ATTENTION SMOOTHIE ADDICTS!!

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Are you a smoothie chewer or a smoothie slurper?……I am most definitely guilty of what I am about to tell you! When done correctly, smoothies can serve as an excellent breakfast or pre/post workout mini-meal. Unlike juice, smoothies retain the fiber from fruits and veggies. However, there is a bit of smoothie abuse going on, and I want to throw a little attention on that!

Ideally you want to use significantly more veggies than fruits in your smoothie, and whenever possible, choosing spray free or organic. Fruits add antioxidants, texture, and flavor, but use no more than one whole piece of fruit or 2 half pieces (ie: 1/2 frozen banana and 1/2 green apple OR 1 whole banana). Any more fruit then that, and you’re getting too much sugar and possibly spiking your blood sugar (something we aim to prevent in the natural bird lifestyle). Berries are lower in sugar, citrus adds great flavor, and bananas or avocados up the creaminess factor! We watch the TV adverts showing us how many fruits we can blitz in our magic bullet, but if your trying to loose weight this is just adding fuel to your fire!

To chew or not to chew?

This is also where I let myself down, it’s important to recognise that drinking (green smoothies) means that you’re mindlessly slurping down your breakfast. You’re not signaling your body to release the proper digestive enzymes, and your mind/body isn’t fully registering that this smoothie is your actual meal! This may sounds weird, but try to “chew” your smoothie to aid in digestion. Whether you’re having a smoothie or something else, being mindful during meal times will help satisfy your hunger and improve your digestion.

It is also important to note how you FEEL feel after drinking a smoothie. Does it fill you up and keep you satisfied and energised until your next meal? Do You feel bloated, If so, then smoothies are probably not the best choice for you, or maybe you have put to much fruit in your smoothie. Dairy can also contribute to bloating, so use an alternative like almond milk. Additionally, while it’s good to make sure that your smoothie has enough in it to serve as a meal, it’s also easy to go overboard without even realising it (adding in a little of this, a little of that, a little of this…can really add up, especially if you are using up fruit)

To recap…….consider drinking smoothies if they make you feel good and don’t leave you hungry or on the road to a sugar crash. If you feel bloated after a smoothie, it may well be too much fructose (fruit sugar) for you tummy to digest!

If you love smoothies then take a moment to slowly chew each mouthful before you swallow and your tummy will love you for it!

Meet Justine
Warm7

I’m Justine Laidlaw – Colon Cancer Survivor, Integrative Cancer Coach, Life Coach, Dr. Kelly Turners RADICAL REMISSION workshop facilitator and Thermography Breast Screening technician (Godfrey Integrative Medical Clinic) based in the beautiful Bay of Plenty town of Tauranga in New Zealand. Read More

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