Create The Perfect Summer Smoothie

Smoothies are a delicious treat on a hot summer day! You can enjoy fruit & yogurt breakfast smoothies, protein smoothies as a post workout recovery treat, or enjoy seasonal fresh fruit smoothies as a delicious snack anytime of day. But not all smoothie recipes are alike. Many of the smoothies you get at fairs and at coffee shops are really nothing more than sugary drinks with artificial food coloring and flavor. But no worries, with a few good healthy smoothie recipes, you can easily enjoy smoothies that are a nutritious addition to your diet.

When searching for smoothie recipes, remember that smoothies are only as nutritious as the ingredients you add to them. Whether it’s green smoothie recipes or kids’ smoothie recipes, choose recipes that use fresh wholesome ingredients without a lot of added sugar. A quick Internet search will provide you with lots of quick recipes ranging from smoothie recipes with spinach to tropical smoothies. But the basis of any good-for-you smoothie recipe is blending together a nutritious liquid such as 100% juice, milk, kefir or coconut water with some fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, with no added sugar. Sometimes, though, adding a little sweetener such as honey or stevia can make a smoothie a bit more enjoyable.

Adding frozen fruit to a smoothie recipe without ice provides dense nutrition and a product that is less watered down. Try searching Pinterest.com for some summer smoothie recipes that use watermelon, strawberries, pineapple or fresh mint for fun seasonal flavors. There are some refreshing smoothie ideas out there but remember that some are healthy, low calorie smoothie recipes that can help with maintaining a healthy weight, and some are dessert smoothies that are not healthy at all.

Timesaving Tips and Recipes for Quick Smoothies

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What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. When a person with celiac disease, (sometimes called coeliac disease or non-tropical sprue) consumes gluten, it damages their small intestines and causes them to suffer digestive disorders and malnutrition. Historically, doctors only tested patients with chronic diarrhea and weight loss for celiac disease, yet many patients present seemingly unrelated symptoms and many are actually overweight. This is why it often takes celiac patients several years to get a proper diagnosis. A proper diagnosis is made through blood tests for antibodies and is confirmed with an intestinal biopsy. It is important to get tested BEFORE going on a gluten-free diet to avoid a false negative test result.

What is a gluten-free diet?

A celiac disease diet, or gluten-free diet, means avoiding ALL gluten-containing ingredients and avoiding cross contamination. This can truly be challenging! Food companies are coming out with new gluten-free foods, but not all taste as good as their wheat-containing counterparts. Many home recipes can be made gluten-free by simply substituting gluten-free flour and grains for gluten-containing ingredients. Oats are considered gluten-free and safe for celiac patients, but choose oats that are labeled gluten-free to avoid cross contamination with gluten during grain processing. Processed foods that contain less than 20 ppm of gluten are considered safe for celiac patients and can be labeled gluten-free in the US. Pure meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables are naturally gluten-free and are safe to consume.

Most importantly, always read labels to avoid inadvertently ingesting gluten-containing ingredients! A really great resource for grocery shopping is called Cecelia’s Marketplace, a small book listing common grocery items that are gluten-free.

What are the symptoms of Celiac Disease?

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