All shook up for healthy drinks
Using shakes, smoothies or cold-pressed drinks to achieve your daily fruit and veggie intake is nothing new. If you’re doing it wrong, you could actually create health problems.
Nearly all of us need more fruit and vegetables per day. According to a study released in 2022 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), only 10% of Americans consume enough fruits and vegetables daily.
Why are fruits and vegetables important? According to every doctor, we have ever met, fruits and vegetables are essential for being healthy. A report in the March 2021 Circulation journal reported people who ate five servings of fruits and vegetables per day compared to those who ate two daily servings had:
12% less risk of death from heart disease or stroke
10% less risk of dying from cancer
35% less risk of dying from respiratory disease
So, what makes a fruit drink healthy versus harmful? What goes in it.
Smoothies tend to be slightly healthier than cold-pressed drinks because they use the entire fruit, which means you get more fiber and don’t raise your blood sugar level as much.
The most important things to consider are:
Ingredients. Adding sugar, syrups and honey adds calories, and some popular store-bought drinks can have a lot of calories leading to weight gain and a whole bunch of health problems.
It takes longer to fill up from a drink than eating, so it is easier to consume more calories, even when they don’t include sugar, which can lead to weight gain.
It’s best to replace a meal or snack with a healthy drink instead of adding to your daily intake. Otherwise, you can increase your calorie intake, which can lead to weight gain.
When you combine all the facts, consuming three servings of vegetables and two fruit servings a day is a good thing. Drinking them is better than nothing, but not as healthy as eating them the way nature intended. Most importantly, look for added ingredients that are not healthy.
Before drastically changing your diet, you should also talk to your doctor.
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Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.
