More people are discovering the healthy benefits of freshly made juices and smoothies every day. They have realized how healthy diet can have a positive impact on our health and our general well being. And there is even more. Freshly made juices and smoothies retain the highest level of nutrients, which the body can digest readily. Raw juices and smoothies drunk on an empty stomach are absorbed into bloodstream within 15 minutes.
So what is a fruit smoothie?
The fruit smoothie is a blend of fruit, the whole fruit and nothing but the fruit. No additives, or preservatives, just a fruit. The fruits that you use in your smoothie will have a massive impact on the flavor of your drink and its quality too. Remember, the drink that comes out of your juicer or blender will only be as good as the ingredients that you put in. Try to shop with this in mind. If you’re making a healthy smoothie it makes sense to avoid fresh produce that is likely to have been sprayed with pesticides. If you’re going to take the time to make your own drink, make it as good quality as they possibly can be.
Processed soft drinks often contain 90 percent water, a huge hit of sugar and/or sweeteners and chemicals to add flavor. “Pure” juices and smoothies are frequently reconstituted concentrates that have been heat treated to prolong shelf life, which means they provide very few nutrients. Even “freshly squeezed” juices and smoothies have been kept on the shelf for several hours (if not days) and they are less nutritionally valuable than freshly prepared juices and smoothies because many vitamins lose potency when exposed to light, heat and air. Only freshly made juices and smoothies retain the highest level of nutrients.
Fresh juices and smoothies are also abundant in enzymes responsible for the digestion and absorption of food into the body, ensuring optimal metabolism and high energy levels. Cooking fruit and vegetables destroys these enzymes, whereas juicing and blending releases them and allows the body to utilize them easily. Another important health benefit is that juices and smoothies are generally low in fat and many of them are completely fat free.
It is also true that much of the beauty comes from within, so it is as important to cleanse the inside of your body as it is the outside. Many of the nutrients found in the fruit and vegetables help to rid the body of toxins, which in turns lead to cleaner, brighter skin and fewer pimples. Getting a nutrient rich diet from regularly drinking juices and smoothies will also give you healthy hair and nails, naturally. Stress, ill health and lack of sleep will eventually take their toll on appearance and that is why juices and smoothies banishing stress and boost immunity are so beneficial. Finally, you can watch the pounds disappear if you opt for low calorie, fat burning juices and smoothies.
