Do Smoothies Fill You Up? The Great Smoothie Debate…

Happy Friday my friends!

I feel like this is a debate that goes around every once and a while…some people say that smoothies aren’t good because you don’t actually chew them so your body doesn’t know that your actually eating food (seriously?! what?) and then other people say that a smoothie at breakfast can fill you up until lunch time. If you drink a smoothie for breakfast instead of a solid meal, will your body think you skipped breakfast and make you so ravenous at lunch you’d eat more than you normally would?

Who’s right, and who’s wrong?

I don’t think there is a right or wrong in this situation. First thing…when you put nutritious foods into your belly (whether they are solid, pureed, or blended) your body recognizes those nutrients and uses them accordingly. Second thing, if you are blending your whole foods, you are getting all the fiber and nutrients and raw enzymes, which will help keep you fuller longer (especially compared to drinking raw juices).

So, why do some people not feel as full after eating (or should I say gulping down) a smoothie? Well, they drink it too fast. There was a study done where people ate smoothie bowls, drank smoothies and ate a bowl of soup and the people that ate the soup and the smoothie bowls were full after eating them compared to the smoothie drinkers.

I personally love smoothies and drink 1-2 every single day. It’s an easy way for me to get tons of superfoods and other nutritious fruits and vegetables into my diet that I wouldn’t normally eat if they weren’t all blended up together.

I also make sure my smoothies have a good balanced ratio of carbs, fats and protein, so it does keep me fuller longer. I notice that when I add coconut oil or avocado to my smoothies I’m fuller for longer than if I didn’t add those extra healthy fats.

Some of my other favorite smoothie additions:

Hemp Seeds – healthy does of omegas!

Cacao Powder – loaded with antioxidants and magnesium!

Organic Peanut Butter or Almond Butter – healthy fats (plus who doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter together?!)

Spinach or Kale – Easiest way to get more greens in my diet!

Maca powder – great for energy and balancing hormones!

Protein Powder – for healthy and strong muscles

Collagen Powder – amazing way to improve your skin, hair, nails, bones and joints.

What do you think about the great debate? Do smoothies keep you full?

To Chew or Not to Chew? Should you not eat them because you aren’t actually chewing it?

I personally am gonna keep drinking my daily smoothies!

Stay Healthy my Friends!