Apple smoothies: calories, benefits, harms and recipes
In autumn and winter, our body especially needs useful substances: vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists advise paying attention to fruit, vegetable and berry smoothies. Apple cocktails are popular, which are loved not only for their pleasant and refreshing taste, but also for the benefits they bring to our body. Such cocktails can become not only an addition to a meal, but also a full-fledged snack.
Benefit and harm
The benefits of apple smoothie are hard to overestimate:
- those who adhere to any diets will be able to diversify the system of proper nutrition;
- it is possible to neutralize the shortcomings of all kinds of milkshakes, which are not perceived positively by every digestive system;
- The “charge of vitamins” contained in such a healthy fruit as an apple is simply huge;
- it will be possible to normalize metabolism and digestion;
- a cocktail of apples has antimicrobial properties, prevents the occurrence and exacerbation of dangerous cardiovascular diseases;
- eating apples is an excellent prevention of anemia;
- fruits strengthen our immunity in the cold season and serve as a preventive measure against the spread of influenza and colds.
It is important that apples are available at any time of the year to almost everyone. Smoothies can be harmful if they are consumed excessively (for example, when replacing regular food with cocktails during a diet). Of course, it is worth considering whether you are allergic to any ingredient in the drink. Remember, freshly made smoothies are good for health benefits, not store-bought ones. Sometimes smoothies are forced to overeat without causing a feeling of fullness.
And one more important nuance: drinking a smoothie without a straw can negatively affect tooth enamel. A cocktail will not bring serious harm if you drink it in moderation.
calories
The calorie content of an apple smoothie depends on the specific ingredients and the recipe used. This drink is healthy and dietary, unless, of course, sugar is used in it. On average, the calorie content of a fruit smoothie is about 85 kcal per 100 g of product. The ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates will be something like this:
- proteins - 6.3 g;
- carbohydrates - 5.3 g;
- fats - 1.6 g.
Selection of ingredients
Apples in smoothies are combined with almost all types of fruits and vegetables, as well as cereals and nuts. The most popular recipes include carrots, bananas, citrus fruits, cucumbers, oatmeal, dried fruits, and even the exotic avocado. Any type of apple smoothie is easy to make with a regular blender, which every housewife probably has. To taste, you can add spices to the drink (for example, cinnamon) or decorate smoothies with ice cubes.
The final result depends solely on your taste preferences and digestion. Most smoothies with apples are prepared with water or juices, but if desired, you can supplement the drink with fermented milk products: for example, low-fat diet yogurt. A healthy smoothie can be made using oatmeal.
Best Recipes
Classical
Classic smoothies are usually prepared with carrots, which perfectly set off the sourness of apples.And also to improve the taste of the drink, we need a little sweetness (1 banana) and a little sour taste (half a glass of unsweetened juice). The cooking method is very simple, even an inexperienced hostess can handle it:
- carefully peel the carrots and bananas, and additionally remove the seeds from the apple;
- in a blender at high speed, grind the ingredients of the drink until you achieve a homogeneous state;
- Chill the juice in the refrigerator or use ice if you drink your smoothie during the warmer months.
vitamin
To prepare a real “vitamin bomb”, which will help during the cold season and boost immunity, you will need 2 sour apples, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, fresh parsley and basil - 30 g each. Cooking like this:
- apples are peeled and freed from seeds;
- finely chopped fruits are sent to a blender along with chopped herbs and lemon juice;
- serve in a wide glass so that you can eat the smoothie with a spoon if you wish.
with spinach
Cooking method:
- peeled and prepared apples (2 pcs.), cut into slices;
- rinse and dry the spinach, finely chop;
- beat everything in a blender until the ingredients reach a homogeneous mass;
- you can add honey, of course, if you do not suffer from health problems or an allergic reaction.
Serve to the table, adding ice to the glasses to the smoothie (preferably crushed, but cubes can also be used).
With berries and fruits
A cool smoothie with berries and summer fruits will come in handy in hot weather. You can use not only what is at hand and grows in your summer cottage, but also other fruits: plums, peaches, grapes, pears, strawberries, raspberries, nectarines and even grapefruit. It all depends on your personal preferences.For those who periodically suffer from constipation, smoothies can be supplemented with dried fruits (for example, prunes). To prepare a country vitamin cocktail, you will need an apple, a peach and any available berries for the season:
- apples need to be mashed;
- fruits and berries are placed in a blender;
- mix everything until smooth;
- At the end, add some dried fruits.
