5 Ways Smoothies Are Hijacking Your Health Goals
If you're trying to be healthier this year, you're likely to look into switching to smoothies, and it's easy to see why. The nutrient-packed drinks are typically loaded with fresh or frozen fruits and veggies. Still, there may be some ways you are sabotaging those health goals. A smoothie with the wrong ingredients may prove more detrimental than helpful in the journey to better health.
Low Quality Protein
Anyone who is trying to bulk up knows that protein powder is a definite way to get results, and many use protein powders in place of regular meals. Smoothies are one way that meals can be replaced with a protein-filled drink, but it's important to make sure that the protein powder you're using is of good quality and contains nutrients.
"While this is common, most protein powders do not contain other vital nutrients required in a balanced meal," says Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements. Anyone living with kidney disease should speak with their healthcare provider before adding protein powders to their diet.
Not Including Vegetables
Smoothies are a good way to get servings of fruit in, but it's also important to include vegetables. As opposed to fruit, vegetables have much less natural sugar in them, according to Dr. Rand McClain, the chief medical officer of lcrhealth.com.
"If by 'smoothie' we could change the parameters to include vegetables, [with] much less sugar, rather than fruits, then smoothies would be a healthier option," McClain says.
Excess Sugar
Smoothies are filled with fruit, which is a good thing. But like other good things in life, sometimes you can have a little bit too much of it. Fruits are loaded in natural sugars, so when people load up on fruits in their smoothies they can be consuming a large amount of sugar in just one serving of the drink.
"When you use mostly fruit in your smoothie, especially high sugar fruits like mango or pineapple, the sugar quickly adds up," says Jessica Meyers, a licensed physician assistant, and functional health consultant. "Blood sugar spikes, like from a fruit-heavy smoothie are linked to inflammation, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hormonal problems, and more. Instead, opt for berries for a touch of sweetness with a much lower sugar content."
Insufficient Protein
A big focus of smoothies is having the right amount of fruit in them, and which fruits to include. But according to nutrition specialist Dr. Uma Naidoo, it's also important to remember to include a source of protein as well.
"The ideal smoothie to balance blood sugar levels, gently detox the body, aid the digestive system, build immunity, balance hormones, and give you sustained physical and mental energy has to include a combination of protein (which helps muscles), fiber (which feeds your gut bacteria), healthy fats (which are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties) and folate found in leafy greens (which deliver loads of vitamins and antioxidants for optimal health)," Naidoo says.
She added that the combination "will ease inflammation and give you prolonged energy along with a feeling of satiety and satisfaction for hours."
Adding Excess Fruit Juice
It's important to make sure you have a sufficient amount of liquid in each smoothie so the whole thing doesn't end up as a big clump of pureed frozen fruit, but where people make unhealthy mistakes when putting together a smoothie is by choosing the wrong liquid to add in to it. Stephanie Mantilla, a plant-based nutritionist and the founder of Plant Prosperous, says one of the worst additions to smoothies is fruit juice.
"Where people get into trouble is when they start adding fruit juices to their smoothies," Mantilla says. "Fruit juice doesn't have the fiber that whole produce has. The fiber is what keeps you from getting a sugar rush. By drinking a lot of fruit juice, studies have shown that you have an increase in the risk of diabetes."
