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Why Truly Healthy Smoothies Require a Lot Less Fruit Than You Probably Think

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If you’re attempting to be healthy AND lazy at the same time, smoothies are absolutely key. They take five minutes to make, and you can easily pack them full of all the produce that you need for the day. Fruits, veggies, you name it.

But! Not all smoothies are created equal. Smoothies shouldn’t consist only of fruit because too much fruit results in a super sweet beverage that can reach sugar levels comparable to soda.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Nutritionist Rebecca Ditkoff tells HuffPost that you should never add fruit juice to a smoothie. It lacks fiber and is packed full of sugar.

Instead, stick to real fruits (frozen or fresh), and limit the total amount of fruit in each smoothie to one cup. So, you might use a half cup of strawberries and a half cup of apples.

Another common mistake: Using milk or yogurt with added sugar in it. A lot of non-dairy milks, for example, are sweetened and flavored, as are many flavored yogurts. But you can easily find unsweetened versions of both to lower the overall sugar content of your smoothie.

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So, what else SHOULD you put into your smoothies to make them as ~healthy~ as possible?

Nutritionists recommend berries and bananas, as they’re rich in fiber and minerals and have less sugar than some other fruits. Make sure to add some greens, like spinach or kale. Other ingredient options include nut butters, chia seeds, avocado, and Greek yogurt.

Now get slurping!