Such a summer cocktail is served with ice.
With vegetables
The combination of fruits and vegetables in a smoothie will bring double benefits. You can make a refreshing cucumber-apple drink or smoothie from beets, tomatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, celery. The list is endless. We will give the most popular affordable and healthy apple smoothie recipes with vegetables.
- Cucumber smoothie is the perfect start to a summer day. You will need a cucumber, an apple, a large spoonful of nuts, a small spoonful of honey and 100 g of water. Finely chop the peeled apples and cucumbers and turn them into a smooth puree. At the end, add nuts and honey, whisking everything again.
- No less useful drink with celery. Wash the apples thoroughly (2 pieces) and remove the skin from their surface. Carefully cut out the core. Finely grate the apples or prepare applesauce straight away using a blender. Grind everything in a blender until the products reach a homogeneous state. Add chopped celery (2 stalks) to them, then introducing grapefruit juice. Whip everything up.
- A beautiful pink drink is obtained with beets. It is especially useful for weight loss, as beetroot speeds up metabolism, relieves constipation, toxins and toxins. Take beets - 2-3 pcs., Apple - 2 pcs., 2 leaves of chard and honey to taste, water - 1 cup. Beat finely chopped beets, apples and tops. Add water and beat again. Add honey if desired.
with banana
Ingredients: apple, banana, half a glass of thick yogurt, juice or water. We perform the following actions:
- peel apples, cut into slices;
- beat the fruit thoroughly in a blender;
- At the end, add yogurt and cool the drink.
with orange
Step-by-step instruction:
- peel and cut the apple into slices or rub on a coarse grater;
- peel the orange and divide it into slices, removing all unnecessary;
- in a blender, beat everything until smooth;
- sweeten the drink a little if necessary.
- add grated lemon zest for flavor.
With kiwi
Peel the kiwi and apples, finely chop the fruit. Mix in a blender with ice cubes and lemon juice. Gently fold in the apple juice.
Serve the cocktail garnished with cinnamon or other spices of your choice.
Cinnamon
Take an apple, half a teaspoon of dry cinnamon, half a glass of kefir. Wash and peel the apples from seeds and peel and grind them in a blender until smooth without lumps. Add kefir and cinnamon.
This smoothie should be infused for half an hour in the refrigerator. You can sweeten the drink if you wish.
with tangerine
You will need 2 apples and 2 tangerines, lemon, banana, half a glass of water, honey to taste. Making smoothies is easy:
- all fruits need to be peeled and seeds, squeeze the juice from the lemon and grate the zest;
- put the chopped fruits in a blender and grind until the mixture is homogeneous;
- add lemon zest and juice, as well as pre-chilled water;
- To make the drink sweeter, it can be advised to dilute the smoothie with natural honey.
Lactic
For those who love dairy products, we suggest making a milk smoothie with an apple. You need to take a glass of milk, 1 apple and a couple of large spoons of cinnamon. If desired, you can add caramel syrup at the end. Making a drink is easy:
- finely chopped peeled apples;
- add to the blender to the milk, whisking everything thoroughly;
- pour the drink into glasses, decorating with fragrant cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Recommendations
Take advice from experienced chefs.
- A smoothie made from several varieties of apples at once is tastier.
- It is advisable to use apples for smoothies without peel, so that the consistency of the drink is more delicate. But if you want to keep as many benefits and vitamins as possible in the cocktail, you can leave the peel.
- An apple or pear smoothie is especially delicious when cool. Therefore, pieces of ice added to the drink will never become superfluous.
- Nutritionists advise eating apple smoothies as a snack or afternoon snack.
- 1-2 glasses of smoothies a day are enough, you should not get carried away with them.
- Smoothies are drunk immediately after preparation and are not left in the refrigerator “for later”, because the shelf life of such a drink is minimal. Every hour there will be less and less vitamins in it, and the taste will deteriorate.
- Make sure you are not allergic to the foods you are about to add to your drink.
- A cocktail will not bring serious harm if you drink it in moderation.
See the next video for how to make apple smoothies.