Fruit and Green Smoothie Health Benefits

Posted by on July 19, 2011 Leave a Comment

Fruit and Green Smoothie Health Benefits

Before whipping up a batch of mouth-watering smoothies, you should go back to basics. Smoothie maker – young and old alike – should know not just what a smoothie’s ingredients are, but what it can also do for you.

Whether it be made of fruits or veggie greens, smoothies are definitely good for your soul and your body. Here are 12 of the best reasons why they are:

  1. Smoothies are very easy to prepare. All you need is a blender, a knife (to cut up or chop your fruits or vegetables), your ingredients, which are usually just the fruit/vegetable, some milk, juice or water, yogurt and/or ice cubes and other condiments to sweeten it up a bit, and you’re all set. Within just 5 to 10 minutes of chopping, blending and pouring, you’re ready to enjoy a refreshing and revitalizing glass of smoothie.
  2. Smoothies give you a natural source of nutrition. Getting nutrients and vitamins from food is still the best way to stay fit and healthy. Having a smoothie a day ensures you of a daily dose of life-giving substances.
  3. Ingredients are easy to source. Fruits and vegetables are very accessible and very easy to find (unless you live in a small island devoid of trees or vegetation). You can even grow your own ingredients, or you can simply go to the grocery and check out the fruits and greens section.
  4. Smoothies are inexpensive to prepare. This is specially true when you compare it to food and beverage choices that are half as healthy. The ingredients you use don’t cost much. Aside from that, you also save money on doctor visits and drugs as a result of a healthy diet and a stronger immune system.
  5. Smoothies help keep the body hydrated. Most fruits and some vegetables have the natural moisture to keep you hydrated, especially at the start of your day. Having a smoothie assures you of a lesser chance of acquiring electrolyte imbalance for the rest of your day.
  6. Get your daily dose of antioxidants. These healthy, God’s-gift-to-mankind foods not only provide vitamins and nutrients that are important for the well-being of your body; most of these also have antioxidants that help to detoxify and eliminate unnecessary waste products from your system. (This will especially work if you combine your smoothie-drinking with the proper diet and exercise plus a healthy lifestyle.)
  7. Smoothies provide a good source of fiber. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of fiber that helps your digestive system eliminate waste and toxic substances easily.
  8. Smoothies help your brain function at its best. Some fruits and vegetables contain folic acid and/or fructose – both of which help enable the brain to function at its optimum level.
  9. No cooking skills required. If you don’t know how to cook, then smoothies are perfect for you as there is no need to cook your ingredients. You just dump it all in the blender and just puree away!
  10. Get your daily recommended allowance of fruits and vegetables. You get your 5 servings of fruits a day – just like what the doctor ordered. This means you get a ton of vitamins and minerals all at one go. Sometimes you even get more than 5, what with the numerous but satisfying and definitely delicious combinations you can make.
  11. Smoothies give your body a good source of energy. Fruits are endowed with natural sugars which convert to energy as soon as an intake of it is figured out by your body. Smoothies just make it easier for your body to recognize its worth.
  12. Smoothies are convenient, too. If you’re running late and you don’t have time to drink it at home, all you need is a mug with a cover and you can take it with you even while chasing after the bus that takes you to work.

With all these benefits, it’s no wonder a lot of people are getting into the habit of drinking a glass (or more) a day. For variety, you might want to get a healthy smoothie recipe book, like “Sensational Smoothies: Drink You Way To Health Deliciously”.
Smoothies are best taken at breakfast – actually, it is a complete meal in itself already. With an ample supply of fruits and vegetables, prepare your ingredients before going to bed (so that it would be less of a hassle in the morning, when you’re preparing to go to work or school). Drink up in the morning and prepare for an energy-filled day.

If you are on the look out for amazing diet smoothie recipes, do check out “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously”. This amazing ebook contains over 180 smoothie recipes designed to keep you fit and happy. The recipes featured are kitchen tested and have been certified to taste as good as they are healthy.

