NO WAY?! A SMOOTHIE RECIPE?

0

By Lisa

Anyone that has been heard my “Paleo Lecture” knows how I feel about smoothies. I hate them. I think they are a waste of calories and contain too much sugar. I think that the danger caused by the fructose outweighs any fruit benefit of consuming these sweet concoctions. I absolutely cringe when I see Facebook Posts of smoothies that contain five different fruits by themselves along with a caption such as, “Check out my smoothie. I’m juicing now. I’m soooooo healthy.” It makes my liver hurt just seeing the pictures. Ugh. 

The Issue is Fructose

In general, fresh fruits are healthy, nutritious foods that are good sources of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber. The issue is fructose. Fructose is often called “fruit sugar” and perceived as healthy because it naturally occurs in most fruit; however, fructose is sugar and sugar can produce negative effects on the body. Fructose can only be metabolized by the liver and can’t be used for energy by your body’s cells. In high amounts, the liver transforms fructose into fat and sends the fat to our fat cells. Excess fructose can damage the liver, leading to insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. Additionally, excess fructose alone can cause all the problems associated with Metabolic Syndrome (diabetes, obesity, heart disease, increased blood pressure, stroke, etc). This is particularly dangerous when people think that they are eating “natural sugar” and consume fruits in high doses (ie through smoothies). To make matters worse, if you DRINK your fructose you may consume more fruit as a liquid than if you actually ate the fruit. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Yale scientists, consuming fructose doesn’t allow the brain to register a feeling of fullness and can change your brain to cause overeating. All-fruit smoothies have the potential to make you HUNGRIER. No, thank you!

Let’s Talk About Fat, Baby

Now that Dr. Oz has jumped on the fat bandwagon, it seems as though people are becoming knowledgeable about the benefits of fat. You’ve probably learned that good fats don’t make you fat and that saturated fats are good fat. Our bodies are designed to run primarily on fat as a source of energy. Fats have been demonized for so long, it can be difficult to dive in….especially for women. Tell a woman to eat more fat and she’ll look at you like you’re crazy! But, really. Research has shown that diets that are high in fat but also low in carbs are good for weight loss. Plus fats increase satiety and keep you feeling full.

Now, Onto the Smoothie Please!

The reason I like this smoothie is that it is high in fat, but low in fruit. It’s also pretty darn tasty. This is about the only way I can handle eating spinach. I cut the recipe in half when making for just myself. Thank you to Paleo Porn for coming up with such a great treat! (Paleo Porn is the coolest name for a Paleo site, by the way). I’ve modified the recipe just a little to cut the fruit and add some vegetables. 

Coconut Banana Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 banana
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 cup spinach
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 tablespoon coconut butter
  • Ice

Directions

  1. Add all ingredients (except ice) to a blender.
  2. Process until fully combined. Gotta do some extra chopping with those spinach leaves.
  3. Add in ice and blend.
  4. Pour into glasses.
  5. Enjoy!