Are smoothies a good meal replacement?

Meal replacement smoothies can help you whether you want to lose weight, build up your muscles, or boost your energy levels. But are smoothies a good meal replacement? Do they contain all the nutrients your body needs?

Here we discuss what’s in meal replacement smoothies and the health benefits for you.

What nutrients does your body need?

The NHS Eatwell Guide recommends that you eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day (a portion is 80g), so your body gets essential vitamins and minerals.

You also need:

• An adult needs about 30g of fibre a day which you can get from bread, pasta, potatoes rice, fruit and vegetables.
• Protein, calcium, and carbohydrates. These come from dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, beans and seeds.
• A small amount of unsaturated fat from spreads and oils.

To lower the risk of tooth decay, heart disease and other serious health conditions most people need to reduce the amount of saturated fat, salt and sugar they consume each day.

Eating a healthy diet has been shown to benefit not only your physical health but your mental health too.

Do meal replacement smoothies contain essential nutrients?

Meal replacement smoothies can provide your body with vital nutrients. Life is busy, so with the best will in the world, it’s hard to maintain a healthy, balanced diet every day. At NutriBrio, our meal replacement smoothies make sure you get the right balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Our GreenNutri shake, for example, contains 35 green foods that are naturally high in vitamin C and plant protein. It contains different herbs, fruits, vegetables and seeds to support digestion, boost immunity and build up your energy levels.

NutriShake is a delicious vanilla drink packed with the vitamins and minerals you need to feel stronger, more energetic, happier, and all-round healthier.

With our smoothies, you won’t consume too much saturated fat, salt, sugar and harmful food additives that might otherwise be present in your diet.

Who can benefit from meal replacement smoothies?

Meal replacement shakes can benefit:

• People who want to lose or gain weight in the healthiest possible way.
• Busy people who want to be physically and mentally healthier, but don’t have time to cook balanced meals every day.
• Anyone who needs a healthy meal on-the-go.
• Athletes who want to make sure they consume all the nutrients they need to perform at their best.
• People who cannot eat solid food due to surgery or illness.
• Those who are too tired to cook every day or have a small appetite, perhaps due to chronic illness.
• Those who are feeling run-down and whose immune system needs a boost.
• People with nutrition gaps because they’re on a restricted diet due to allergies or lifestyle choices.

At NutriBrio, we offer a range of different smoothies, so you can find the right product for you.

Can meal replacement smoothies help you lose weight?

Our meal replacement shakes at NutriBrio are formulated to ensure your body doesn’t take on too many calories. Reducing calories is the key to weight loss.

A study reported in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders found that dieters on meal replacement smoothies lost more weight than those on calorie-controlled diets. Their findings are supported by a similar study reported by the American Diabetes Association.

Will a meal replacement smoothie fill you up?

Protein is the nutrient that makes you feel most full. All NutriBrio shakes are protein-rich, to help you feel fuller for longer. For instance, our NutriShake contains 18g of high-quality plant protein per serving.

Stable blood sugar levels are another factor in feeling full. When your blood sugar dips you feel hungry. Our shakes are carefully formulated to ensure your blood sugar stays in balance.

Fibre can also help you to feel fuller and decrease your appetite. All our shakes contain plenty of fibre because it also aids digestion, prevents constipation and lowers the risk of heart disease, bowel cancer and other conditions.

Are smoothies a good meal replacement?

Meal replacement smoothies are packed with nutrients that you’re unlikely to get from every meal, so you might be wondering if you could replace every meal with a shake. Unless you’re unable to consume solid food at the moment, we don’t recommend you do this.

Most meal replacement shakes are low in calories. Consistently eating too few calories can cause anaemia, loss of bone density, tooth decay and other conditions. There are also antioxidants and phytochemicals contained in fruits and vegetables which your body needs.

It’s best to replace just one or two meals a day with a meal replacement shake. Aside from the health benefits of eating whole foods, you’ll probably start to miss meals if you skip them altogether, no matter how delicious our smoothies!

Which meal should you replace with a smoothie?

It doesn’t matter which meal you choose to replace with a smoothie.

Some people decide to swap breakfast for a smoothie because it gives them a lift at the beginning of the day, and it means their mornings are less rushed. Others opt for smoothies at lunchtime and dinner time.

If you’re planning to go to the gym, you might drink a quick smoothie beforehand to give you energy. You could even drink a smoothie to stave away those mid-afternoon hunger pangs that would otherwise have you reaching for snacks.

The time of day you drink your smoothie depends on your lifestyle and what works best for you.

Conclusion

If you complement your diet with meal replacement smoothies, it’s a healthy way to ensure you get all the nutrients your body needs to stay energetic and well.

Always look carefully at smoothie ingredients and choose a product that contains the vitamins and minerals you need to meet your health goals.

Whatever your needs, our delicious and filling meal replacement smoothies are a great way to enhance your diet so you can make the most of your life.