Losing weight with smoothies is simple and effective. In three days, weight loss can be up to 2 kg. Minus one: it is hardly possible to eat like this all the time, if you are not a vegan and, moreover, you are not a raw foodist. So it is better to make herbal cocktails an effective detox agent and the basis of a diet a la "proper nutrition". Irina Azarova, founder of the FRESH healthy food restaurant chain, told Marie Claire what to do to lose weight with smoothies without hating them.
Take seriously
The biggest mistake is to think of a smoothie as a snack or insignificant. Smoothies are a complete, powerful and nutritious meal. For this, it was invented by surfers - for quick saturation and lasting energy effect. But smoothies are absorbed by the body in a completely different way than solid food, which first enters the stomach and only with the help of enzymes ─ into the intestines. The smoothie starts working right away and (this is another bonus) kicks off proper digestion.
Do not drink on an empty stomach
Therefore, it is better not to start the day with a smoothie. On an empty stomach, drink a glass of water with lemon or apple cider vinegar ─ this will help speed up your metabolism, and after half an hour you will have a smoothie. In the afternoon and in the evening, the same principle applies: drink a smoothie 20-30 (but preferably 40) minutes before meals.
Do not drink at night
Since the smoothie is made from raw vegetables, berries and fruits, it is better to plan its intake in the first half of the day. The maximum activity of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with solar activity, and in the late afternoon, you need to gradually reduce the consumption of raw foods. But this does not mean that drinking smoothies in the evening is strictly prohibited.
Understand why drinking
A smoothie, if prepared correctly, can serve many functions: energize, maintain muscle tone, fight stress, promote endorphin production, cleanse the liver, and protect against viruses. Stimulate hair growth, increase iron levels in the blood, improve skin condition, boost immunity, lose weight - you can answer almost every need of the body with some kind of smoothie recipe.
There are no strict rules for "drinking" smoothies, but it is better to avoid extreme sports: drink a glass of cocktail calmly, and not in one gulp and on the run.
Distinguish types
Smoothies are different. There are morning ones - "awakening". They are usually made on a juice base with added carbohydrates (banana is the most popular). This smoothie is a must have if the morning starts with a workout. Feel free to add milk protein, yogurt, cottage cheese, steamed oatmeal, quinoa, flaxseed to it. Daytime smoothies are nutritious. Lunch is our most serious meal of the day for many of us, so it's best to add protein (soy protein, chia seeds, spirulina, spinach, kale) to these smoothies. Evening smoothies are soothing. Their task is to prepare the body for rest, so they are most often made on the basis of almond or coconut milk or herbal collection.
Add interesting ingredients
This will make the smoothies uncommon, which will naturally prolong the detox regime. What to use? For example, blue spirulina is an algae that lives in alpine lakes. It is an excellent source of protein (blue is several times higher than ordinary spirulina in useful qualities) and - as a bonus - a beautiful blue color. Another curious ingredient is pollen. Sold in a pharmacy - in granules or powder. It has a slightly bitter taste, so you need to use it quickly and preferably “on top” ─ sprinkle. Pollen is a real superfood, which means it is a super source of energy. AsaiIs a berry that grows in the forests of the Amazon. Its trick is that it carries valuable antioxidant properties only when frozen, and you don't have to worry about the effectiveness (and freshness) of the original product. You can sweeten the finished smoothie with honey or maple syrup, and add ginger for spice.
Cook with fresh raw materials
If you exclude acai berries, then choose fresh products for smoothies. When there is a problem with fresh fruits and berries (as in Russia in winter), it is better to choose well-known freezer manufacturers, about which it is known for sure that they use advanced "shock" methods that allow to preserve all nutrients and vitamins in the product.
Take with you
Freshly made smoothies keep well for 12 hours, so they can be included in your diet outside the home. The only condition is that the temperature is not higher than 7 degrees, but here the question of a thermal bag only arises.
Drink hot smoothies when it's cold
Drink warm cocktails if you want to keep warm. But so that the temperature does not harm useful substances, it should not be more than 50 degrees. The easiest way to "warm up" a smoothie is to add boiling water to it. Warming additives will also help: a spoonful of honey, royal jelly, a pinch of turmeric, saffron or ginger, tincture of echinacea.
Plain water cannot be the basis for smoothies! A small amount of water can only dilute the drink.
The weather outside the window is, of course, important. But when choosing a base for smoothies, it is better to be guided by taste preferences. Most often, cocktails are made on the basis of milk or juice, but if even in winter you want to go to tropical islands, you can make a smoothie based on coconut water and pineapple juice, rather than rosehip decoction.
Include in the diet
The smoothie-based detox program is still popular in Hollywood - it would seem that so many new things have been invented. A prominent representative of this story is Jennifer Aniston, who drinks only smoothies every Sunday all day. Her favorite recipe is a banana, cherry, protein powder, almond and cocoa smoothie with an almond milk base. Miranda Kerr's Super Energetic Shake includes acai and goji berries, spirulina, cocoa powder, poppy seeds and chia seeds (the mixture is made in a blender using equal parts coconut milk and coconut water). And the Australian energetic and sunny Liam Hemsworth most often chooses "magically strong" (in his own words) smoothies made from the same spirulina, bananas, dates, cocoa powder and chia seeds, sprouted grains of brown rice, cinnamon and poppy seeds with the addition of coconut water and mint.
We offer to treat yourself to one of the original author's recipe smoothies, for which - this is especially important - you do not have to order ingredients from overseas.
Morning: Almond Java smoothie ─ 1 banana and 2 tbsp. l. Mix almond paste with 200 ml of soy milk, 40 ml of maple syrup (or any other sweetener) and 40 ml of espresso.
Day: Tropical Mix Smoothie - Punch 1 banana and 3 strawberries in a blender along with 200 ml of pineapple juice and 100 ml of coconut milk.
Evening: "Tea before bedtime" ─ a couple of lavender stems, a sprig of mint, a slice of lime and a tablespoon of honey, pour hot water (temperature ─ no more than 70 degrees), let it brew and punch in a blender.
Expert:
Irina Azarova
Photo: Getty Images
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