Can Other Diets Also Be Whole Food Diets
Heres where it gets confusingyes, other diets can also be whole food diets. Eating a whole food diet is a lifestyle choice, but many other diets can exist within a whole foods construct. So, diets like the MIND Diet and Mediterranean Diet are also whole food diets.
For example, here are the foods involved in the MIND Diet:
- Green, leafy vegetables five times a week
- Five or more different colored fruits and vegetables every day.
- Berries five times a week
- Five or more servings of nuts a week
- Olive oil five times a week
- Whole grains five times a week
- Oily fish twice a week or take an algae-based omega-3 supplement
- Legumes and pulses five times a week
- White meat/mix of plant-based proteins twice a week
- No more than one glass of wine a day
- One or two coffee or tea a day max
- Two liters of water a day
Thats pretty much a whole food diet, right? As long as any meat or plant-based proteins are as unprocessed as possible, then it can be a whole food diet.
Other diets, like a vegan diet, for instance, could be whole food diets or not. It really depends if processed foods are included. Some food substitutes are really heavily processed, so its important to read labels really carefully. But its only some, not all.
Add Extras To Your Liking
There are so many amazing things that you can add to a smoothie to increase its nutritional bang for your sip, though you dont have to add anything at all. I keep all kinds of superfoods around and throw in what sounds good. Ill normally add 2 or 3 extras to my smoothie each morning. Different things that I like to add include: hemp seed hearts, flax seeds, chia seeds, spirulina, organic brown rice protein powder, pea protein, and/or cacao nibs. Other people also add things like goji berries, matcha powder, and bee pollen, but I havent dabbled in those yet.
Potential Risks Of Smoothies
For the most part, if you use a smoothie to replace a meal, youll be fine. The biggest problem with smoothies stems from using smoothies alongside meals to replace your drink. This can lead to eating too many calories overall throughout the day. For some people, however, smoothies can aggravate other issues:
Higher Blood Sugar Levels
Added sugars in your already-sweet smoothies can be especially bad for your body, and should be avoided if possible. But even if youre making your smoothie yourself using all-natural ingredients, it can still have a lot of the natural sugar in it. After all, fruit is high in sugar, and smoothies contain a lot of fruit.
People with type II diabetes and other conditions that make sugar risky should be careful about consuming smoothies.
American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine: Closing America’s Fiber Intake Gap: Communication Strategies From a Food and Fiber Summit.
Current Nutrition and Food Science: Meal Replacement Beverage Twice a Day in Overweight and Obese Adults.
ESHA Research, Inc., Salem, Oregon: Smoothie.
European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry: The Sweet Danger of Added Sugar.
Iranian Journal of Public Health: Fruit and Vegetable Intake: Benefits and Progress of Nutrition Education Interventions- Narrative Review Article.
New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station: Build a Better Smoothie.
Pagination
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Detox Green Smoothie With Chia Seeds
If you havent tried chia seeds yet, heres a great opportunity. These tiny but mighty seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids that are great for your heart. They also help you stay fuller longer, thanks to its plant protein power. Combined with spinach, unsweetened almond milk, frozen pineapple, and naturally sweet banana, this tasty mixture is the ultimate breakfast treat.
Is A Whole Food Diet Boring
Absolutely not! The beauty of this way of eating is that there are barely any recipes that are off-limits. If you can make it yourself using natural ingredients, then it counts. So, dig out your recipe books and get familiar with your spice cupboard.
Heres my advice if youre just starting: stock up on coconut milk and canned tomatoes. Youll use them all the time in sauces.
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And Check Out Some Of Our Favorite Smoothie Hacks Too:
- How to Freeze Strawberries. There are lots of ways to use frozen strawberries, but smoothies are definitely one of my favorites!
- Smoothie Booster Packs. Never let spinach go bad again! Drop these frozen smoothie packs into your smoothies to boost the nutrition.
- 3 Ways to Meal Prep Smoothies. Yes, you can make ahead smoothies! And we have three ways to show you how.
Autoimmune Disease Healthy Journey:
Here is where I am going to get a little personal. I was a healthy and active girl when I got hit with an autoimmune disease that rocked my world. I visited the doctor and he performed an insane amount of blood tests to figure out what was going on with my body.
I was dealing with the debilitating effects of several autoimmune diseases — rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis diseases, among others.
I didn’t think I would be dealing with arthritis in my 30’s! My weight had even skyrocketed for no apparent reason .
After many blood tests confirmed I was dealing with several autoimmune issues, I was referred to both a rheumatologist and endocrinologist to deal with the effects of my immune system going haywire. The specialists wanted to put me on a host of medications to help with the swelling and inflammation, all with a list of negative side effects. I felt as if I was ALWAYS at the doctor. I didn’t want to just put on a band-aid.
I went home and my husband and I just sobbed together on the couch , afraid of what the future might hold. After a good cry, I felt determined to figure out what the ROOT cause of my health issues was. I started studying like crazy. I began driving around to every library in town, picking up stacks of health books, and researching everything I could about my disease. I became a full-on nerd!
