5 Underrated Benefits of Drinking Smoothies

Have you ever heard the saying, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” but don’t know why people say it? Your body fasts overnight as you sleep. Breakfast interrupts this fast and replenishes your body with essential nutrients that work hard to wake you up and deliver energy. One of the easiest ways you can ensure you are getting the nutrition you need to kickstart your morning in a healthful way is to drink a smoothie packed full of your favorite fruits and vegetables. And besides tasting delicious, there are five unexpected benefits of drinking smoothies that you might not even know about. 

1. Smoothies are fast and easy to make 

Most people cite busy lifestyles as their top reason for not taking the time to meal prep or eat nutritious foods. Healthy eating does not get any easier than making a smoothie! In less than five minutes, you can make your favorite smoothie. Smoothies do not require any special equipment except for a blender and knives to chop up your food. In addition, you don’t have to do any special food prep. Grab your fresh ingredients out of the refrigerator or pantry, toss them into the blender, and head out the door. Don’t believe it? It doesn’t get much easier than making this Healthy Chai Smoothie Recipe with Teami Chai. 

2. Smoothies help you stay full longer

When you make your smoothies with fresh fruits and vegetables and other filling ingredients, you will stay satiated for a longer period of time. If you’re making a smoothie and hungry an hour later, you might need to add fruits and vegetables that contain more fiber in them to stay full longer. Here are easy ways to curb your appetite with your smoothie. 

Swap fruit juice with coconut juice. Fruit juice should not replace whole fruits in your smoothie. Fruit juice is high in sugar and does not contain the fiber that fresh fruit does. Coconut water is an excellent replacement for fruit juice because it is packed with important electrolytes such as potassium and phosphorus. And even better, coconut water is low in sugar.

Add seeds. Seeds are loaded with beneficial vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. They also bump up the nutrition and taste of your smoothie while switching up the texture. Store in the refrigerator to keep seeds fresh. Chia and flaxseed are great picks to start with!

Add avocado. Avocado contains healthy fats that help you stay full longer. Another benefit of adding avocado to your smoothie is that it seriously amps up the creaminess factor! Try out our Super Immunity Smoothie with avocado to see how you like it.

Toss in some nut butter. A scoop of your favorite nut butter, such as cashew butter, almond butter, or peanut butter adds protein and healthy fats to your smoothie. 

Power up with leafy greens. Greens are full of fiber and healthy vitamins and minerals. Plus, they’re some of the most nutritious foods on the planet. Get your vegetables with spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, and other greens by adding them to your smoothie.  Adding a single scoop of Teami Greens Superfood Powder makes it super easy to get your daily veggies.

Add protein powder. Protein helps you stay full for longer. Add a scoop of Teami Wellness Protein to your smoothie and feel the difference!

3. Smoothies naturally reduce cravings 

When your body is flooded with nutrients from fresh and healthy foods, you are less likely to crave junk food. The more fresh food you eat, the less you will crave sugar and processed foods. Another way smoothies reduce cravings is by increasing your hydration. Many people experience cravings because they are dehydrated and not actually hungry. If you have trouble staying hydrated throughout the day, drinking a smoothie is a great way to stay hydrated. 

4. Smoothies supply antioxidants 

Antioxidants isn’t just some buzzword. They’re actually critical to healthy cells. In the simplest terms, antioxidants are molecules that help scavenge and neutralize free radicals in your body. Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons that are unstable and cause harm if there are too many of them in the body. While your body is equipped with its own systems to keep free radicals in check, it is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and superfoods to ensure you are consuming enough antioxidants through your diet. Teami Greens Smoothies help you mix and match your favorite ingredients to increase antioxidant intake!

5. Smoothies help improve digestion 

Sluggish digestion leads to issues such as discomfort, brain fog, and lack of energy. Because most processed foods lack fiber, many people struggle with regular digestion, bloating, and other abdominal discomforts. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control reported that around 90% of people did not meet the recommended fruit and vegetable recommendations for daily intake. That is a lot of people lacking fiber in their diets! Daily fiber intake from food should be between 25 to 30 grams according to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. Eating foods high in fiber in your smoothie is one of the easiest ways to increase your fiber intake. Plus, when you consume fruits and vegetables in liquid form, it is easier for your body to break down, digest, and use nutrients, including fiber! Sneak in some extra fiber with this Morning Boost Superfood Smoothie.

If you’re short on time or don’t love to meal prep, smoothies are truly the perfect way to experiment in the kitchen. Start by adding the fruits and vegetables that you love and build recipes from there. And when you really get into a good smoothie routine, you can make your smoothies on-the-go with your Teami MIXit Portable Blender. To truly make a big impact on your wellness in one of the easiest ways possible, you can’t go wrong with making a nutritious smoothie every day.

Do our 5 Day Smoothie Challenge and try our 22 power-packed smoothie recipes.  We think you'll love it.