Fruit Smoothies - A Natural Source of Energy
Fruits are a natural source of energy, vitamins and health-protecting antioxidants. Antioxidants help to keep our blood clean from bacteria, pollutants and harmful substances. They are a vital part of our health. Due to all the vital vitamins and anti-oxidants fruit contain, adding fruits to your general diet as well as with drinks and smoothies, may help to boost energy levels and may help to support your bod's ability to combat toxins.
Why Fruits are considered Good for you
Firstly, fruits are some of the most colourful plants in the world. Why? Because they contain special plant compounds or plant chemicals that help to give them their rich oranges, reds, greens and yellows. These plant substances are called Bioflavonoids.
Antioxidants - What are anti oxidants ?
Most fruits are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are dietary substances that are beneficial to our health, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E, Beta-carotene (a fat soluble plant substance that is responsible for giving carrots, pumpkin, oranges and sweet potatoes their orange/red colour) and Selenium (a trace mineral found in many salt water and fresh fish, eggs and brazil nuts).
Antioxidants helps to remove toxins from the body and clean it from harmful substances. They neutralise destructive and harmful compounds called Free Radicals.
Bioflavonoids - What are Bio flavonoids ?
These are chemical compounds found in our foods that can have a very beneficial effect on our bodies. Over 4,000 different types of bioflavonoids have been identified (also called favanoid). It comes from the latin word "flavus" which means yellow.
Flavanoids are found in many different types of food including fruits, vegetables, many herbs, green tea and of course our superfood.
Bioflavonoids also act as antioxidants and have anti ageing properties. They assist the body to fight harmful invaders such as environmental toxins and bacteria. Bioflavonoids may also promote the health of the body's blood capillaries.
Bioflavonoids, while strictly speaking are not vitamins, have been referred to as Vitamin P. They are not made within the body and could well be an incredible source of beneficial nutrients.
Fruits are rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Fruits are great sources of vitamins and minerals. They have a high water content as well as being a great source of natural energy.
For example, watermelon is rich in potassium and magnesium. Kiwi Fruits are known for being rich in Vitamin C, E and A. Grapefruits are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Folic Acid and Vitamin B5.
Berries are rich in many vitamins including Vitamin E and most fruits have some of the vital vitamins for life in them.
The Fruits in Superfood
Citrus fruits contain many nutritious plant chemicals or phytochemicals and flavonoids. Flavonoids are water-soluble substances found in plants that act as powerful antioxidants. Oranges and lemons are rich in these.
It is thought best when peeling oranges and lemons, to leave some of the white pith that is found just under the skin, on the fruit as this white pith is thought to be rich in bioflavonoids.
Oranges, lemons and rose hips are all fruits considered to be rich in Vitamin C and Bioflavinoids. These are pigments found in fruits and vegetables that help to give them their rich and varied colours.
Superfood is a good, natural source of bioflavonoids and Vitamin C.
More Info on Fruit drinks or Fruit Smoothies
Smoothies are highly nutritious drinks and can add vitality to your diet. A smoothie is basically a blended drink, often chilled, made with fresh or frozen fruits or vegetables and often include crushed ice, frozen yoghurt, honey, syrups.
Sometimes they will also be made of milk, whether this be cow, soy or rice milk and many other goodies can be added to a smoothie. Filtered water can also be added in place of milk if you do not like drinking milk.
They can also be made with just fruit or fruit and yoghurt. The fun part about making and drinking smoothies is that you can experiment with your favourite fruit flavours and come up with some colourful and delicious combinations.
A smoothie has the consistency of a milkshake but has many more ingredients than a traditional shake. They can have protein, vitamin or mineral powders added to them, to make for a super nutritious drink.
Quick and Easy Smoothies
Smoothies are great all-round, all-year drinks and they can be adapted to the season that you are in. They are nutritious and fun to make and easy to digest.
One can get very creative with smoothies such as adding crushed almonds for additional protein and Vitamin E, which is a great anti-oxidant. There are many tasty and healthy foods you can add to make your smoothies taste even better including: ginger, mint, berries, yoghurts, frozen fruit, fresh fruit and even vegetable smoothies.
Try making one today and see if you can make them part of your regular diet.
Smoothies are great if you live a busy lifestyle. They can be included in lunch packs and make a great mid-morning or mid-afternoon energy boost. They can be made with low fat or no fat milks, experiment with making smoothies and find your favourites. Smoothies can be made in blenders or whisked by hand.
Have fun making smoothies!
Add that extra zing to smoothies by adding one or two teaspoons of Organic Nutrition's Superfood.
Superfood green powder is a nutritionally rich wholefood made from some of nature's finest ingredients. It has been specially prepared to ensure you are getting the maximum nutritional benefit in one go with no additives, artificial flavours or sugar.
Superfood will supply you with many of your daily recommended minerals, vitamins and proteins, in a form that is easy for the body to digest and so reap the benefits quicker.
