The One Ingredient You Need To Add To Your Smoothie For Gut Health
The benefits of swapping a meal for a smoothie are not limited to getting your daily amount of fruits and veggies in. Other health advantages may include weight loss, added protein intake, and, because of the high-fiber content, better bathroom habits (via SFGATE). Adding probiotics to your nutrient-dense smoothie can offer even more gut health benefits, including improving constipation and balancing bowel movements (per Healthline). According to women's health expert Dr. Amy Myers, probiotics can even help your skin by soothing eczema and increasing moisture (via goop).
According to MGB Health, daily probiotics may improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which contribute to better heart health. Some research suggests that supplementing with daily probiotics may boost the immune system, and other studies show promising support for neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and autism. Adding probiotics to a smoothie packed with leafy greens and berries can provide a great health service to your body.
The best way to add probiotics to your smoothie
Dr. Meyers recommends Greek yogurt, kefir, and fermented foods as the best probiotic-rich food sources, but advises to be aware of added sugars. Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj suggests adding Greek yogurt to your smoothie, which contains a considerable number of probiotics (per Doctor Oz). If Greek yogurt is not your favorite food, you can add powder or liquid probiotics to your smoothie, which, if weight-loss is your focus, is a lower-calorie option. For healthy individuals, Dr. Meyers advises a daily dose of 30 billion colony forming units (CFU) of the lactobacillus and bifidobacterium varieties.
Smoothies are a great enhancement to your daily menu. When made with the right ingredients, they can be filling, nutritious, and delicious. Considering the theory that many sicknesses start in the gut, a daily probiotic-packed smoothie may be the ticket to better overall health, benefiting everything from the heart, to the skin, to the brain (via Healthline).