A healthy partner par excellence, smoothies can lose all their virtues if you don’t follow some important nutritional rules.

Mistake #1 — Adding sugar to the preparation

Bad news: even if your palate tells you that you don’t have your daily dose, you’ll have to ease up on the sugar: You have to remember that a Smoothie is a fruit-based drink, which therefore contains natural sugar — fructose.
If we add some, we will be in excess. If the mixture seems too bland, don’t think about using table sugar. The best option? One to two teaspoons of honey per person.

Mistake #2 — Putting more than two fruits per person

By emptying your fruit basket, you are certainly filling up on vitamins… but also on sugar. According to the official recommendations of the WHO, the daily sugar intake for adults should be 30 g maximum and 15 g for children.
And when we know that a portion of fruit represents an average of 12 g, it is essential to limit the number of fruits.
Even more insidious, we must not forget that the smoothie contains chopped fruit. Their fibers are “broken”, they no longer slow down the absorption of sugars and this increases the glycemic index.
The result? Feeling of hunger shortly after, and storage of sugars.
To avoid raising the sugar level, use this as a rule of thumb for your mix:
• 2 fruits (or one, and half of another, if they are big);
• a little water;
• and proteins (from a vegetable or animal milk).
If you put 4 fruits in your preparation, remember to drink only half of the smoothie.

Pro Tip: it is essential to check the mention “without added sugars” on the labels of the vegetable milks (almonds, rice, soy…).

Mistake #3 — Not putting some healthy oil in your smoothie

The two seem incompatible. However, a good oil (health fat) is essential for the body to absorb certain fat-soluble vitamins.
To fill up on vitamin A (good for eyesight and skin), vitamin E (antioxidant), vitamin K (essential role in blood clotting) or vitamin D (useful for bone mineralization), mix half a spoon of organic flaxseed oil, or extra virgin olive oil, into your smoothie. That’s how you benefit from the beta-carotene in carrots, for example.

Pro Tip: do not hesitate to add aromatic herbs such as parsley — rich in vitamins and minerals, or thyme — antiseptic, in its preparation.
To optimize the micro-nutrient content, you can also opt for hemp or acai powder.

Mistake #4 — Drinking only a smoothie as breakfast

The breakfast smoothie, consumed in the car, on the road or at the office, can be very practical on certain mornings when you are racing against the clock. But here’s the thing: Generally, the drink is not at all balanced.
When we wake up, we need starchy foods and a dairy product to fill up on proteins.
Drinking only one smoothie is like eating only one fruit. With its blended fruits and its liquid state that do not require any chewing, the drink is not satiating and brings too much sugar.

Pro Tip: for a balanced smoothie in the morning, you should opt for the milk shake version.
Mix two fruits with vegetable (or animal) milk or cottage cheese.
On the side, nibble on some oatmeal or wholemeal bread for starch intake.

Mistake #5 — Having just a smoothie at snack time

The drink will, of course, always be healthier than the chocolate bar that’s winking at us from the coffee machine on the second floor… but it won’t fill you up and will even make you hungry.
In this case, the smoothie should remain a pleasure drink. Because of the sugars, it should never replace a meal or be considered as a snack.
If you really find yourself with no other practical option, add at least a vegetable milk, for a contribution in proteins, which will help calm the hunger.

Mistake #6 — Not mixing fruits and vegetables

Adding a cucumber or kale to your fruit smoothie is the ultimate trick to reduce the sugar content of your drink.
Vegetables are much less sweet than fruit (they contain an average of 5 g) and are rich in vitamins.
Not to mention that their fibers also act as sponges, absorbing some of the sugars and fats during a meal. In other words, vegetables reduce sugar levels.
Some of the best option are celery, cucumber or even beet, which is good for the blood and the transport of oxygen and which is naturally sweet.

Pro Tip: vegetables with a strong taste, such as cabbage, which are not well tolerated by some people after cooking, will be just as bad in their raw state.

Mistake #7 — Preparing it in advance to consume it later

Do you make your energy smoothie at home to enjoy at mid-morning at the office? Mistake: The vitamins are very fragile.
If you leave the drink in the air for ten minutes, it will be depleted in vitamin C for example. Exposure to light will also greatly reduce its vitamin content.
Always make it as close to drinking time as possible, ideally, make and drink immediately!

Pro Tip: Use this trick when the drink must wait a little: add some citrus juice!
In particular the juice of a lemon, which prevents oxidation.
Lemon also improves the absorption of certain nutrients such as iron, calcium and magnesium.

There you have it, avoid these and you’ll make those smoothies healthier!