Click here for more Sensational Smoothies

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Low Fat Smoothie Recipes for the Health Conscious You

Posted by on July 19, 2011 Leave a Comment

Low Fat Smoothie Recipes for the Health Conscious You

A lot of people are now becoming more conscious of staying and being healthy. They look for ways to improve their diet and incorporate exercise into their lifestyle. And since smoothies are so good, a lot of people are turning to smoothies and learning how to make smoothies that not only taste good but are healthy all around, too.

Smoothies fit a healthy lifestyle perfectly. It allows heath conscious people to enjoy a refreshing drink and lose weight at the same time. If you’re looking for a low-fat food source, it’s the perfect guilt-free treat. It’s also very easy and very convenient to prepare. All you need is a blender where you can mix and combine fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients. You can create recipes that provide you with an energy boost, add lots of fiber, provide your daily dose of minerals and vitamins and so much more.

Health conscious people will be happy to note that smoothies also provide these host of benefits:

  • You can add natural fruit juices that contain vitamin c; studies have also shown it to be beneficial and helpful in the prevention of certain cancers and other debilitating diseases or illnesses.
  • Smoothies made of fruits and vegetables boost your immune system and help speed up metabolism (at least, some fruit juices do)
  • Because fruits and vegetables are broken down, the nutrients are absorbed easily by the body.
  • Smoothies can replace meals and provide you with the energy you need to last the day. This is why smoothie breakfasts are perfect if you need to go to a workout, or before going to work.
  • Smoothies with fruits and vegetables can help correct your body’s acidity or alkalinity balance (since fruits have natural acids and enzymes)

Here are some tried-and-tested smoothies, perfect for the start of your healthy lifestyle:

  • Combine and blend the following ingredients: 1 cup of milk, 1 packet of instant plain oatmeal (or about 1 cup of it), 1 cup of orange juice, and 1 frozen chunked banana. Blend and process for about a minute. Serve immediately.
  • Blend 1 frozen banana (chilled or frozen fruits exude much more of the fruit’s natural sweetness – you don’t even have to put sugar or honey to sweeten your smoothie), ½ cup of low fat milk, ½ a cup of shredded ice, and 2 8-oz. of low-fat yogurt (you can choose your favorite flavor). Blend and serve immediately.
  • If you love apples, you should definitely try this: Blend 6 oz. cold apple juice, 1 cup skimmed milk, 8 oz. of vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt, 3 to 4 crushed ice cubes and a dash of apple pie spice (optional). This yields about 4 cups so it’s perfect for the whole family.
  • If you’re into soy products, then you’re going to love this: Blend 1 cup of soy milk, 1 frozen banana, 2 cups of pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons non-fat dry milk, 2 to 3 ice cubes, 1 tablespoon of coconut milk (or coconut essence/extract), and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. Blend until smooth, and as usual, serve immediately.

Having low-fat smoothies as part of your diet isn’t hard to assimilate. The key is variety – which you can easily achieve these days with books like “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously”. Reconcile yourself with the idea that smoothies – although sinfully delicious – are a great way to inject some healthiness in your diet.

If you are on the look out for amazing diet smoothie recipes, do check out “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously”. This amazing ebook contains over 180 smoothie recipes designed to keep you fit and happy. The recipes featured are kitchen tested and have been certified to taste as good as they are healthy. Learn more about it here:

Click here for  Sensational Smoothies

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Smoothies – Drink to Your Health

Posted by on July 19, 2011 Leave a Comment

Smoothies – Drink to Your Health

Smoothies ingredients vary, and with this variation, you have smoothies that may or may not meet your health goals. This is the reason why as smoothies surge in popularity, there are also a lot of people who claim that the health benefits touted by smoothies are a sham.

Recently, I’ve encountered some anti-smoothie people claiming that smoothies are the best example of media hype, allowing “hapless” people into believing that smoothies – of any kind — are always good for an individual. I don’t completely agree with them, but I can see where they are coming from.

