Smoothies have become a staple for many. They work as a nutritious breakfast, light meal, or a tasty in-between snack. According to the Mayo Clinic, by including some veggies, ice cubes, and water in your smoothie, you’ll be enjoying a healthy sip with fewer calories and more fluid, making it an ideal choice if you’re watching your weight.
Fruit smoothies are naturally sweet, so blending one up happens to be the perfect opportunity to sneak in a bunch of hidden veggies that, most of the time, you won’t even taste. Want some recipe ideas? Eat This, Not That! chatted with Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, CLEC, an award-winning registered dietitian, book author, and recipe developer who’s a member of our Medical Expert Board, to find out the best green smoothies to maximize your belly fat loss.
How can green smoothies maximize belly fat loss?
Green smoothies can help speed up belly fat loss in various ways.
Manaker tells us, “Drinking green smoothies can help you eat vegetables, which are low-calorie foods with natural fiber to help promote satiety. No need to drink a green smoothie every single day. But in a pinch, enjoying them can help you meet your veggie needs and support weight management goals.”
A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics discovered a link between consuming vegetables and decreased visceral fat (along with liver fat). The best part? You can reap the rewards even when eating vegetables in small amounts.
Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition associated fiber with weight loss, which we know vegetables are chock-full of. For instance, one medium-sized avocado typically has anywhere from 10 to 13 grams of fiber.
What’s more, the additional ingredients you’re filling up your smoothie with have their own great benefits, too. One medium-sized banana contains a bit over 3 grams of fiber, and it’s a stellar source of potassium. In addition, research shows that consuming blackberries can substantially boost your insulin sensitivity and fat oxidation.
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What ingredients should you include in your belly fat-blasting green smoothies?
There are ingredients you can find in the freezer aisle ready to use that are chock-full of healthy goodness! This can be a real saving grace when it comes time to prepare a smoothie on busy days. Manaker adds, “Leto Foods Greens are made with real frozen greens along with avocado and other nutritious ingredients. While they are formulated for pregnancy support, they are appropriate for anyone who wants a delicious green smoothie without any prep work.”
Here are two of Manaker’s two favorite green smoothies to maximize belly fat loss.
Spinach, banana, and berries smoothie
This refreshing smoothie will be a morning crowd-pleaser in your household. This recipe makes a simple drink that’s beyond satisfying and low in calories. According to Manaker, “It’s an excellent choice to prepare when you’re trying to lose some pounds.”
In order to whip it up, blend together the below ingredients, then sip, sip, hooray!
- 1 handful spinach
- ½ banana
- 1 cup frozen berries
- 1 scoop protein powder
- ½ cup almond milk
Spinach, pineapple, avocado, and celery juice smoothie
The golden combination of fiber, healthy fat, and protein in this smoothie can help you remain fuller for an extended period of time, promoting your weight-loss goals in the long term. Manaker explains that the healthy fats you’re feeding your body from the avocado may also keep chronic inflammation at bay.
- 1 cup spinach
- ¼ cup diced avocado
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
- ¼ cup celery juice
- 1 Tbsp mint leaves
- 1 scoop protein powder
Alexa Mellardo
Alexa is the Mind + Body Deputy Editor of Eat This, Not That!, overseeing the M+B channel and delivering compelling fitness, wellness, and self-care topics to readers. Read more about Alexa
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