Fruits make up at least sixty percent of a smoothie, if not more. They are the smoothie’s main ingredient and their flavors provide the dominant taste of the drink. In short, they can make or break a smoothie. The right choice of ingredient is made more significant by the fact that there is no single recipe for the best smoothie. To get as much benefit as possible, it is helpful to know how to select the right fruit for smoothies.
There is no right or wrong fruit that one can mix into a smoothie. Although the vitamin and mineral content can very from fruit to fruit, it is a fact that all fruits contain stuff that is good for the body. However, there are certain guidelines that one can adopt, if he is to use the right fruit for smoothies.
The cliché, “cleanliness is next to godliness” applies to smoothie preparation. Hence, ingredients that go into them must be clean. Fruits should be thoroughly washed with water before using and moldy, bruised and damaged portions are to be removed. It is good practice to slice the fruits before blending so that mixing will be easier. Although some fruit peels can be incorporated into smoothies to make them thicker, this is not the case for citrus fruits. The skins of oranges and grapefruits have substances that cause indigestion and they also taste bitter. However, the white pith that covers the rind must be used because it is where the most Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are located. Pits and stones in fruits are best removed because they could interfere in the blending process. Moreover, they can damage the blender, especially those that are not made for heavy duty mixing.
To get the maximum amount of nutrients, smoothies should be consumed right after blending. If this is not possible, it can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for one day. The longer it is stored, the more nutrients are lost. A change in color means that it has oxidized already and is not nutritious anymore.
If possible, organic fruits should be used because these have not been sprayed with chemicals. The more common commercial ones are grown with toxic pesticides which are carcinogenic and pollute the environment. These toxins have also been known to cause vomiting, diarrhea and nerve damage with prolonged use. In terms of nutritional value, studies have shown that organic fruits are far richer in mineral content than their non-organic counterparts. Experts believe that this is due to the practice of composting and crop rotation in organic farming, which preserves the soil nutrient.
One other thing to look out for is bio-engineered produce, which is believed to be unsafe for consumption. To avoid buying this kind of fruit for smoothies, it is best to buy products from small farms or buy those that are certified as organic.
Sometimes, drinking smoothies regularly is not enough to attain the desired health objective. One must also put as much consideration to the type of ingredients and how they are to be prepared; else the benefits will be negated.
Comments