The commercialization of smoothie hinges on the reputation of smoothies as the healthier alternatives to other beverages like colas and milkshakes. And some enterprising businesspeople have been loading up commercially made smoothies with ingredients designed to enhance the flavor without much thought to whether the health benefits can be maintained.

For example, the popular use of sugary syrups, milk chocolate, ice cream, and full cream milk in many commercial smoothie recipes may actually, in fact, make smoothies no different from the average sugary beverages you see on the supermarket shelves.

On the other extreme, you have drinks that are loaded with ingredients like acidophilus or ginseng, yogurt, protein powder, etc., which by themselves are good, but when combined together in a single smoothie recipe, it makes one wonder whether how well these concoctions are tolerated by our tummies or whether these claims could all be too good to be true.

Which brings us back to the question, are smoothies really, truly healthy?

My answer is, still, 100% yes. Smoothies can be healthy. And here’s how you can make sure that the cup of smoothie you are enjoying is really good for you:

  1. Make your own smoothies. When you make your own smoothies, you know exactly what you are putting into it and you can avoid ingredients that you are in doubt of. You can create smoothies that match your health goals, whatever they may be.
  2. When using fresh fruits and vegetables, try to use organic ingredients. This will make sure that your smoothies are free from chemical residues.
  3. Avoid adding sugar. Use fruits that are naturally sweet, or use natural sweeteners such as honey.
  4. When using milk as an ingredient, opt for low-fat milk or soy milk.
  5. Follow well-researched recipes so you don’t run the risk of messing up the portion sizes. For people who enjoy variety, a good recipe book such as “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously” is a gem.
  6. Share your concoctions! Seeing other people enjoy your smoothie creations is good for the soul.

Smoothies are good, but homemade smoothies are better! A little effort on your part will do wonders for your health. Let’s drink to that!

If you are on the look out for amazing diet smoothie recipes, do check out “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously”. This amazing ebook contains over 180 smoothie recipes designed to keep you fit and happy. The recipes featured are kitchen tested and have been certified to taste as good as they are healthy.

Click here for  Sensational Smoothies

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How To Make Smoothies A Daily Habit

Posted by on June 29, 2011 Leave a Comment

How To Make Smoothies A Daily Habit

Making smoothies a part of your daily habit is one of the best things you can do to keep yourself in shape. Smoothies are not only delicious and easy to prepare, they can also be very healthy and good for you. It’s one of the best ways to meet our daily recommended allowance of 5 fruits a day. And for people who are not too keen on eating vegetables, smoothies can be a way to get your fill of fiber from the greens without the leafy aftertaste.

It’s no surprise then that a lot of people are starting to pick up this habit. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, you are never too early or too late to get into smoothie drinking. Don’t worry if you’ve never made a smoothie in your life before now – it’s something even your 4 year-old niece can help you with.

If you are committed to becoming healthier, then making sure you succeed in this habit of drinking healthy smoothies is a goal you need to aim for. Forming a habit takes time. They say that you need to repeat an action for 28 days for it to sink in and truly become a habit for you. So to help you reach that goal, here are some tips on how you can make smoothies part of your daily routine.

  • You have to make a commitment and VERBALIZE it. The first step is to want it. You have to be committed to see it through. You have to believe that you can do it and that you can succeed. And just as important as being truly committed is your ability to verbalize that commitment to your family and friends. By sharing what you intend to do with people around you, you are creating a support network for yourself of people who can cheer you on and remind you (in your moments of doubt).
  • Set a schedule for your new habit. Are you going to make smoothies your breakfast? Or will it be an afternoon pick-me-upper? Will it be your reward to yourself after gym? Setting aside a certain time each day for your smoothie habit will make it easier for you to turn it into a habit. You are conditioning your mind to expect a glass of cool, creamy smoothie at a fixed time each day.
  • Reward yourself. Give yourself a reward for reaching your goal. This will make the habit even more pleasurable and will motivate you further to succeed.
  • Enjoy a variety of recipes. For a lot of people, variety is the key to success. Continuously discovering and enjoying new healthy smoothie recipes is important in keeping your interest in the habit. A recipe collection like “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously” is great to keep in handy so you always have a new recipe to look forward to.
  • Find a smoothie buddy. Forming a habit with a buddy makes the whole experience much more fun, and much more likely to succeed. Get your partner involved, or your friend. You can then keep tabs on how each other is doing, and even swap recipes from time to time.

