogurt and vitamins and antioxidants from the avocado.
- If you think you need a sweetener, add cinnamon or a dash of pure maple syrup. Dont add artificial sweeteners.
- Dont forget your greens. They add extra nutrients and blend in well with fruits like bananas and strawberries.
Healthy Smoothies For Quick Weight Loss
As summers start to kick in, the scorching sun and the humidity make us eat less and drink more. It is one of the reasons why the summer season is known as the apt time for weight loss. The tenuous connection between summers and weight loss makes us realize the fact that it is time to dig into those chilled & delicious shakes and smoothies that can help in the weight loss process. However, when we contacted Shweta Shah, a Holistic Nutritionist to know more about the recipes that can pave the way to a quick weight loss, she was quick to respond that Milk is best left alone and one should not mix it with any other fruits or foods for weight loss.
According to Ayurveda, milk is not compatible with fruits, melons, sour fruits, and bananas. The whole combination of milk and fruits is Viruddha Ahara, which may lead to disturbance in the digestion system and can result in poor digestion, ama accumulation, vitiation of dhatus, and even channels obstruction. Thus, we asked her some of the best smoothie recipes that anyone can have during the hot months to get in shape quickly. Well, it is not surprising that smoothies are the easiest way to soak in all the nutrients of food, be it fruits or vegetables. They are also quite delicious and can become that instant dose of energy in the breakfast. They can also treat your skin well while helping in weight loss. So, here are some of the smoothie recipes that you must try this summer season.
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Gemini Horoscope For November 2022
GeminiKyra Jay for xoNecole
This is a beautiful month for you, Gemini. Some happy and fortunate outcomes are coming through for you in November, and its about time you are given this grace. This is a month to believe in your dreams and your ideas and to move forward with the plans you have set up for yourself this year. Have confidence in what is happening for you, take care of your responsibilities, stretch your wings and fly!
Moving further into the month, the Sun moves into your opposite sign Sagittarius, and enters your 7th house of love. The end of November and into December is one of the most important times of the year for your love life and your relationships, and you are seeing progress and commitment in this area of your life right now. The New Moon on November 23 is a good time to set your intentions for your future in love and what you want to see come about in your relationships. You are love, you are loved, Gemini.
Coffee Cold Brew Smoothie
Replace your fancy, sugar-packed coffee frappes with this great cold brew smoothie. Its low in sugar, has protein and healthy fats, and the caffeine can work its magic without worrying about unhealthy sugars.
Caffeine can provide the body with boosts to energy, cognitive function, and positive thinking, and it can also increase metabolism to help fat burn, according to studies.
To make the smoothie, just blend together:
- One cup of cold brew coffee
- One cup of skim milk
- 1 frozen banana
- One tablespoon of almond butter
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Selecting Storing And Pitting Plums
Plums are in season from May to October and come in several varieties and ranges of color. When buying plums at the farm stand or grocery store, you should look for fruit with smooth skin that is free of blemishes and discolorations. It shouldn’t be wrinkled or have any soft or mushy spots. The grayish layer on the skin is perfectly normal and should not deter you from purchasing.
Once you bring home your ripe plums, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If they are a little hard, you can leave them on the counter to soften. Once the plums are ripe, if you are not going to use them within a few days, you can freeze them and use within a year.
To pit plums, first cut in half, twisting the fruit to separate. Then, using the tip of a knife or your fingernail, loosen the pit from the half. If you have difficulty dislodging it, slice a piece or two from the half and try again. You don’t want to force out the pit as this can damage the flesh.
Coconut Cashew Protein Smoothie
This is my go-to smoothie recipe for weight loss because it contains a balance of protein, fat, and carbs which promote stable blood sugar levels, and in turn, your pancreas can secrete your fat-burning hormone, glucagon! And its so good, you can drink one every morning and not get sick of it.
- 1 tablespoon of cashew butter
- ¼ cup full-fat coconut milk
- 2 scoops dairy-free PaleoMeal protein powder
- 1 scoop of Espresso Dynamic Greens
NUTRITION: 315 calories / 21 g fat / 26 g carbs / 4 g fiber / 9 g sugar / 14 g protein
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