By Jovia A. D'Souza
After any festive season, we are high on the guilt trip. Seeing the number of pounds you've added, you vow to strictly abstain from the high-fat, high-sugar and high-sodium foods you gorged on.
Cutting back on calories is the only way you can probably shed some of the fat. But then, dieting is not everyone's cup of tea. The hunger pangs tempt you back to the plate. Smoothies are the answer to keep your tummy full, at the same time keep your weight in check.
Did we see you wrinkle your nose?
Smoothies for weight loss need not be bland and boring. Prepared well, with the right mix of ingredients, you can churn out some of the most delicious and healthy smoothies.
Best Smoothie Ingredients
1. Leafy greens - Spinach, lettuce, kale, green endive
Adding leafy greens makes your drink a real nutritional powerhouse. They provide the body weight amino acids, needed to synthesize proteins. They also supply Vitamins (A & C) and minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium that regulate metabolism. You also get the benefit of Omega 3 fatty acids.
2. Fruits
Fruits bring flavor to your weight loss smoothies. Fruits also have tons of fiber; just the ingredient you need if you are serious about losing weight. Load your glass with blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries, bananas, mangoes, pineapples and peaches. The high fiber content of fruits prevents mindless snacking.
Avocado is another ingredient to drop in. They supply ample monounsaturated fats (healthy fats) necessary to keep your metabolism chugging. They also make for a creamy smoothie.
3. Honey
Honey is good substitute for sugar. It is sweeter than sugar, but lower in calories. The antioxidants it contains also make it beneficial for general health.
4. Protein
If you are talking weight loss smoothies, you cannot miss out protein. It keeps weight gain in check by slowing down digestion. You can get your daily intake of protein by adding low-fat milk or Greek yoghurt. For Greek yoghurt, settle for the plain variety rather than favored as the latter contains artificial sweeteners. Soy products and nuts also add protein to your smoothie glass.
5. Flaxmeal and chia seeds -
They are an abundant source of fiber and protein. Added to your smoothie, they keep you satiated for longer. They are as good as tasteless, and therefore, don't really affect the taste of your smoothie.
How to have your weight loss smoothie?
� Commercially available smoothies are a real time saver. But they might not be as effective for weight loss because of the ingredients such as high fat milk and sugars. Homemade smoothies are your best bet. However, if you must get them from out, do inquire about the ingredients.
� You cannot expect to lose weight by drinking smoothies alone. It must be coupled with healthy lifestyle habits and regular exercise for the best results.
� Morning is the ideal time to have a smoothie for weight loss. It fires up your metabolism. The high fiber and protein content also tricks your brain into believing you are full, reducing hunger cravings throughout the day.
� Any kind of smoothie tastes good immediately after blending. Allowing it to stand for long causes it to lose its flavor.
Smoothies are easily portable. That's an advantage of including them in your weight loss diet plan. They are also easy on the stomach. They are not a quick-fix or weight loss, but definitely make a healthy step towards sustained weight loss.
If you are thinking of incorporating smoothies in your weight loss program, you can consider the Red Detox Diet Program. The smoothie diet plan advocates the use of red smoothies to shed the pounds instead of the traditional green smoothies.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jovia_A._D'Souza/1830188
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