Thumbs Up: Good For Breakfast Skippers
Like most dietitians on our medical board, Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, author of The First Time Mom’s Pregnancy Cookbook and Fueling Male Fertility, believes smoothies can be appropriate for weight loss, depending on the ingredients chosen, the portion size enjoyed, and what’s included in the eating plan for the rest of the day. Smoothies can be particularly useful to “breakfast skippers,” she says.
“We know that 90% of Americans are not eating the recommended servings of produce and people who regularly eat breakfast tend to have fewer nutritional gaps, which may help support weight loss goals,” says Manaker.
Smoothies should always contain healthy carbs, protein, healthy fat, and fiber to promote satiety. And portion sizes should be appropriate.
“Chia seeds and hemp seeds are easy additions to weight loss smoothies that check the healthy fat, fiber, and protein boxes, making them typical go-to ingredients when I am guiding clients about how to create a weight loss-friendly smoothie,” Manaker says.
Focus On Protein First
Protein is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. It allows for healthy growth while supporting muscle repair. It fortifies joints and ligaments, and when coupled with proper resistance training and other healthy habits, it is a powerful tool for weight loss. Protein is also a satiating filler that keeps you feeling full longer and can help suppress cravings all part of a successful weight-loss regimen. Putting protein first, when making smoothies, can help support your weight loss goals.
Matcha Tea Fat Burning Smoothie
Matcha tea or the Japanese secret recipe for effective weight loss has become very famous worldwide among the ones who really love to take care of their health. There is a proper way to make this yummy elixir but did you know making a smoothie using Matcha green tea can actually help you get rid of the belly fat? Try our recipe to boost your metabolism and let us know how do you feel about it.
Ingredients You Need:
1. Matcha green tea
2. Slices of a fully ripe banana
3. Almond or fat-free skimmed milk
4. Chia seeds
6. Few drops of vanilla extracts for some added flavour
Instructions To Make It
Take a blender and put all the ingredients listed above, blend everything well. Now pour the smoothie in a glass and top it up with some extra chia seeds. Voila your yummy fat-burning smoothie is ready. You can also use other vegan options of milk and other fruits to enhance the flavour. Remember – you can always play around with your ingredients keeping in mind they are all healthy.
Recommended Reading: Reusable Smoothie Pouches For Adults
Are Green Smoothies Healthy
If you have trouble eating enough vegetables, smoothies are a great way to incorporate more greens into your diet with the flavors you love. Tossing in dark, leafy greens ensures youre getting a hefty dose of vitamins A and K, as well as fiber, but frozen cauliflower, sweet potato, and zucchini are also great options. For an additional nutrition boost, consider popping in some turmeric, matcha powder, or adaptogens, and warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom for flavor.
Some people who are vegetable averse will find it easier to sip on a green smoothie if it tastes like strawberry banana. And then, there are some people who like to load up on greens and blend it with fresh herbs instead of fruit. It all depends on your taste preference, Taub-Dix says.
But you also want to be mindful of portions: Groppo recommends keeping snack smoothies under 150 calories and any that you drink as a meal under 350 calories, if youre trying to lose weight. People who are trying to maintain their weight can go up to 500 to 600 calories for a filling meal replacement shake.
Now that you know how to turn a smoothie into a healthy meal, here are some other ways your smoothie can be sabotaging your weight lossand how to fix it.
How to fix it: Keep an eye out for smoothies with added nut or seed butter, coconut oil, or avocado, as these all add significant amounts of calories. If you grab a smoothie for a snack, dont forget to include it in your total calories for the day.
Minimal Chemicals In Processing
Some MCT oils will use harsh chemicals during the extraction process. I don’t need a side of chemical residue in my smoothie! So definitely research how your oil is derivedyou don’t want any harsh chemicals, filler oils, or additives involved. Less expensive often= more cheaply made, so quality reigns when buying.
Read Also: Liv Juice Bar And Smoothies Menu
Do Smoothies For Weight Loss Actually Work
When you replace your standard breakfast with a weight loss smoothie, you can lose weight.
On the Zero Belly Smoothies diet, a 39-year-old emergency-response adviser from Katy, Texas, Fred drank Zero Belly Smoothies as part of his weight-loss program. “I noticed results in the first week,” he says. “It really was amazing.” Fred lost 21 pounds and 5 inches off his waist over the next six weeks.
Ohio’s Martha Chesler, 52, who lost 21 pounds and 7 inches off her waist in less than 40 days, had the same experience. “I saw results immediately,” she says.
In fact, in our original Zero Belly Test Panel of more than 500 men and women, many lost up to 16 pounds in the first 14 days. Now you can achieve results like these even more quickly with this carefully created, highly effective collection of Zero Belly Smoothies.
Nutty & Chocolatey Weight Loss Smoothies
Have you ever heard of the “health halo”? It’s a term nutrition experts use to describe foods that use a healthy-sounding word like natural on their labels, or add ingredients that people think of as good for you , but which are really junk at heart.
