Are Smoothies Actually Healthy?

The simple answer to this question is - it depends. Some smoothies can be classed as healthy, but it all depends on the ingredients used, the overall nutritional composition and how they have been prepared. 

For example, if a smoothie is primarily made from whole, fresh ingredients, it can provide you with essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre that are super beneficial for your overall health and can support things like digestion, improved immunity, and other bodily functions. Fruit smoothies can also provide you with a healthy energy hit to help control your mid-day cravings and aiding weight loss. 

That being said, you must be mindful of the extra ingredients that might have been added to the smoothie. Some smoothies contain added sugars, syrups, or sweetened fruit juices, which can all increase the amount of calories in the smoothie and it therefore may not be as healthy as you initially think. There are also other things that can influence the ‘healthiness’ of a smoothie, such as portion size and the frequency in which you consume them. 

So, if you’re a smoothie lover looking for ways to make them a little bit more ‘guilt-free’, here are our top 4 tips. 

How to Make Smoothies Healthier

Here are 4 ways you can make smoothies healthier:

1. Include protein & healthy fats
2. Avoid adding sweeteners
3. Be mindful of portion size
4. Opt for fresh ingredients

1. Include Protein & Healthy Fats

One way you can make your smoothie healthier is to include additional protein and healthy fats.

Protein is an important nutrient your body needs to grow and repair cells, so by adding sources of protein into your smoothies, you are helping your body grow muscle and ultimately work properly. Protein comes from a number of different sources, but some of the most natural sources for smoothies are greek yoghurt or nut butter. If you add 6 ounces of plain low-fat Greek yoghurt to your smoothie, you're only adding 90 calories and a whopping 17 grams of protein to your beverage. For convenience, you might also add a scoop of protein powder, which usually consists of 20g protein per scoop. A quick and easy way to make your smoothie more balanced & macro-packed. 

As well as protein, adding healthy fats can also increase the nutritional value of your smoothie. One of the best healthy fats you could add would probably be avocado, as not only is it a creamy fruit, but it is great for weight loss due to its high fibre content & leaves you feeling fuller for longer. What’s more, it will make your smoothie creamier without loading it with sugary ingredients packed with empty calories.

Another good tip is to chuck in some seeds. Adding these into your smoothie will naturally increase the fibre and protein content of your drink. Opt for things like flax seeds, hemp seeds and chia seeds.

2. Avoid Adding Sweeteners

Another way you can make your smoothie healthier is to avoid adding any extra sweeteners such as sugar or syrup etc. as these are empty calories that will quickly increase the calorie content of your smoothie without adding any nutritional value. 

Instead, there are a number of ways you can sweeten a smoothie without adding these sugars. Adding things like spices are a great way to keep your smoothies sweet while also ensuring they are healthy, as some spices provide additional health benefits, such as cinnamon and ginger.

Adding vanilla drops or almond extract is another effective way to add sweetness and flavour to a smoothie without sugar.

3. Be Mindful of Portion Size

Controlling your portion size is another way you can make your smoothie healthier. Although fresh fruit is a healthy smoothie ingredient, you can actually get too much of a good thing - in the form of calories and carbs. So, If you’re making a smoothie at home, the general rule of thumb is to stick to around 1 cup of fruit per smoothie. 

If buying a smoothie from a cafe or store, they usually offer a range of different beverage sizes. Why not opt for the small to medium option? This way you’re not only limiting the amount of sugar and calories in your smoothie, you’re also saving the pennies too! 

4. Opt for Fresh Ingredients

One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re getting the most nutrition out of your smoothie is to only opt for fresh whole ingredients, such as fruit and vegetables. Here are some of the most tasty & nutritional fruits and vegetables you should consider putting in a smoothie:

• Spinach
• Kale 
• Avocado
• beetroot
• Bananas
• Strawberries 
• Raspberries
• Mango
• Kiwi

At Bubblebase, we serve a range of fruit smoothies on our extensive menu, from ‘Raspberry Heaven’ to ‘Passion Fruit Punch’.

If you feel like trying our delicious smoothies (or any other tasty beverage for that matter), be sure to visit us in store or pre-order from the Bubblebase app.  Alternatively, if you’re craving a refreshing smoothie at home, order from one of our delivery partners to get it delivered straight to your door. 

What Are the Health Benefits of Fruit smoothies?

There are a number of health benefits from drinking fruit smoothies. from aiding weight loss to boosting brain power.

• Weight Loss - Fresh fruits and vegetables are the foundation of any diet, and this is where smoothies deliver. Try smoothies made with 50% veggies and 50% fruits to keep calories low and flavour high.

• Digestion - A healthy fruit smoothie can do wonders for your digestive system as they are made with whole produce, which contain a bunch of fibre- one of the most important players in digestive health. Smoothies also have the added benefit of being a liquid state, meaning it will take less effort to digest.

• Improved immunity - Fruit and vegetables are also natural immunity boosters, specifically those high in nutrients like Vitamins A and C. A smoothie that contains fruits such as oranges, strawberries, and pineapple will give your immune system a nice boost.

• Brain power - Antioxidants and natural sugars found in fruits like pomegranates and blueberries are fantastic for sharpening mental focus, and have in fact proposed as combaters against neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and dementia. 

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We are Bubblebase: Wales’ first Bubble Tea Bar. We believe in using the best quality ingredients to consistently serve our customers with a delicious range of drinks that have not only been created with utmost care, but also with the sharpest appearance.

‍Order online with our exclusive Bubblebase app and earn 9 stamps free when you register! Or place your order through our delivery partners and get Bubblebase delivered right to your doorstep.