If you don’t have your health, you have nothing. Make smoothies your daily habit and help yourself to a healthier you.

Click here for some Sensational Smoothies

 

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Kids Won’t Eat Their Fruits & Veggies? Try Homemade Smoothies

Posted by on June 29, 2011 Leave a Comment

Kids Won’t Eat Their Fruits And Veggies? Try Homemade Smoothies.

Homemade smoothies are becoming more and more popular among moms who would like their kids to snack on more fruits. It’s really a great way to get our daily recommended allowance of 5 servings of fruit a day. And with kids, it’s a fun way to teach them about various fruits and get them involved in the kitchen.

One of the nicest things about smoothies is that you use the entire fruit. Unlike fruit juices where you only benefit from the juice, with smoothies, you make use of the pulp as well. The pulp is a good source of fiber, which is responsible for the feeling of fullness you get when you drink a glass of smoothie. It also helps our body digest food and eliminate waste much more efficiently.

You can create homemade smoothies using a variety of healthy ingredients. Diary products like milk and yogurt are wonderful for creating creamy smoothies. Be sure to use low-fat milk or soy milk if you are concerned about the fat content of regular milk. Instead of sugar, you can use natural sweeteners like honey, which is healthier.

Using fruits in our smoothies is something we’re all familiar with. But did you know that you can also use vegetables when creating smoothies? That’s right – combining fruits and vegetables, when done right, can help you get your kids the vitamins and minerals they need from the leafy greens they always leave behind. You can use leafy greens like cabbages, orange vegetables like carrots, stalks of vegetables like celery and asparagus, and even flowerets like broccoli and cauliflower.

Homemade smoothies are also great to serve as a dessert. Chocolate is a popular ingredient when it comes to dessert smoothies – something I’m sure your kids will look forward to. Aside from using store-bought chocolate bars, you can also use cocoa powder for your dessert smoothies.

For the grown-ups, you can serve cocktail smoothies. Liqueurs like rum and gin works well with the sweeter tasting fruits. If you are feeling sluggish in the middle of the day, you could also perk up your smoothies by adding coffee.

There’s a lot of different ways you can serve your homemade smoothies. They can be as healthy or as indulgent as you want, depending on how you choose your ingredients. If you are tired of your usual smoothie recipes, then check out “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously”.

This collection of over 180 refreshing smoothie recipes will keep you hooked on this healthy habit. It contains fruit smoothie recipes, diet smoothie recipes, breakfast recipes and more. The recipes make use of ingredients that are commonly available, and the directions are so easy to follow. Best of all, the recipes are kitchen-tested, so you’re sure that each recipe will turn out to be sensationally delightful. Be sure to read more about it here:

Click here for more Sensational Smoothies
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The Benefits of a Smoothie

Posted by on June 8, 2011 Leave a Comment

What are the benefits of smoothies?

Having a healthy smoothie a day will increase your metabolism, give you energy, & will help your body digest many nutrients & give your body added fiber. If you set aside 15-25 minutes every morning to make a smoothie your health will improve. The fruits & vegetables that will help your body tremendously are blueberries, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits), kiwi fruit, grapes & spinach. Mixing & matching the fruits & vegetables listed above to your smoothie recipes will help you get tons of vitamins & antioxidants.

Click here for some Sensational Smoothies

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