Shake It Up: The Benefits of Breakfast Smoothies

fruits
October 17, 2012 8:00 am By Kay Konnect
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Tired of eating complex and hearty breakfast foods? Try shaking up your routine with cool and fruity smoothies! Did you know drinking the “healthy stuff” has lifelong benefits? See what Livestrong.com has to say about your morning favorite fruits!

According to Livestrong.com

BENEFITS
Shakes can be a good way to get the recommended five servings of fruits you need every day. In addition, the liquid calories of shakes and smoothies are easily digestible, making them a good quick meal before a morning workout, according to the Mayo Clinic. Finally, if you include sources of protein and fiber, you can create a filling shake that still contains few calories. Substitute a healthy shake for your normal breakfast, and you can cut out some of your daily calories, helping you lose more weight.

SOURCES
A good morning shake should include fruit, protein and fiber. In one shake, you can get several servings of fruit which provide you with the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. If you are exercising as a part of your weight loss plan, then you also need to consume enough protein to repair your muscles. You can add protein with powdered supplements, low-fat dairy or silk tofu. Finally, fiber will keep you full longer on fewer calories. You can add fiber through wheat germ, whole oats or a supplement.

GENERAL GUIDELINES
To make a breakfast shake, you need several simple supplies: a good blender that can chop ice, a few ice cubes, your choice of fruit and protein, a fiber source, and liquid. When choosing a protein source, make sure it is low-fat. You need some kind of liquid, such as water, milk, yogurt or 100 percent fruit juice to enable your shake to blend well.

Source: Livestrong
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