Healthy Low-carb Smoothie Recipes

Tap to Read ➤ Deepa Karandikar

Smoothies are a delicious and nutritious drink that can help you overcome many health problems. Smoothies that are low on carbohydrate content are especially useful for weight loss and diabetes. This story explains how you can prepare such a type of smoothie, and also provides some great low-carb smoothie recipes.

History of Smoothies Steven Kuhnau opened a health food store by the name 'The Smoothie King' in 1973, in Kenner, Louisiana, and first began selling smoothies there. It has now spread to over 600 locations.

A smoothie is a drink made out of fresh fruit and blended with milk, yogurt, or ice cream. It can also be made with vegetables and herbs. It is called a smoothie because it has a smooth, rich, and thick texture.

To make a smoothie that is low on carbohydrates, obviously you have to use ingredients that have a low carbohydrate content, i.e., low-carb fruits, vegetables, or herbs. The liquid or base that you use to blend a smoothie should also be low in carbohydrates.

For that, you can use yogurt, Greek yogurt, almond milk, soy milk, and coconut oil, to name a few. A smoothie made out of fruits, vegetables, and herbs will be rich in vitamins.

To make it more nutritious, you can add some protein powder. You can also add sugar-free substitutes like Stevia and natural sweeteners like honey to further cut down on the calories. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg can also be used appropriately in some smoothies.

Low-carb Fruits to Use

Grapefruit Strawberries Pineapples Figs Papaya Raspberries Lychees Grapes Currents Watermelon Kiwi Blackberries

Healthy Vegetables to Use

Dark leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and lettuce. Other vegetables like celery, pumpkin, cucumber, broccoli, and zucchini. You can also add carrots and bell peppers (red, green and yellow). ( Broccoli and zucchini should be steamed before they are added to any smoothie. )

Melon and Ginger Smoothie

Blueberry Avocado Green Smoothie

Ingredients: Blueberries, 1 cup Ripe avocado Spinach Kale Hemp seeds, chia seeds, cacao powder - 1 tbsp each

Protein powder, 2 tbsp Coconut flakes for the toppings Ice cubes Method: Blend all the above ingredients into a mixture, top it with coconut flakes, and add ice cubes. Your smoothie is ready.

Raspberry, Strawberry, Blackberry Smoothie

Ingredients: Raspberries, ½ cup Strawberries, ½ cup Blackberries, ½ cup Almond milk, 1 cup Ice cubes Method: Blend all the berries in a blender. Then add almond milk. and blend once more. Finally. add ice cubes and pour in glasses.

Pineapple-Parsley Smoothie

Ingredients: Pineapple, 1 cup Parsley, ¼ cup Fresh ginger, 1 tsp, grated Water or ice Method: Blend the pineapple and parsley together with water or ice cubes. Then add the grated ginger, and blend once more.

Tomato-Red Pepper Smoothie

Ingredients: Tomatoes, 1 cup, diced Red pepper, 1 cup, diced Red lettuce, ½ cup Cinnamon, 1 tbsp Avocado, 1 (optional), diced Method: Blend the tomatoes, red pepper, and lettuce in a blender. Also add avocado if you wish. Finally, garnish with cinnamon.

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie for Diabetics

Ingredients: Avocado, 1 cup, diced Organic cacao powder or organic cocoa, ½ cup Milk alternative - soy milk or coconut milk, 1 cup Stevia, to taste Cinnamon or nutmeg, to taste, powdered Method: Mix all the ingredients in a blender. That's it. It's that simple and easy.

Green smoothies are typically made with a green leafy vegetable, some water, spices, and fruits (optional).

Spinach and Kale Smoothie for Weight Loss

Ingredients: Spinach Kale Water Method: Blend the ingredients together in a blender. Pour in a glass and drink. You can also add some salt for taste.

Apple and Spinach Smoothie

Ingredients: Apples Spinach Water Method: Blend all these ingredients in a blender. You can also add some salt for taste.

The above low-carb smoothie recipes are a medley of more than one ingredient. You can also make low-carb smoothies with only one fruit or vegetable mentioned above if you don't have all the ingredients, or if you have preference for one particular ingredient.

Some combinations are not considered beneficial, especially in Ayurveda. For example, you should not mix citrus fruits and milk. Also, melons should be eaten alone. So, make a watermelon smoothie with watermelon only.