When it comes to the best breakfasts for weight loss, few options can provide as much versatility, flavor, and nutrients as a healthy, delicious smoothie. No matter what your flavor preferences are, smoothies give you the opportunity to throw all of your favorite fruits, vegetables, and add-ins together to create something equally nourishing and tasty. But of course, some ingredients provide more benefits than others. If you really want to make the most of your morning concoction and reap the fat-blasting rewards, there are a few additions that are sure to help kickstart your metabolism and help kick belly fat to the curb—including one unexpected crunchy nut.
To learn more about the best metabolism-boosting ingredients you can add to your smoothie every morning, we spoke to Paulina Lee, MSHS, RD, LD, founder of Savvy Stummy. Surprisingly, her top recommendation wasn’t a fruit; it was almonds! Read on to learn why.
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Almonds, almond butter, or almond milk
Although nuts might not be the first thing you think of when you imagine smoothie ingredients—after all, smoothies are most commonly associated with fruit—Lee says almonds are one of the best things you can add to the mix if you want to boost your metabolism and shed pounds quickly. This is because, as she says, these nuts "contain the perfect combo of protein, healthy fats, and fiber," which are all essential components of any great weight loss diet.
The high protein content of almonds is one of the biggest reasons eating them regularly can lead to a faster metabolism. "Because protein takes longer to be used and absorbed, it has a higher thermic effect compared to fats and carbohydrates." Lee explains. Essentially, the more protein you add to your smoothie, the more calories your body uses to digest the meal—and the faster you'll be able to reach your flat stomach goals.
There are several other metabolism-boosting benefits of this protein-packed ingredient. Lee goes on to say that "protein can help preserve muscle mass" which helps to "keep your metabolism at its peak." Additionally, almonds are a low-glycemic food, which means that they can help keep your blood sugars stable. "Another plus, almonds contain some antioxidant properties from Vitamin E," she concludes.
With all these upsides, we're definitely going to start throwing some nuts (or almond butter or milk, which boast many of the same benefits!) into the blender—in fact, we may just forget about the smoothie altogether and munch on some almonds on their own!
