The vegetable smoothie diet is a weight loss method in which participants replace one meal with a fruit or vegetable-based smoothie every day. The goal of the diet is to reduce calorie consumption and increase nutrient intake, especially the fiber that can help promote healthy digestion. It’s an attractive option for people who are looking for quick weight loss without sacrificing their favorite foods. However, like most diets, it has its benefits and downsides. In this article, we discuss some of these benefits and risks.
What Is The Vegetable Smoothie Diet and How Does It Work?
On this diet, participants replace one meal per day with a fruit or vegetable smoothie. Participants must consume at least 1,200 calories every day. However, the calorie intake is often much less than usual due to substituting caloric-dense snacks for smoothies. Participants are encouraged to consume vegetables with low-sugar content, such as:
- Dark leafy greens
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Low-sugar fruits, such as strawberries, avocado, and citrus fruits
- Nuts and seeds like almond or peanut butter, chia seeds, hemp seeds
- Natural sweeteners like honey, dates, or stevia
- Dairy or dairy substitutes like coconut milk and almond milk
- Herbs and spices like turmeric, cayenne pepper, ginger
Potential Health Benefits Of Vegetable Smoothies
Vegetable smoothies are a popular way for people to meet their recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals. Here are five potential benefits of vegetable smoothies:
Improve Digestive Health
Adding vegetable smoothies to your diet can help you optimize the way your body absorbs nutrients. Because they contain plenty of fiber, these drinks can help improve bowel function. If you suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), adding vegetables in a smoothie could be helpful for managing symptoms – just speak to your doctor or dietitian about it first (7).
Vegetables help you get rid of waste faster by stimulating peristalsis which is the wave-like movement that pushes food through your digestive tract. Vegetable smoothies may also help prevent constipation, bloating, and cramping by combining different types of fibers with water-soluble fibers like apple pectin and oat bran (3).
Read More: 30-Day Smoothie Diet Guide: Boost Your Healthy Eating Efforts With This Meal Plan
Bone Strength
Vegetables have several nutrients that are essential for bone health. The most notable of which are calcium, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin K. Calcium is the main mineral that helps to build healthy bones. It is also necessary for many other bodily functions such as nerve impulses, muscle contraction, and blood clotting. A number of plant foods offer high sources of calcium, such as bok choy, spinach, and kale (2).
Magnesium helps to keep bones healthy by controlling how much calcium the body absorbs. As a result, magnesium deficiency may cause low bone density that leads to osteoporosis (2). This mineral is found in legumes, whole grains, and vegetables such as artichokes and green peas.
Potassium controls the amount of calcium that is lost from bones into the bloodstream (2). Many plant foods contain moderate amounts of potassium such as celery and chickpeas.
In addition to calcium, magnesium, and potassium, vitamin K is necessary for healthy bones. This vitamin helps the body use calcium correctly in a number of ways. Vitamin K intake has been shown to improve bone health by increasing bone density. It can also help you maintain healthy blood calcium levels that prevent osteoporosis from occurring (2). Good sources include collard greens, kale, spinach, and Swiss chard.
Immunity Support
Your body’s ability to fight infection is dependent on multiple factors, including exposure to infectious agents, the genetic make-up of the individual, and environmental exposure. Apart from these factors, your diet also plays a crucial role in determining how well your immune system will function over time.
Dietary components that provide significant health benefits include (1):
- Vitamins A and C
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Iron
- Folate (folic acid)
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Monounsaturated fats
What these dietary elements have in common is their ability to promote normal cellular defense mechanisms against harmful agents while reducing inflammation (1). In addition, all of the above dietary factors have been reported to support immune system function. These ingredients are found in vegetable smoothie ingredients such as garlic, onions, ginger, green leafy vegetables such as spinach or kale, tomatoes, broccoli, and cabbage.
Lower Risk Of Chronic Disease
A plant-based diet comes with various health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic disease. Since most vegetables and fruit contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, consuming them can reduce oxidative stress which is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases like heart disease or cancer (1).
In addition to being rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals, vegetable smoothies are also low in calories which makes them a popular weight-loss tool. In fact, research has shown that people who consume more vegetables tend to have a lower body mass index (9). A low BMI has been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
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Lower Cholesterol
Some plant foods like oats, flax seeds, and soy milk help to regulate cholesterol levels in your body. Examples of other foods that are good sources of plant-based proteins, soluble fiber, beta-glucan, and stearic acid which can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol include:
- Oat bran
- Chia seeds
- Almonds
These ingredients offer many health benefits when combined with an effective exercise regime. They assist in weight loss by curbing appetite while providing you with energy for physical activities. By including these superfoods in your daily diet, you may experience increased stamina and endurance during workouts thereby improving your athletic performance. You might also see a significant improvement in your mood levels. This is because these ingredients contain high levels of tryptophan which your body converts into serotonin, a hormone that lifts your mood and reduces depression (11).
Vegetables are rich in lutein, an antioxidant that protects the eyes from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness among older adults so eating foods with this nutrient is important for vision preservation (6).
Lutein also helps prevent oxidative stress throughout your body by neutralizing free radicals which can cause cancerous changes in cells. Some good sources include kale, spinach, Swiss chard, collard greens (6).
Kale contains zeaxanthin plus vitamin A to protect your retina’s light-sensing cells. These are important nutrients for healthy eyesight (8).
