Most of us, if not all of us, like something that is sweet, a little tasty and appealing. In fact, even when it comes to green smoothies, we would like to add something that makes our drink a little bit tasty and enjoyable. However, while this can be good, using processed sugar could prove to be detrimental and only work to undo the healthy benefits you want to get from your drink.
It’s possible to sweeten your smoothie naturally by adding some healthy sweeteners to the blender as you mix your ingredients. Doing so will help you stay away from health problems such as liver dysfunction, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and weight gain among others. It’s true that some green smoothies can be a bit flat and unappealing to the taste but don’t turn to sweeteners and sugar while you could use natural, healthy substitutes. Here are some of the substitutes which are lower in fructose and also rich in minerals and vitamins.
Honey
Honey is an amazing alternative to processed sugar and can be added to your smoothies during blending. Basically, honey is made from natural flowers and the production process is so natural such that no additives are contained therein especially if you buy the natural type. You can add a few tablespoons of honey in the blender during the preparation process but the most important thing is to ensure that this is done in moderation.
Sugarcane juice
Sugarcane is also another great source of natural sweetness. You can add a little bit of sugarcane juice to your green smoothies to get rid of the bitterness and the unpleasant taste that keeps you from enjoying these healthy drinks. You can crush your own sugarcanes to extract the juice and then add a little bit of the same to your smoothies as a healthy sweetening alternative.
Bananas
You’ll never get it wrong with bananas when sweetening your smoothies naturally. Bananas are rich in fiber, potassium and vitamin C and they do help thicken your smoothies in an amazing way. Having high amount of soluble fiber makes banana great for weight loss but you should not add so many of them as this could also have a negative impact on your diet. Just add two or three bananas in your blender and enjoy the natural healthy sugar. If you find brown spotted bananas, these could be sweeter and great for your smoothies.
Goji Berries
These yummy fruits have been used for many years especially in Asia. Studies have linked them to weight loss, stress alleviation, enhanced immunity and better sleep. This notwithstanding, you can add Goji berries to your smoothies for that natural sweetness instead of using processed sugar. Goji berries are rich in Vitamins A and C and will also supply the body with Omega-3 fatty acids and some iron.
Other amazing natural sweeteners for smoothies include Medjool dates, mangoes or fruits which are known to be generally sweet. The secret is to always make sure that your natural, healthy sweeteners are not overdone but used in moderation.