Here are some of the healing vitamins, herbs and supplements that have helped me with my autoimmune diseases:
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Keeps Blood Sugar In Check
High blood sugar and diabetes are the most common lifestyle diseases that bother people all around the world. People who have imbalanced sugar levels in their blood are prone to several complications. Thus having a breakfast that is rich in nutrients but low in calories can make things easier. Smoothies full of fresh fruits and vegetables are apt choices to go for on hot summer mornings, as they make you feel full and happy without increasing your sugar intake.
How To Make Healthy Smoothies
Making healthy smoothies is a much simpler process than you would imagine, and this post will show you how to make 7 different kinds of healthy smoothies that you’re going to love!
I think many people have misconceptions about what healthy smoothies really are. I know when I was younger, I thought that healthy smoothies were the ones you got at Booster Juice. Sadly, I would order a large smoothie from there or Starbucks after a night of partying and think I was replenishing my body with healthy food. Little did I know these smoothies were often filled with sugary frozen yogurt and can contain up to 460 calories .
To make genuinely healthy smoothies, you have to be careful with the ingredients you use. This post will educate you on how to choose the highest-quality ingredients to ensure that you’re getting the nutritional benefits you should be getting with fruit-filled smoothies.
As long as you stock your freezer with frozen fruit and keep a few handy base ingredients on hand in the fridge each week, smoothie making is super easy and nutritious.
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Caramel Apple Overnight Oatmeal Smoothie
This vegan, gluten-free breakfast smoothie is perfect for cold mornings when youre craving a fall treat. Dont worry: Theres no caramel in this recipe. Instead, this blogger subs in dates to add natural sweetness, along with antioxidants, fiber, and minerals. Rolled oats also pack fiber and protein, while apples and cinnamon give that undeniably heartwarming taste. This dreamy mixture sits in the fridge overnight, saving you so much time in the mornings.
Whats The Best Liquid For Making Smoothies
We like to use milk of choice. If youre a fan of coconut milk, use it. Like cows milk? Go for it. A fan of almond milk? Cool. Use whatever milk you like in your smoothiesyou cant go wrong. I just recommend you stick to unsweetened and unflavored versions. That gives you the most control over the smoothie.
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Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie
This vegan recipe will have you drooling for more! Its vegan, low calorie, and delicious! What makes it different than any regular strawberry smoothie? The secret is in a butter extract that gives it a rich pastry flavor while keeping it low in calories. If you feel like leaving your chair to blend this one up right away, you are in good company.
They’re Great For Breakfast Or An Afternoon Pick
The Spruce
Smoothies are a convenient and colorful way to start your day, but some recipes can be filled with added sugar and fat. For a healthy meal or snack, stick to the basics: fruit and veggies.
Every successful smoothie contains two main ingredients: fruit and/or vegetables and a liquid, such as fruit juice, vegetable juice, or milk. Other possible ingredients include yogurt, nut butter, seeds, spices, herbs, and more. Many smoothies also include a few ice cubes to keep the mixture nice and cold. Often, recipes can be tweaked to meet different dietary requirements or tastesfeel free to swap out dairy products for non-dairy ones or change up the spices and juices.
All of these smoothies recipes are loaded with good-for-you vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and protein. They’re made with only natural ingredients and range in flavors from mango to chocolate to veggie. You’re sure to find a breakfast smoothie for every day of the week.
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Pear Matcha Protein Smoothie
Anything green must be good for you, right? Well, it certainly makes you feel like youre doing something healthy for yourself. We love the detox-power that comes from the whole ingredients. From the pear, youll get vitamins and fibernecessary for losing weight. Matcha green tea is a great alternative to coffee for adding some caffeinated pep to your step. Rounded out with spinach and protein, this is one smoothie that hits all the healthy marks.
To make, blend the following:
- 2 scoops of your fave veggie-based protein powder
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1 cup of spinach
- one whole pear
- 1/2 tsp. of matcha tea powder.
YUM!
Naked Boosted Smoothie Blue Machine
We’ll pass on this sugar bomb. “In a fairly small 15.2 fluid ounce bottle, there are nearly as many calories that many people should get in a meal. Unfortunately, it won’t keep you feeling satisfied since there are only two grams of protein to slow down digestion,” note The Nutrition Twins. “The kicker is that there are 55 grams of sugar, which is almost 14 teaspoons of sugar. This is more than double the six grams maximum of added sugar that women should get in an entire day and five teaspoons more than the maximum nine teaspoons of sugar men should get daily. Although the sugar is mainly from fruit, it’s just too much in a concentrated formthree-and-a-third apples, one banana, 27 blueberries and three blackberries.”
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Green Tea Blueberry And Banana Smoothie
To prepare this smoothie featuring antioxidant-rich green tea, simply heat 3 Tbsp. of water in a bowl in the microwave until its steaming hot. Then, add 1 green tea bag and allow it to brew for 3 minutes. Remove the tea bag and stir in 2 tsp. honey until it dissolves. Combine 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries, 1/2 medium banana, and 3/4 cup calcium-fortified light vanilla soy milk into a blender. Add the tea and process all ingredients until smooth.
