Don't Add These Ingredients To Your Smoothies

Smoothies for breakfast or a quick snack have become all the rage and people are really exploring the vast amount of ingredients to work with. But not every ingredient is equal and some can actually leave more hidden calories behind. There are plenty of healthy add-ons but some can add to your waistline. Here are 7 ingredients to avoid adding to your smoothies. 

Fat-Free Flavored Yogurt: Yogurt is high in protein and can help add a creamy texture but be sure not to add the flavored stuff. These versions contain a lot of sugar and calories. Yogurts with fruit on the bottom or mix-in toppings like honey or chocolate chips can contain up to 29 grams of sugar. In fact, a 2015 study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the more high-fat dairy products people are. 

Fruit Juice: If your smoothies seem like they need more liquid, add a little bit of water before pouring in a ton of fruit juice. Fruit juices lack satiating fiber of fresh fruit and even a half cup of orange juice adds 13 grams of carbs. 

Ice cream, Sorbet, Sherbet: Smoothies that include ice cream, frozen yogurt or sherbert are not fitness drinks, they are desserts. Raspberry sherbet contains 84 grams of sugar. 

Whey Protein: Whey is a dairy derivative and commercial preparations tend to many weird chemicals. Protein powders that use these sources as a base can lead to bloat. Substitute this for a blended vegan protein powder. A significant 2015 study in the Journal of Diabetes showed that patients who ate higher amounts of vegetable protein had a decreased risk of metabolic syndrome. 

Too much of a good ingredient: It's true, avocados and nut butters are some of the best protein and healthy fat sources. But too much of these ingredients isn't a good thing either. Portion control matters even when it comes to healthy ingredients. Be mindful of the portions suggested by recipes. Nutritionists consider 1/5 of an avocado to be one serving. 

Added Sweeteners: Okay, so maybe you're not adding straight white sugar to your smoothies but other healthy sounding additives can be bad as well. A tablespoon of all-natural honey adds 17 grams of sugar to your beverage. 

Canned Fruit: This ingredient is a quick route to more belly fat. It's packed with syrup, additives, 20 grams of sugar or more per can and artificial flavorings. Even unsweetened fruit is a nutritional miss. Peeled fruit is a missing crucial fiber and vitamin content can degrade in the canning process.