Try a Real Smoothie

By Nick Jaggs

When you have a smoothie are you sure you know what is going into it? Certainly the smoothie has become big business these days because words such as "natural" and "healthy" have been used to describe certain food products. However the smoothies that you see on the supermarket shelf are not as "innocent" as they may seem. Many of these products use advertisements where sunny outdoor scenes are used or the blender contains fruit to convey an image that these contain vital and fresh living ingredients. But often these are produced on mass using machinery and vats of fruit purees which to extend their shelf life have been pasteurized.

Also be aware that not all the drinks your local juice or smoothie bar offers are not completely natural. Many of the companies who provide commercial equipment to smoothie outlets will also supply them with frozen portions of fruit purees high in sugar. In most cases the kinds of professional blenders you see being used to make smoothies in a juice bar have been supplied to them for nothing as long as they use their frozen fruit purees as well.

However, there are now a few juice bars where to simplify their operations and save money actually make their own frozen fruit products. Again some will produce good drinks, but a few others load theirs with sugar. Don't think that for one minute the company that create these are trying to prevent us from getting natural ingredients, they just use this as a way to help streamline their business to ensure that they make a profit. Although there may be times when we as the consumer lose out because of this.

The original idea of a smoothie was very simple. It was a way of blending a healthy drink. Made most popular in the USA still there is no definitive term to describe this type of drink. Most of us simply recognize as this drink being a fruit based one made from frozen or fresh fruit and ice. Many of the independent juice bars tend to focus on the health side and so create high quality products that are freshly prepared when ordered, plus to further enhance the smoothies for some health enthusiasts they add super foods or boosters to them.

If you do find a great juice bar then you should be using it regularly. But for many the only real contact with have with smoothies is the ready prepared bottle variety. The problem is that they don't provide the same great taste and goodness you get from having one that is freshly prepared.

One of the best ways to try a delicious smoothie that is fresh to make it at home. However, first let us clear up the confusion that has arisen created by blender manufacturers. A smoothie maker and a blender are one and the same. Up until a few years ago this type of kitchen appliance was known as a blender until someone in a marketing department came up with the idea of calling them smoothie makers so that the company could target those wanting to make their own smoothies. Whilst companies were profiting from the demand created by the rise in people wanting to make smoothies the decision to then call a blender a smoothie maker happened and results in us thinking they are two different machines. When in fact they are not.

To make a smoothie is very simple you just put the ingredients into the blender jug and then press the button. It only takes a few seconds to turn the whole fruit into pulp and juice and cost per smoothie you make at home is much less than those you buy on the high street. Homemade smoothies not only taste great by contain lots of essential nutrients that your body needs. You can either make smoothies using frozen fruit or fresh fruit mixed with ice. Plus to further enhance the flavour and make the smoothie creamier you can add some yoghurt. Plus experimenting with other ingredients you could further enhance the health benefits of the smoothies you make.

First off you need a blender or smoothie maker! If you are looking for one that will do the work effectively and is able to cope with frozen ingredients then avoid the cheaper models you find in the bigger electrical outlets. Mixing ice can be very demanding on a blender so by the best you can. One type that is worth considering as it can also mill dry ingredients is the "Mill Blender" from American Health Brand L'Equip. Using this machine you can mill up some flax to provide you with essential fatty acids and then add this to your healthy smoothie.

A lot of health enthusiasts will place great demands on their kitchen equipment and spend hundreds of pounds on buying commercial grade blenders such as the Blendtec Total Blender. However, although these models will provide years of good service you won't need to break the bank to create your own smoothies at home. However, if you intend to blend ice in yours then avoid those that cost below 60. There are many online retailers who specialise in smoothie makers like www.ukjuicers.com who can provide you with what you need. - 29939

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