Apricots, often overlooked, can be a valuable tool for those seeking to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. This article explores the benefits of incorporating apricot smoothies into your weight loss journey, offering insights into their nutritional value and practical tips for preparation.
The Apricot Advantage: A Nutritional Powerhouse
Apricots are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. These stone fruits offer a multitude of health benefits, including aiding in weight management.
Fiber: The Key to Satiety
Fiber is a dietary essential that plays a crucial role in weight management. Apricots are an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in the digestive system, promoting satiety and slowing down digestion. This helps regulate blood sugar levels, preventing spikes and crashes that can lead to cravings. Insoluble fibers act as bulking agents. Soluble fibre can affect health and metabolism and our weight.
Low in Calories, High in Nutrients
Despite their sweetness, apricots are relatively low in calories. This means you can enjoy a generous portion without consuming excessive calories. Each apricot has just 17 calories. Those sweet little packages are a good source of beta-carotene (nature’s vitamin A), vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
Vitamins and Minerals
Apricots are brimming with essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and copper. They are also rich in beta-carotene, lutein, corn protein and vitamin C and E. These are best for anemic patient. Apricot promotes hemoglobin due to the presence of copper and iron in it.
Read also: Smoothies for Glowing Skin
Antioxidant Power
Apricots contain powerful antioxidants that combat oxidative stress, a condition linked to chronic diseases and weight gain.
Crafting the Perfect Apricot Smoothie for Weight Loss
Here are some recipes and tips for making the perfect apricot smoothie.
Basic Apricot Smoothie Recipe
This recipe is simple and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 3 medium or 2 large ripe apricots, pitted
- 1 small to medium frozen, ripe banana
- ½ cup unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage or light coconut milk, plus additional, if needed
- 2 tablespoons vanilla dairy-free protein powder or ½ ounce cashews, ground in spice grinder
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed or chia seed (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch salt
- Sweetener, to taste
Instructions:
- Place the pitted apricots, frozen banana, ½ cup milk beverage or coconut milk, protein powder or ground cashews, flaxseed, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in your blender.
- Give it a few pulses to break things up, and then whiz away until smooth.
- Add more milk beverage or coconut milk if the mixture is too thick for your blender or your liking.
- Taste test and blend in sweetener, to taste, if desired.
Hydrating Apricot Smoothie
This smoothie is filled with sweet apricots, cucumber, coconut water, and frozen fruit.
Ingredients:
- Apricots
- Cucumber
- Coconut water
- Frozen fruit
Instructions:
- Combine all the ingredients into a high-powered blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- If the drink is thicker than you’d like, add about 1 tablespoon of coconut water.
Banana Apricot Smoothie
This smoothie brings together two nutritious fruits and creates a melange of sweet and tangy flavors.
Read also: Protein Coffee Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
- Banana, peeled and cut into small pieces
- Apricots, chopped into small pieces (de-seed if using fresh apricots)
- Water
- Curd
- Milk
- Cinnamon powder
- Honey
Instructions:
- Toss the banana and apricots in the blender jar.
- Add water and blend until the fruits are fully mashed.
- Add curd, milk, cinnamon powder, and honey, and blend again.
- Pour the smoothie in a glass, top it with ice cubes or refrigerate for some time and serve.
Tips for Enhancing Your Apricot Smoothie
- Add Chia Seeds: Or oats, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.
- Mix in Fresh Ginger and Lemon Juice: Add a small piece of fresh ginger and a tablespoon of lemon juice to the apricot smoothie.
- Blend with Spinach and Cucumber: For a green smoothie twist, include a handful of spinach and a few slices of cucumber. This variation is excellent for adding extra vitamins and minerals without overpowering the apricot flavor.
- Add Mixed Berries and Vanilla Extract: Toss in a mix of frozen berries (like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries) and a few drops of vanilla extract.
Liquid Options
You can use unsweetened dairy-free milk of choice. Oat, almond, and coconut milk are all wonderful choices that work well with the apricots. Preferably, use 100% pure coconut water.
Incorporating Apricot Smoothies into Your Diet
When considering when to drink an apricot smoothie, here are some options.
As a Healthy Snack
Drink this smoothie in the afternoon, as a healthy snack. Replace chocolate and other sugary treats with a nourishing low calorie healthy apricot smoothie.
Dried Apricots as a Snack
Dried apricots are best for a snack in your weight loss regime as it is rich in fibre which will not let you feel hungry for almost 5 hours. Scientists have seen that adding dried apricots to your diet can lose pounds. Apricots make you feel full without adding lots of calories. Dried apricot has low in calories which make it the best dry fruit for weight loss. Dried apricots keep good digestion health which will boost your metabolism.
Metabolism Boost
Metabolism is the most important element in weight loss and weight gain. The higher, the more calories we burn and the easier to lose weight.
Read also: Fruit smoothies on a ketogenic diet
PCOS and Weight Loss
It is very difficult for people who suffer from PCOS or PCOD to lose weight. Eating a handful of Dried Apricots as a snack every day should be a must.