Smoothies are a great way to get more fruit and vegetables in your diet, but they can be too sweet for some people. That’s where the best liquids for smoothies come in! These fluids will help dilute the sugar content of your smoothie without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.
Liquids are an essential ingredient in smoothies because they help to turn the powders, seeds, nuts, and pieces of fruit into a drinkable meal. Watery ingredients, like ice cubes or fresh fruit juice, are also good for this purpose.
Best Liquids For Smoothies
1. Water
Of course, water is the simplest option available to you! However, some people are sensitive to the taste of tap water. If that’s the case for you, there are several options available.
Filtered or distilled water is best, but it can be difficult to find in stores. Tap water is not recommended because it contains fluoride and chlorine which may contaminate your smoothie. Bottled spring water will work if it tastes good enough for drinking on its own.
2. Coconut Water
Coconut water has become very popular for hydrating, electrolyte-balancing, and rehydrating the body after exercise. It is filled with nutrients like potassium, magnesium, sodium chloride , calcium, phosphorus, protein enzymes , amino acids , and vitamin B .
You can buy coconut water at many grocery stores but it’s also very easy to extract the liquid from fresh coconuts if you have one available! Just chop off the top of a green coconut (the white stuff inside isn’t edible), make a hole in the bottom with an ice pick or screwdriver. Then pour out the contents into a bowl or glass. You can use this water as-is or take advantage of its sweet flavor by adding it to your smoothies!
3. Juice
Juice can be delicious in a smoothie but many types of juice are full of added sugar or sweeteners that you might not want in your drink. This includes fruit juices, vegetable juices, and any other kind found at the store. Be sure to check the label before buying anything!
When making fresh juice for a smoothie, use vegetables like celery , cucumber , kale , spinach , carrots , parsley , cilantro , apples , pears or oranges . You may need to peel these fruits/vegetables because their skin is very tough. Just remember that peeling them reduces their nutritional content by removing beneficial vitamins and minerals ! It’s best to use organic produce (especially if you’re drinking the peel and skin) because pesticides and other harmful chemicals seep into the flesh of these fruits/vegetables.
4. Green Tea
Green tea is a great replacement for water if you want to add a little caffeine to your smoothie. It also contains catechins which have been shown in some studies to help reduce weight when combined with exercise.
Unlike black tea, green tea does not contain tannins. Tannins are toxic compounds found in many types of plants and they can contribute to several health conditions like heartburn stomach ache , and constipation
So choose green tea over black if you’re going to drink your meal in liquid form! Just be sure not to add any sugar or sweetener because it will cancel out the benefit of drinking something healthy .
5. Matcha
Matcha is a type of powdered green tea that has been shown to be effective in weight loss and muscle building . Matcha contains more caffeine than brewed green tea because the entire leaf is consumed during its production.
You can add matcha to make your smoothies even healthier by boosting their metabolism, increasing their energy levels , and making their taste richer! Be careful though, you only need about 1/2 tsp for an 8 oz smoothie . Anything more will increase the caffeine content without adding additional benefits.
6. Honey
Honey is a simple sugar that contains fructose and glucose. Honey also has many minerals, enzymes , antioxidants , and amino acids . So it can be good for your health when consumed in moderation !
Honey should only be used as a sweetener if you are eating or drinking something raw since the heating process will damage all of its nutritional content. This means that honey isn’t good to consume with hot tea, coffee, or other cooked drinks! Never give anything made with honey to infants under one year old because their digestive system cannot properly deal with it and they might get sick (or even die).
7. Almond Milk
Almond milk is a great replacement for regular dairy milk. It doesn’t contain lactose or casein which can be irritating to those who are sensitive or allergic . Almond milk is high in vitamin E , calcium, and iron but it does not contain as much protein as dairy (or soy) milk.
A lot of almond milks at the store will contain added sugar so always read the label before buying anything! If you don’t want any extra sugar in your drink then use homemade almond milk – you can easily make this yourself by soaking almonds overnight and blending them with water !
8. Rice Milk
Rice milk has many vitamins that other kinds of milk don’t have, including B vitamins that are important for brain health .
Be sure to check the label before buying rice milk because some brands have added sugar in order to make their drink taste better. There are also many kinds of rice milk on the market so you might want to experiment with different kinds until you find one that tastes good!
9. Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is high in lauric acid which improves cholesterol levels and protects the heart .
It’s important to know that not all coconut milks are vegan since some of them contain carageenan (a plant extract) or other added ingredients like guar gum , locust bean gum , etc. Homemade coconut milk is usually vegan but if you buy it at the store be sure to read the label before buying!
10. Soy Milk
Soy milk is a great replacement for those who can’t drink dairy milk. It contains some amount of vitamins and minerals as well as protein , but since it does contain some estrogen it might not be the best choice if you’re trying to lose weight .
Be careful what sweetener you use with soy milk because some brands have added sugar or sweeteners that aren’t good for your health! If you want to cut out extra sugar then pick unsweetened soy milk and add your own sweetener if needed. I personally recommend stevia since it doesn’t have any calories and won’t contribute to tooth decay .
Related Post: Best Nuts For Smoothies
Best Liquids For Smoothies – Final Thoughts
Not all liquids for smoothies are good for your health, some add extra sugars or other additives that aren’t good for you while others don’t work well with the protein powder and fruit in a typical smoothie.
The best liquids to use with a smoothie will make it healthier and easier on anyone who has digestive problems!
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