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What Is a Fruit Smoothie Diet?

Cindy Quarters
Cindy Quarters

A fruit smoothie diet is an eating plan that features fruit smoothies as the main focus, using the shake-like drinks as a way to satisfy hunger while cutting out calories. There are many such diets to choose from, and while they all have much in common, there are also some basic differences. For example, one fruit smoothie diet may recommend consuming fruit smoothies with every meal, helping the dieter to feel full, while another suggests that the drink be used to replace one or two meals each day, drastically reducing the amount of calories consumed.

One of the more appealing aspects of a fruit smoothie diet for many people is that it gives them the ability to create each fruit smoothie from a wide variety of natural fruits. This can help to eliminate diet boredom since one drink can be made of fresh strawberries while the next may contain papaya and mango. The possible combinations are almost endless, offering the adventuresome a chance to experiment with favorite flavors, while those who like consistency can keep things simple and stick with one or two kinds of fruit.

Various types of fruit in a grocery store.
Various types of fruit in a grocery store.

Some people make the mistake of adding too many extras when preparing meals on the fruit smoothie diet. Sweeteners can add a lot of calories, and some dieters add honey or molasses, mistakenly thinking those are acceptable because they are natural ingredients. Experienced dieters suggest that anyone wishing to succeed on a fruit smoothie diet should use plain, unsweetened yogurt, juice, fresh or frozen fruit, and skim milk.

A strawberry smoothie.
A strawberry smoothie.

It is possible to follow a fruit smoothie diet and still add other ingredients to the smoothie recipe if those ingredients are chosen carefully; these additional items should be low calorie, which means that for the most part there should not be any added sugar, either processed or unprocessed. It can, however, help to add ingredients that add bulk to the smoothie, as these can make the drink more filling and keep the dieter feeling satisfied longer. Bran, flax, and high fiber vegetables can all be blended in without adding too much to the overall calorie count and without detracting from the fruit flavor of the drink. Advocates of a fruit smoothie diet claim that drinking smoothies that are properly made helps to ensure that dieters are getting essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Adding other ingredients, particularly a protein powder such as unsweetened whey, can provide additional benefits for the dieter, helping to build lean muscle while cutting down on fat.

Discussion Comments

RoyalSpyder

Does anyone know a good place where I can go and get a smoothie? In reference to a lot of the fast food places, their smoothies aren't particularly "natural" and seem to be made from a generic mix of sorts. I've heard that Jamba Juice is pretty good, though I need some opinions.

One another note, I really agree with the article when it says that we often add too many sweeteners to our smoothies. While there's nothing wrong with adding an extra supplement, we should always make sure not to overdue it, especially if we're trying to make the smoothies as natural as possible.

Hazali

@Viranty - I would definitely say that's the case for some foods (such as broccoli and spinach), but I don't think blending fruit up causes it to lose its nutrients. Besides, if you're worried about that, you can always add substitutes, such as protein powder and milk. Not only are they great and essential additions, but even more so, they can make up for whatever is lacking in the (blended) fruit.

Viranty

Although a fruit smoothie diet can be very healthy, whenever someone turns over to that lifestyle, aren't there also possibilities of health risks? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard that blending food up can cause it to lose its nutrients. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but can someone fill me in with some more info?

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    • Various types of fruit in a grocery store.
      By: Andrey Milkin
      Various types of fruit in a grocery store.
    • A strawberry smoothie.
      By: matka_Wariatka
      A strawberry smoothie.
    • Glasses of skim milk, which can be used to make fruit smoothies.
      By: chris32m
      Glasses of skim milk, which can be used to make fruit smoothies.
    • Protein powder, which is added to fruit smoothies.
      By: lculig
      Protein powder, which is added to fruit smoothies.
    • For convenience sake, it's necessary to buy a blender before embarking on a fruit smoothie diet.
      By: popoimagen
      For convenience sake, it's necessary to buy a blender before embarking on a fruit smoothie diet.
    • Smoothies are created using a variety of fruits, juices, and ice.
      By: Anyka
      Smoothies are created using a variety of fruits, juices, and ice.
    • Spinach can be used to make healthy, green smoothies.
      By: tashka2000
      Spinach can be used to make healthy, green smoothies.
    • Banana smoothies are popular.
      By: Tim UR
      Banana smoothies are popular.