Tips for making healthy Smoothie

TIPS FOR MAKING A HEALTHY SMOOTHIE

Its always advisable to take a balanced diet for the stronger body and soul, and its never too late to make healthy choices. 

One of the best choice anyone can make in their lifestyle is to add a smoothie in their diet. Smoothies are the best way to consume fruits and vegetables. Here are few tips to make your smoothie more healthier.

• Non- diary milk : Many are preferring plant based  milk instead of regular milk in their smoothies like oat milk, almond milk etc. Instead of getting store brought milks, as they are pricey and come in plastic bottles we can make the milk at home.

We can make almond milk just by soaking handful of almonds 4-5 hours, you can remove the skins or you can blend whole almonds, add water and dates for the sweetness. Now blend it all and almond milk is ready, to this milk add the fruits of your choice. Similarly oat milk can also be prepared just by adding oats and water to the blender. 

• Ditch the sugars : Lets try hard not to add any kind of sweeteners to the smoothies instead add some dates to make the smoothie taste sweet. As dates are packed with disease fighting antioxidants and most importantly dates are excellent  natural sweetener. 

• Healthy fats: Many think that fats are bad to our body but healthy fats helps in promoting normal functioning of brain and nervous system. Hence healthy fats should be included in the diet. The best way is to add avocado to the smoothies. Avocado also gives the creamy texture the the smoothie. Flax seeds and chia seeds are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Garnish the smoothies with the ground flax seeds and chia seeds. 

• Adding greens: Smoothies need not necessarily be made of fruits. Certain vegetables can also be added for the additional fiber and vitamins. If smoothie is taken as a meal replacer then its always advisable to add veggies to the smoothies. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, swiss chard, celery etc. Other vegetables like carrots, beetroot, zucchini, cauliflower can also be added to the smoothie.  ***pro tip: chop your greens and freeze them. use them whenever needed in the smoothie.  

• Immune boosters: Certain immune booster foods like turmeric, ginger, limes/lemons (skin peeled) can also be added to the smoothies for immunity and better health. 

• Protein rich: If you want a smoothie as a meal replacer then smoothie should have necessary protein rich foods in them. Some protein rich foods that can be added to the smoothies are flax seeds, hemp hearts, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, nut butters like peanut butter, pecans walnuts ,almonds, oats etc. 

Garnish the smoothie with sunflower / pumpkin seeds and chopped walnuts and pecans.

• Fiber:  As smoothies are loaded with whole fruits and vegetables, they are not only packed with necessary nutrients like vitamins and minerals, but also packed with fiber. Fiber helps to stay fuller for longer. Helps control blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol levels. Lack of sufficient fiber causes Constipation. 
• Anti-oxidants: Antioxidants are the substances that can prevent or slow the damage to cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are waste substances produced by cells as the body processes foods and environmental pollutants. Plant based foods are the best sources, Berries (Strawberries, blue berries, raspberries, black berries) are the best sources. 

• smoothies are the best way to take your protein or collagen powders in the diet. ** tip: kindly check with your doctors regarding the quantity before start using them.