A single serving of kale contains more than 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin A (from beta carotene). Kale is also rich in lutein, an antioxidant that helps prevent cataracts and macular degeneration which are major causes of vision loss among senior citizens (8).
Studies have shown that eating vegetables high in carotenoids such as carrots and spinach may lower the risk of certain types of cancer because these nutrients initiate detoxification processes as well as neutralize carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) (10).
Anticancer compounds found in fruit and vegetable smoothies include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Flavonoids such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid, catechins, and quercetin
- Vitamin C
- Fiber
Each of these nutrients is known to have anti-carcinogenic properties. For instance, vitamin C helps repair damaged DNA which can cause cancerous changes in cells whereas the fiber binds to carcinogens thereby preventing them from being absorbed into your bloodstream (10). Since most plant foods are low in calories, they help you lose weight by curbing your cravings for sweet or fatty foods that offer little nutritional benefits.
Read More: Fat Burning Smoothie Recipes: 3 Easy, Delicious Drinks That Burn Body Fat
Potential Risks Of Vegetable Smoothie Diets
While vegetables have various health benefits, surviving on smoothies alone for an extended period can have negative side effects. Some of the most notable downsides to a vegetable smoothie diet are:
High Sugar Intake
Drinking high amounts of fruit smoothies can raise blood sugar due to the large quantity of fructose you consume (3). One cup or eight ounces of orange juice, for example, contains 4 grams of sugar while one-half cup of fresh grapes contain seven grams. These levels are much higher than other fruit servings so it’s best to limit your intake of fruit smoothies to no more than one or two cups per day.
Anemia And Vitamin And Mineral Deficiencies
Since vegetables lack vitamin B-12 and have limited iron, you risk developing anemia if you don’t eat animal proteins. Some studies have shown that women who eat vegetarian diets are at a greater risk of having iron deficiency which increases the risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, compromised immune systems and other health problems (4). Green smoothies do not contain vitamin B-12 either so it’s necessary to supplement with a form of this nutrient if you want to maintain good health.
Raw Vegetables And Food Safety
For safety purposes, it is recommended that you cook certain vegetables before consuming them as juice or smoothie ingredients. Eating raw vegetables, especially leafy greens, may also increase the risk of food poisoning if they are contaminated with salmonella, e-coli or other harmful bacteria (5).
Low Chewing Resistance Affects Satiety
You’re less likely to feel full, satisfied and energized after drinking a vegetable smoothie than you are after eating solid food. Even though vegetables do not contain large amounts of protein that can boost satiety levels, chewing vegetables actually tells your brain that you’ve eaten which signals your body to stop eating.
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Top 3 Vegetable Smoothie Recipes
As part of a balanced diet, vegetable smoothies can be a great way to get your recommended dose of nutrients. Here are some recipes to get you started:
Chocolate Vegetable Smoothie
This chocolate vegetable smoothie recipe is ideal for people who are vegan, lactose intolerant or allergic to milk products. It contains spinach, coconut milk, and bananas which come together to deliver healthy vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids that can give you lasting energy all day long.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 banana, peeled and frozen
- 1/2 cup kale or spinach leaves
- 2 cups watermelon chunks
Directions:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
Ginger Zinger Vegetable Smoothie
This recipe is perfect for people who are looking to lose weight, prevent or relieve muscle soreness, improve their immune system and enjoy a healthy snack after workout sessions. It contains ginger which can provide powerful anti-inflammatory effects that may be helpful for athletes with joint problems. The antioxidant-rich vegetables in this smoothie can help you increase your energy levels so you feel more active throughout the day.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of fresh spinach leaves
- 1 apple
- 1-inch peeled fresh ginger root
- Juice from 1 lime
Directions:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and drink.
Pumpkin Vegetable Smoothie
If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your energy, lose weight, improve digestion, reduce the symptoms of depression or cure fatigue then this pumpkin vegetable smoothie is perfect for you.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of non-dairy milk
- 2 to 3 leaves of curly kane with stems removed
- ½ cup of canned pumpkin
- 2 to 3 frozen bananas in chunks
- 2 tablespoons of flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon of maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- A pinch of nutmeg
Directions:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and serve. Enjoy! Notes: If you prefer to use frozen pumpkin instead of fresh, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before making this recipe.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, vegetable smoothies are a great way to stay healthy while still enjoying delicious drinks. They are convenient to make, inexpensive and loaded with nutrients that your body needs for good health. But the most important thing is to monitor your calorie intake and be aware of your sugar intake. If you want to enjoy them, include them as part of an overall healthy balanced diet.
DISCLAIMER:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
SOURCES:
- Effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on immune function in older people: a randomized controlled trial (2012, oup.com)
- Fruit and vegetable intake on bones: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2019, nih.gov)
- Green Smoothies: Are They Good For You? (2020, webmd.com)
- Iron Status of Vegetarian Adults: A Review of Literature (2018, nih.gov)
- Lettuce, Other Leafy Greens and Food Safety (2021, cdc.gov)
- The Effect of Lutein on Eye and Extra-Eye Health (2018, nih.gov)
- The Effects of Green Smoothie Consumption On Blood Pressure and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2013, pdx.edu)
- The many types and health benefits of kale (2018, mayoclinichealthsystem.org)
- The Relationship Between Vegetable Intake and Weight Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies (2018, nih.gov)
- Vegetables and Fruits (n.d., harvard.edu)
- What is Serotonin? (2018, hormone.org)
