Intro to Nutrients in Smoothies
Everyone is aware that it is essential to have a wide range of fruit and veg in your diet. Smoothies are a fantastic way of getting a whole mix of different fruits and nutrients in one sitting. But why?
Freshly made smoothies are blended using whole fruits, so they contain fibre in addition to all the lovely vitamins and minerals. Fibre is essential for a healthy digestive system and regular visits to the toilet. Better out than in as they say.
Dark fruits such as berries and cherries contain vital antioxidants and boosts immune systems. They even improve brain power.
Studies conducted by Dr Jeremy Spencer of Reading University showed that those who drank a blueberry smoothie in the morning were better at concentrating later in the day than those who hadn’t. Performance in tests fell by 15-20% after five hours by those who hadn’t drank a smoothie. It is believed that the antioxidants stimulate the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain – and keep the mind fresh.
Smoothies can also be made with ingredients such as oats, which are low GI, reducing spikes in blood sugar levels. The sugar produced from fresh made smoothies is natural fructose. This is slower releasing than other sugar or sweetener based drinks. This provides greater nutritional benefit and helps with levels of concentration and therefore behaviour, avoiding a ‘crash and burn’ later in the day.
Not all smoothies are created equal though. Some pre-made off the shelf smoothie drinks can contain other elements such as added sugar or additives/flavourings. This is certainly something to look out for, especially if they are marketed as a ‘healthy drink’. Making the smoothies fresh to order means they are free from any additional processing.
Yours smoothily,
Phil Benson