Smoothies can be a great addition to a balanced diet, allowing you to get your 5-a-day with minimum effort. They’re healthier than juicing all of your fruit and veg because it’s important to have the pulp as well as the fruit, as this reduces the impact that the sugar has on your body, as well as adding much needed fibre to your diet. Using a wide variety of ingredients in smoothies is a good way to cover all of your vitamin and mineral needs, but we’ve got some suggestions for things you can add which will have a fantastic impact on your body.
Almonds
Almonds are the champion of the nut world, although few people know that they’re technically a seed! Just a quarter of a cup of raw almonds provides up to 40% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin E, which helps to maintain healthy skin, nails and eyes, as well as bolstering the immune system. They’re also packed with antioxidants which help to protect cells from damage. Using almond butter, which is available from good health food shops, makes it even easier to blend.
Bell peppers
It’s a little-known fact that bell peppers actually contain more vitamin c than oranges, and if you opt for a milder yellow pepper, you could add them to a fruity smoothie with very little impact on the taste. 100g of chopped bell pepper actually provides 134% of your daily vitamin c allowance and can help to maintain healthy cells, as well as maintaining healthy connective tissue and organs.
Edamame beans
Edamame beans are high in an amino acid called L-Lysine, an essential building block which help to fight off cold-sores. The body cannot produce L-Lysine by itself, so it must be found through dietary sources, which means that chucking a handful of edamame beans, which are high in Lysine, into your smoothie could greatly help in the fight against fever blisters.
Olive oil
Olive oil is high in what are considered to be “good” fats, which can be beneficial in a number of areas, including skin, hair, nails, eyes and even brain health, especially the battle with Alzheimer’s. It’s been associated with reducing the signs of aging, as well as preventing some cancers and heart disease. Adding a tablespoon of olive oil to your smoothies won’t affect the taste at all, but could give you a dose of something which is hugely beneficial to your whole body.
Green Tea
If you don’t mind watering your smoothies down a little, brew some green tea in a small cup of water and add once cooled. Green tea is another champion in that it’s good for a number of things. Green tea contains B vitamins, folates and other antioxidants which are alleged to aid weight loss, could help to lower cholesterol and has been linked with increased fat burning. It can even kill bacteria and improve your dental health! When applied topically, in addition to your sun block, it can also increase protection against UV rays, so save your tea bags once you’ve brewed up!