We have entered the Raw Smoothie Week.
This week can be rather challenging for a lot of Rebooters, me included. But with over 22 million results found on Google, we are sure to find at least one Raw Smoothie Recipe that will satisfy us.
A few of the bigger concerns during this week are HUNGER, STOMACH UPSET, and LOW ENERGY.
To help solve those issues, let’s review a few key points of an articles published by FoodMatters.com
1. Drinking Your Smoothie Too Fast -
Eating fruit whole will leave you feeling full a lot sooner than when you blend and drink it down. This is normal, as studies have shown that consuming your meal by drinking it carries a high risk of over-consumption. So drinking smoothies too fast can trick your body into consuming more than your daily caloric needs. You start feeling hungry after an hour or two even after gulping down a big jug of your favorite power smoothie, which makes it easier to gain weight, even if what you reach for is another smoothie.
So what's the solution? You can discipline yourself into drinking slower, but my favorite is making smoothie bowls. There’s not much you do differently, except that you eat your smoothie with a spoon and you can add some cut, un-blended fruit to it. This gives you more time to enjoy your meal with better results for your metabolism and energy.
2. Drinking Too Little -
Going too low on your energy intake can lead to brain fog and all sorts of unhealthy snacking as your body desperately tries to fuel up.
If you take smoothies instead of meals, and not just as a healthy addition to your day, you really shouldn’t be afraid of making them bigger. As long as you drink them slowly, remember? Weight loss or weight gain from smoothies is all about the quantity and the way you consume them.
3. Combining The Wrong Fruits/Vegetables/Greens -
The simple secret to really good smoothies is this: less is better. The more ingredients you put in your blender, the higher your chances of drinking something that tastes weird. Weird combinations, and especially weird combinations in large quantities, can lead to digestive problems, bloating, and gas, as well as energy swings and weight gain. As a rule of thumb, stick with 1-3 kinds of fruit and 1 kind of vegetable or green, and avoid adding large amounts of seeds, nuts or oils in your smoothie.
As a reminder from the previous post, smoothies do not have to be all about fruit. All one has to do is search for ‘raw vegan soup recipes’ and you’ll be met with hundreds of savory dishes that can be enjoyed this week. My favorites are listed on the Recipe page, and a few Rebooters have recommended several that are featured on one of my favorite websites "The Spruce Eats". Please keep in mind that if the recipes call for ‘solid’ garnishes, it’s best to include them in the blending process or omit them altogether.
So as we get further into this week, take it slow, keep it simple and remember to keep drinking water!
As always, please stay in touch with your questions, concerns, victories and struggles.
Happy blending,
Amy