Smoothies can be an excellent source of nutrition and nourishment. Many people have been making the switch to meal-replacement smoothies, opting to enjoy a fruit-filled beverage for breakfast instead of doughnuts or pancakes. It can make a massive difference, not only in efforts to lose weight but also in boosting your immunity. While smoothies may be a healthier option most of the time, for someone with diabetes, a stricter diet is required. That isn't to say smoothies aren't great for diabetics, but they can be disruptive if you aren't careful about what you're putting in them.
The first thing to do is learn to count carbohydrates because those are what need to be looked out for. Most doctors and nutritionists can teach patients to count carbs and understand their ideal portion size on request. This will enable you to make a larger smoothie with more non-carb ingredients, like those listed in the recipes below. These 5 delicious smoothies are packed full of fruits, veggies, and herbs carefully selected to fit in with the optimum lifestyle of a diabetic, with low carb and calorie counts.
(Flickr)
This smoothie is a heavenly mix of veggies and fruits, sweetened by melons and honey, and best served chilly. It is low in carbohydrates and high in vitamins and nutrients with a delightful crisp taste.
Servings: 4
Calories: 200 calories (per serving)
Carbohydrate content: 30 grams (per serving)
Nutrients: Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, pholate, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, thiamine, riboflavin and vegetable protein
Ingredients:
Preparation: Thoroughly blend the cauliflower, melon, and cucumber in a food processor. Then add in the mint leaves and ¼ cup of water. Pour in a cup of crushed ice and 2 spoons of honey and continue processing. Another tablespoon of honey can be added for taste and serve while cold.
(Pxfuel)
Sweet potatoes are beneficial to diabetics, but due to their carbohydrate content, must be had in controlled quantities. Almond milk and bananas further add protein, “good fat” and fiber to your meal-replacing smoothie.
Servings: 1
Calories: 150-200
Carbohydrate content: 20-40 grams
Nutrients: Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous, good fat which improves cholesterol levels and fiber
Ingredients:
Preparation: First blend the frozen banana and almond milk before adding the sweet potato puree and the almond butter/peanut butter. Toss in the cinnamon for an added kick and blend thoroughly. Depending on your preference, you can also mix in some additional ice cubes so you can enjoy your smoothie nice and cold.
(Maxpixel)
Though this smoothie is made up of savory and sweet ingredients, it still maintains a fruity aftertaste as cherries contain no salt. Fat content can be controlled by carefully measuring the portion sizes of added avocado, which also helps increase good fat, which is beneficial to cholesterol levels.
Servings: 1
Calories: 100-150 calories
Carbohydrate content: 30-40 grams
Nutrients: Pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, good fat which improves cholesterol and fiber
Ingredients:
Preparation: This is an easy smoothie to make combining classic breakfast foods. First, blend frozen cherries and then add the blueberries. After they have been processed, add half an avocado along with a cup of almond milk and continue blending until your smoothie is rich and smooth and ready to drink.
(Pikist)
A deliciously sweet and aromatic smoothie that brings with it all the fun of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Autumn. This non-dairy smoothie is loaded with all the goodness of a pumpkin pie without any of the baking hassle or trans fats.
Servings: 1
Calories: 170-200
Carbohydrate content: 40 grams
Nutrients: Potassium, calcium, iron, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, phosphorous, fiber and protein
Ingredients:
Preparation: To bring this pumpkin pie smoothie to life, start by blending pumpkin puree with half a banana (ideally frozen, but not required) and soy milk. Add pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and honey to solidify the flavor and then a few cubes of ice to reach optimum chillness. Blend thoroughly and then serve.
(Pikist)
With a classic twist on the traditional PB & J comes this low carb, low calorie, supremely healthy, and easy to make smoothie. It makes use of tofu and peanut butter, which is rich in good fats and low in carbohydrates. With no added sugar, the sweet treat is the ideal easy meal replacement.
Servings: 2
Calories: 150-200 (per serving)
Carbohydrate content: 30-40 (per serving)
Nutrients: Copper, manganese, magnesium, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, protein, antioxidants, fiber
Ingredients:
Preparation: Get your PB & B smoothie ready by first blending tofu and blueberries before slowly adding the unsweetened almond milk and vanilla extract. Alternatively, you can use vanilla-flavored almond milk. Add the peanut butter and grape juice to sweeten the smoothie and crushed ice to get the texture and chillness just right. You can always serve it topped with fresh blueberries for an extra fruity punch.
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