These smoothies are the reverse of that theory. These drinks are tremendously nutritiousâpacked with as much, or more, fiber, protein, and healthy fats as any other drinks in the whole book. But they seem like they’re bad for you. How can drinks that seem like they came right from the ice cream shop flatten your belly so effectively?
These are the drinks you’ll whip up on a night when you want something to satisfy your ice cream jones. They’re the recipes you’ll lean on when your kids are complaining that they want something sweet for dessert. And they’re the drinks you’ll use to reward yourself after a hard day at work or in the gym. Deep, comforting, and delicious, these filling smoothies taste more like dessert than what they really areâpowerful weight-loss weapons, compliments of the new book, Zero Belly Smoothies.
All recipes make one serving.
Also Check: Fruits To Put In Smoothies
Drinking Too Many Calories
Although the mechanism isn’t fully understood, scientists believe that we are more likely to over-consume calories if we drink rather than eat them.
“Liquid calories don’t register in your body the way that solid calories do,” says Jennifer Koslo, RDN, dietitian, certified personal trainer and author of âHealthy Smoothie Recipe Book: Easy Mix-and-Match Smoothie Recipes for a Healthier You.â “So you can drink a smoothie and, depending on how thick it is, feel hungry soon after.”
A much-cited August 2004 study in âJAMAâ found that women who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages put on more weight than those who didn’t. Researchers attribute this to the fact that drinks can contain a lot of sugars, yet the body cannot recognize and adjust intake to compensate, as it does when you are full after a solid meal.
âThe fix:â Don’t go overboard with smoothies, keep an eye on the number of calories they contain and consider switching things up with a smoothie bowl. The thicker texture helps your body know that it’s full.
If you’re using it as a meal replacement, a smoothie should contain about 300 to 450 calories, Smith says. Stick to 100 to 250 calories for a snack.
Related Reading
Smoothies To Lose Belly Fat Fast Recipes
Today’s recipe post has got some different recipes for smoothies to lose belly fat fast and flatten the stomach with these weight loss smoothie recipes and burn the belly fat along with the smoothies as well as with other healthy food habits.
Also, sharing many healthy recipes related to drinks, smoothies, and juices on the blog and some of them are detox drinks for weight loss, detox smoothie recipes, chicken breast recipes to lose weight, low calorie starbucks drinks etc…
Also Check: Fruit Smoothie Recipes With Almond Milk
Protein Smoothies Make You Fuller In The Morning And Help You Lose Weight
They are also perfect to incorporate to any diet as a pre or post workout drink. One more step to a healthier lifestyle!
Note: Keep in mind that some of these smoothies might have high calories which means they can keep you full longer in the morning until you are ready to eat lunch.
Healthy posts you can check out:
Lets check out these smoothie recipes perfect for your busy mornings!
#1 Blueberry Banana Smoothie
This blueberry protein smoothie from Jen and Maddie is my absolute favorite breakfast smoothie and I make it multiple times per week.
I love that it gives you a big double whammy of protein from both the Greek yogurt and the protein powder.
Recipe from Hairs Out of Place
#2 Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond Smoothie
Rich, creamy, chocolatey, and fruity.this Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond Smoothie Bowl from Kaila has everything you could want in a sweet breakfast!
Topped with granola, cereal, nuts, seeds, coconut, and other superfoods Its like having dessert for breakfast but much healthier.
Did I forget to say its gluten free and great for vegans? Awesome stuff!
Helpful Hints For Losing Weight When Drinking Smoothies
- Dont Snack With Hidden High Calories
This means that you need to be careful with what youre eating during the day. Things like protein bars can add lots of calories if you buy the wrong one. There are some good ones to choose from .
Obviously, be careful with nuts and other high calorie and calorie dense foods.
- Add in Some Cardio and Weight Training
The old maxim is that abs are built in the kitchen. What that means is that diet is everything. And while thats true, exercise is important to help boost your weight loss goals and also helps to prevent fatigue.
Don’t Miss: Vegetable And Fruit Smoothies For Weight Loss
Cucumber Ginger And Melon Smoothie
Cucumber and melon are a classic cooling smoothie combo. They both have lots of antioxidants, and the cucumber especially has plenty of positive nutritional factors that boost weight loss. Meanwhile, the ginger provides a kick of fat-burning and digestion-boosting.
To make the smoothie, just blend together:
- One cup of chopped honeydew melon
- Half an unpeeled cucumber
- Half a teaspoon of grated ginger, or to taste
- One cup of ice
- One-third of a cup of canned pumpkin
- Two tablespoons of almond butter
- One tablespoon of hemp hearts
- Two or three ice cubes
- Optional: Cinnamon, for garnish
Increases Risk Of Nutrient Deficiencies
Eating just one solid meal per day and replacing your remaining two meals with smoothies may increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Though the smoothie recipes recommended by this program contain nutrient-dense ingredients like fruits and veggies, they also omit or limit many of the foods typically included in a balanced meal, such as whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
Some are also low in protein. For example, the Green Detox smoothie made with kale, coconut water, bananas, ginger, and lemon contains less than 4 grams of protein per serving.
