Fitness Nutrition Forums

4 Pros and 4 Cons When It Comes to Smoothies

Drinking a smoothie is a great source of calcium but also fruit, so what could possibly be the con of doing this? Well, unless you’re making these smoothies yourself or checking the nutritional value of the prepackaged smoothies carefully, you may find that these drinks are not as healthy for you as you initially thought because they can be packed with sugar or chemically altered ingredients.

Below are some pros and some cons when it comes to drinking smoothies.

Pros

They are packed with nutrients.

Natural smoothies are usually rich in nutrients, but also dietary fat -- which your body burns for energy and can help the body absorb the vitamins.

They are a great way to stay hydrated.

One of the best things about smoothies is that they can keep you hydrated, and are usually made with dairies like milk or yogurt, and water.

They help you not skip meals.

For many of us, we don’t have time to make a big breakfast in the morning, but smoothies are a quick and easy meal for on the go. If they are made with dairy they usually contain calcium, but also vitamins from the fruit and/or vegetables (it’s also a great way to get your daily allowance of fruit and veg).

It can help control weight.

Drinking smoothies can help aid weight loss, and there are a number of diets that recommend replacing a meal with a liquid drink. Plus, they are easier to digest.

Cons

Don’t only eat fruits and veg in smoothie form.

Don’t let the only form of fruit and vegetables that you’re ingesting be through smoothies, as this can also limit the variety in your diet.

They should not always be a meal replacement.

While smoothies are great for when you’re on the go, they should not be all you’re consuming. Some smoothies are also not as filling as a regular meal.

Bought smoothies can have a lot of extra ingredients.

By making smoothies yourself you know exactly what is being put into them, but with pre-packaged smoothies, you could be getting a lot of unwanted things like sugar and unhealthy sweeteners (which you would not want to consume regularly). You also cannot be sure what dairy was used in the smoothie making process, and if was non-organic pasteurized milk it could potentially contain antibiotics and hormones.

Commercial smoothies can also be calorie dense.

You are not chewing.

Chewing starts your digestive process, and if you’re not chewing then you are not releasing the enzymes that your body needs for digestion -- this could leave you less full than a regular meal.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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