Nutrition :269 calories, 2.5 g fat, 3.5 g protein, 63 g carbs , 38.5 g sugars
Golden Glow Turmeric Smoothie
The sound of having turmeric in your smoothie might make some of you cringe, but it is definitely worth trying. For one, pineapple has such a strong flavor in and of itself that the turmerics taste is almost completely masked. Secondly, turmeric is a strong anti-inflammatory that everyone should try adding it to their diet. You might be surprised to find out that it is actually pretty tasty as well!
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Is It Healthy To Have A Smoothie Every Day
If youre looking to put your own blender to use and start making smoothies at home, youre already one step ahead with saving yourself money and ensuring you have full control over what goes into your drink. Enjoying a smoothie every day is totally fine if you make sure it has a good balance of nutrients.
That said, dietitians say its actually better to chew and swallow food rather than drinking it for fullness, so its probably best to limit your intake to one smoothie a day and enjoy proper meals and snacks throughout the day. And if youre aiming to make your smoothie a meal, try to include at least 25 grams of protein if its a snack, go for at least 10 grams of protein.
These delicious, healthy smoothies make it easier to eat right with nutrient-rich fruit and veggies, creamy milk, protein, probiotic-rich yogurt, and other nutritious ingredients. Just a note: Some of these recipes contain fruit juice or honey to up the sweetness, but if youre looking to cut added sugar from your diet, you can nix those ingredients.
Some of these recipes are from Smoothies & Juices, the new book from Preventions Healing Kitchen series. Give these recipes a try, and feel free to tweak and experiment to create your own perfect blend.
Vanilla Protein Smoothie Recipe
Looking for a protein-packed snack to sip? Look no further than this Vanilla Protein Smoothie recipe! Its full of creamy, lightly fruity flavor and 25% of your daily protein! Even better: theres no protein powder: just all natural, delicious ingredients! It tastes more like a vanilla milkshake than a protein drink, perfect for breakfast or a post-workout snack.
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Dark Chocolate Banana Nut
If you want your weight loss smoothies to taste like dessert, this recipe should be your go-to. Four words that combine to sound like a jam session at Ben & Jerry’s house. The density of the banana will have you convinced you’re drinking a milkshake, while the omega-3s in the walnuts will keep your mind sharp and your belly lean.
- ½ banana
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- â cup plant-based chocolate protein powder
- Water to blend
NUTRITION: 280 calories / 3 g fat / 31 g carbs / 7 g fiber / 9 g sugar / 31 g protein”
Glowing Green Smoothie Recipe
Why not drink your green food? This glowing green smoothie recipe is the perfect immunity-boosting drink with a sweet tart flavor! It stars green apples, loads of spinach, and protein-packed nuts. The tangy is balanced with sweet, and it has a loose but creamy texture thats easily drinkable and a vivid, glowing green color.
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Best And Worst Smoothies
Theyâre refreshingly cool, come in fun, fruity flavors, and are served with a straw. Whatâs not to like about smoothies? Theyâre so popular that you can now find them at fast food restaurants, grocery stores — even coffee shops. But while smoothies may sound like a healthy treat, sometimes theyâre anything but.
Smoothies are usually made with healthy ingredients like soy milk, fresh or frozen fruit, skim milk, or yogurt. But some also feature plenty of high-fat and/or high-sugar items like ice cream, peanut butter, sweetened syrups, or chocolate. What you can end up with is a drink that has upwards of 600 calories, enough saturated fat to rival a double cheeseburger, and carbohydrate grams in the triple digits — and thatâs just for the small size.
Consider: A 20-ounce serving of Smoothie Kingâs The Hulk-Strawberry has more calories than a Burger King Double Cheeseburger with a medium order of French fries . Dairy Queenâs Tropical Blizzard has more total fat and saturated fat than the same fast-food meal.
If youâre looking for a healthy smoothie, your best bet is usually to keep it simple. The label on Emerald Cityâs Fruity Supreme Smoothie, for example, shows just four ingredients: banana, strawberry, nonfat milk, and protein. Any smoothie that includes nonfat milk, soy milk, or yogurt will likely contribute a nice dose of protein, along with other goodies like vitamin D, B-12, and/or calcium.
Low Sugar Smoothies That Taste Amazing
by Lisa Bryandisclosure policyJump to RecipeJump to Video
Are you ready for some healthy low sugar smoothies ? Sugar can easily creep up in smoothie recipes, but today were keeping it in check with low sugar smoothie recipes and some sneaky vegetables.
Now that were in the thick of summer Ive been receiving a lot of requests for smoothie recipes. But particularly for low sugar smoothies.
As you might imagine, many smoothie recipes are loaded with natural sugar from the fruits contained within the smoothie. Now, to be clear, Im not against natural sugar from fruit. But when it comes to smoothies its really easy to over-indulge.
So what smoothies can you enjoy on regular rotation? The ones Im sharing below! Theyre still fruity and have 15 grams of sugar or less per serving. Bonus: you can sneak in some extra veggies. Ill show you how.
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