That makes it challenging to ensure youre meeting your protein needs, negatively impacting tissue repair, muscle growth, immune function, and more .
Additionally, though the diet claims to provide around 1,500 calories per day, most the smoothie recipes are very low in calories and unlikely to provide enough calories to meet the needs of most healthy adults.
Consuming too few calories each day can slow your metabolism and cause serious negative side effects, including hunger, nausea, headaches, and fatigue .
Read Also: 21 Day Smoothie Diet Challenge
Top 10 Foods For Weight Loss Fat Burning And Boosting Metabolism
The following foods are great for adding to smoothies, especially if youre trying to lose weight, because they add fiber and boost your metabolism. They also give your body a go-to source of energy for physical activity, so blend these up before a workout to give yourself some fuel.
Seeds like flaxseed and chia are fantastic for weight loss, and their fiber is gut-healing as well as filling. My favorite hack for banishing hunger is to drink a glass of water with a tablespoon of chia seeds stirred in. Its fun to drink, and it fills me up!
Pineapple Kale Green Smoothie
- 1 cup fresh or frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 tablespoon coconut nectar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground vanilla bean
- Pinch ground cardamom
- Green Tea Powder
- Oats Powder
Below Ill share 5 healthy smoothies for weight loss. Try these nutritious and filling healthy smoothie recipes that can boost your weight loss process while giving your body the nutrition it needs.
You May Like: Best Smoothie From Smoothie King For Weight Loss
An Overall Weight Loss Plan
As you work towards your weight loss goal with tasty smoothies as your tool, keep in mind that the healthy way to lose weight includes more than just dietary changes. Your smoothies, if created thoughtfully, will provide you with many of the nutrients you need including protein, carbohydrates, good fats, and vitamins and minerals. But, dont forget to eat healthful foods in addition to those smoothies. Get plenty of vegetables, healthy fats, high-quality proteins, whole grains, and moderate amounts of fruit at your regular meals.
Healthy fats were mentioned above as an important weight loss smoothie ingredient and a vital part of a healthy diet. I cant overemphasize this point. Getting an adequate amount of healthy fat and completely eliminating unhealthy fat from your diet of paramount. Of all the dietary and lifestyle changes Ive made over the years, getting my fats straight has had the biggest impact on my health and well-being. If you havent already, please be sure to read my article on fat:
Other factors that contribute to weight loss are adequate sleep , stress reduction, hydration , and a positive outlook. Theres often an emotional component preventing people from losing weight, which is rarely easy to address. Resolving issues in your relationships, career, or past, often leads to profound breakthroughs.
Top 10 Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes
Weight loss smoothies can be a bit hardcore, but I believe it will help you see results more quickly when combined with an awesome exercise goal. I hope you try these recipes and love the results when you are consistently drinking them:
Meal Replacement Smoothie– Smoothies are considered the healthiest fast food because you can make a quick, filling meal in five minutes! Put that theory to the test with this lovely berry smoothie.
Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie– Chronic inflammation keeps our bodies from reaching their full potential. Fight that head-on with this soothing smoothie recipe.
Beginner’s Luck Green Smoothie– This is THE best green smoothie! It’s been voted #1 by far and is both delicious and nutritious.
Apple Celery Smoothie– The green smoothie of all green smoothies, this one’s got a healthy boost and a unique ingredient list.
Pineapple Ginger Smoothie– Fresh ginger has so many health benefits, and paired with pineapple is quite easy to digest.
MCT Oil Smoothie– Your metabolism needs fat to help digest food. MCT oil is an easy and efficient way to get healthy fat into your body.
Chocolate Weight loss Smoothie– Gain natural energy and burn fat with this yummy cacao-filled smoothie.
Smoothie for Brain Fog– Clear the cobwebs and benefit from better focus with this genius smoothie.
Raspberry Smoothie– Is it a dessert or a smoothie? This creamy, ruby smoothie is healthy and just plain pretty.
Don’t Miss: Breakfast Healthy Smoothies For Weight Loss
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.
Thumbs Up: Protein Slows Digestion
Smoothies can be a great way to get in extra protein and nutrients without a lot of effort and might help you lose weight.
“Protein helps slow down digestion, so it gets you full faster and keeps you full longer,” says medical board expertAmy Goodson, RD, CSSD, author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook. “Make a smoothie with 20 to 30 grams of protein with milk, Greek yogurt, and/or protein powder to increase satiety. The liquid volume often gives people a feeling of fullness.”
Sign up for our newsletter!
Recommended Reading: Apple And Banana Smoothie Recipe