We all know that juicing is all the rage. Here in LA you can't walk more than a few blocks without coming across a juice bar! Celebrities swear by juice cleanses when it comes to detoxifying, but smoothies are also a really great way to make sure that you're getting your 6 servings of fruit and veggies a day in an easy way. As a matter of fact, I'd argue that smoothies are actually BETTER for you! Why? Read on to find out…
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Juicing is great if you are looking for a way to detox or if you are fighting a cold or infection because it's like a mainline of nutrients right into your blood stream from an all-natural source. So, if it's a detox you're looking for, definitely go for juices. But if your looking to lose weight, or just wanting to pack more fruits and veggies into your every day diet, you should really be drinking smoothies.
Smoothies break down fruits and veggies while still retaining a good amount of the fiber that we need to really make our digestive track work. That's why they are so much better for weight loss than juicing. As a matter of fact, if you're not careful with the juicer, you can wind up consuming a whole lot of sugar along with those veggies. That's because juicing extracts only the juice from the veggies and fruits you are using, leaving behind all the nutritional goodness included in the pulp and skin.
You can also include way more ingredients in smoothies. I've added everything from chia and flax seeds to nuts, protein powders and cacao to my smoothies. Try doing THAT with a juicer. It also gives you a chance to up your daily calcium intake, which is SUPER important for us chicas since so many of us don't get enough calcium in our daily diets. Try adding (my favorite) Silk Almondmilk or other kinds of dairy for an extra boost of calcium.
Since I'm pregnant, I've found that smoothies are a godsend. On days I'm nauseous or just feel a general aversion to any and all food, I can always count on smoothies to help me make sure that the baby and I are getting all the nutrients we need. It's actually one of the most reliable ways to make sure you're taking good care of yourself while pregnant.
Here are five pointers to keep in mind when whipping up a smoothie:
1. Don't go nuts with too many ingredients: Stick to 2-6 ingredients tops to make sure your smoothie is tasty and not too tough to digest
2. Stay away from starchy veggies and fruit. Beets are perfect for juicing, but a bit tougher to really break down in a blender. Same goes for sweet potatoes! Carrots can be conquered but only if you…
3. Invest in a high-speed, high quality blender. This will increase the amount of oxygen in your smoothies, not to mention save you tons of time. If you're really committed to making this a part of your everyday lifestyle, the larger investment will definitely pay off in the end.
4. Don't add TOO many fruits. They are delicious and nutritious, but don't forget they have lots of naturally occurring sugar. Stick to one or two fruits max and then pile on the veggies.
5. Don't forget to add protein with some nuts or yogurt, and calcium with Silk Almondmilk!
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