Are smoothies really good for you?

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MARK EMMONS

June 23, 2009

By LaDell Emmons The McAlester News-Capital Tue Jun 23, 2009, 11:10 AM CDT

As the weather heats up some people want to chill out with a smoothie. While they may sound healthy there could be hidden calories you are not expecting. When we hear the word smoothie we relate it with being healthy, but even places that promote healthy smoothies may have way too many calories.

The average American gets more than 20 percent of his daily calories from beverages. When the weather warms up many sip down way too many ‘summer drinks’ such as smoothies, shakes or frozen coffee drinks, and these can easily add extra calories.

People often forget they are drinking calories, and while many smoothies have real fruit in them, there are other not-so-healthy ingredients. When you put them all together the calories can add up.

When you’re drinking the fruit it doesn’t register the same in your mind as if you were eating a piece of fruit. If you’re eating fruit you’re aware of the food and the calories and when you eat a whole piece of fruit you’re getting all the fiber and nutrients which may be missing when in the liquid form.

A smoothie that is healthy is made from fruit instead of fruit concentrate and made with plain yogurt instead of ice cream or frozen yogurt. It will also provide all the calcium, vitamin and antioxidant capacity that a smoothie should have.

The best option when treating yourself to a smoothie is to make it yourself. When you make them yourself you can limit you serving size and you will know what you’re putting in it. It’s important to get most of your daily fruit intake from eating whole fruit.

For more information in Pittsburg County, call 423-4120 or log onto www.oces.okstate.edu/pittsburg. LaDell Emmons is the Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator for the Pittsburg County Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. E-mail her at ladell.emmons@okstate.edu.

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