With the development of the electric blender, health food stores on the US West Coast started stocking smoothies. By the mid-1980s, the term "smoothie" itself was appearing in recipes and trademarks. Steve Kuhnau began to experiment with smoothies in the 1960s, motivated by his experience working as a soda guy. They provided Kuhnau, who was lactose intolerant, with another way to sample his inventive concoctions made with fruit juices, veggies, protein powder, and vitamins.
Kuhnau started Smoothie King after seeing early success with his smoothie sales. As it grew across the country, Smoothie King helped launch other smoothie companies like Jamba Juice.
The components and ratios of a smoothie determine its nutritional value. Large or numerous portions of fruits and vegetables are a common ingredient in smoothies, which are meant to substitute meals and are advised in a balanced diet.
Now that you have a brief understanding of smoothies, why not experiment with different smoothies to satisfy your midnight cravings?
7 Healthy Smoothies You Should Try To Satisfy Your Cravings
1. Green Juice
This green smoothie has a substantial amount of fruit and vegetables (kale, mango, and peaches) and 84.5 mg of vitamin C, or 94% of your daily value (DV). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that vitamin C is an antioxidant that promotes immunological health. A small amount of fresh ginger, a spice well-known for its ability to combat viruses, is also used in the recipe. Almost a dozen antiviral compounds have been found in ginger, and several of these compounds may be effective against the common cold.
2. Berries Yoghurt Drink
This smooth smoothie combines milk, vanilla yoghurt, and fresh ingredients such as mixed berries and bananas. In addition to having calcium, dairy products like milk and yoghurt are frequently fortified with vitamin D, according to Christine Palumbo, RDN, a media and nutrition consultant based in Naperville, Illinois. The NIH states that vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium and supports immunological function.
3. Blueberry Matcha Drink
While blueberries are delicious on their own, this time, they've been combined with matcha, a powdered green tea, to provide even more nourishment. Catechins, a class of plant components with antioxidant properties, are abundant in matcha. In fact, studies show that matcha contains up to 137 times more particular catechins than other varieties of green tea. Additionally, vitamin A is present in dark leafy greens like the baby spinach in this dish.
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4. Pineapple Apple Green Smoothie
This tasty green smoothie combines chunks of pineapple, cucumber, kale, and celery with coconut water and fresh mint. According to research, kale contains a range of antioxidants, including quercetin, which is known to boost immunity, reduce proinflammatory cytokines—small proteins released by immune cells—and stop the release of histamine, a substance involved in allergic and inflammatory reactions. This information was published in a Molecules article.
5. Wild Berry Smoothie
Fruits that boost the immune system, including oranges, mangos, and blueberries, are all included in this smoothie. According to the USDA, a single mango provides 75 mg of vitamin C (83 per cent DV), 112 mcg of vitamin A (12.4 per cent DV), and 0.25 mg of vitamin B6 (14.7 per cent DV). Furthermore, studies have shown that berries, along with melons, bananas, and apples, are among the common fruits that contain the highest concentrations of antioxidants. Beneficial spices like turmeric, an aromatic, vivid yellow spice packed with antioxidants, are also used in this recipe.
6. Avocado Drink
There are just five ingredients in this vegan smoothie: dates, plant milk, avocado, banana, and spinach. Incorporating avocado into the smoothie not only enhances its creamy texture but also provides immune-supporting elements such as vitamin B6 (0.4 mg, or 24 per cent of the daily value) in half of an avocado, as per the USDA. Although further human research is necessary, a March 2017 study in the Journal of Immunology Research revealed that this nutrient is involved in the production of antibodies that are necessary to fight illness in mice.
7. Smoothie with Chocolate and Cherry
With this dish, you'll get a generous portion of fruits and vegetables coupled with a hint of chocolate. This nutrient-dense smoothie is made with almond milk, cacao powder (which contains zinc), cherries, banana, spinach, chia seeds, protein powder, and spirulina. Although it can be obtained from vegetarian sources, zinc is really better absorbed from animal sources like shellfish and bees.
These smoothies are the easiest to make and will satisfy your cravings while providing a healthy dose of nutrients. Taste all the smoothies and be assured you aren't consuming junk food.