The most popular question I get from Smoothie a Day subscribers is, “are smoothies always healthy?” The answer is NO. If you are new to smoothies and the green smoothie for weight loss movement, check out my starter guide which has tons of info and answers lots of questions.
Ever wonder what is in the smoothies that Burger King sells? Here are some of the interesting ingredients in their “Strawberry Banana Smoothie”: sugar syrup, natural flavors (wtf is this), Xanthan Gum, Pectin, Guar Gum and CMC Gum. Do any of those things sound healthy? Compare that to my strawberry banana smoothie which has: strawberry, banana, spinach and apple juice.
Here is a photo of a package of smoothies from Jamba Juice I found at Whole Foods. Even though the package says “all natural” which makes you think it is super healthy, they add sugar to the smoothie mixes. I just don’t understand why they have to add sugar. I am a guy who could eat an entire chocolate cake in my old life and I find the green smoothies I drink every morning are way sweet without adding any extra sugar.
Is it better to get a smoothie with added sugar versus a coke or pepsi? I’d say yes. Is it even better to get a smoothie with no added sugar and that uses fresh fruit and greens? Heck yes!
As I’ve noted lots of times here on LTF – the biggest key to weight loss and healthy living is to BE PREPARED. Take a few minutes and find the juice and smoothie bars in your town so that you can figure out which offer the best (and most cost efficient) options. Here in Austin, my favorites are Blenders & Bowls and JuiceLand.
As I note in the green smoothie faq guide, anytime you buy a smoothie outside the home, either in a package or at a juice bar, make sure to ask about the ingredients. It just takes a moment and will help you make the most healthy choices for your body and your life.
Check out some other groovy posts:
