Easy Blueberry Banana Smoothie Recipe - Stylish Cravings (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat blueberries and bananas together? ›

An enzyme in bananas makes flavanols less bioavailable when it's combined with berries. Researchers say bananas are still a great fruit to be eaten on the side, or added to smoothies that don't have flavanol-rich ingredients such as berries, grapes and cocoa.

But, there is a common mistake that people make when preparing their smoothie of choice. The new study found that smoothies combining bananas with berries proved to decrease in flavanols (a key nutrient in berries) after being blended together. Considering the health benefits of flavanols, this presents a problem.

"We were really surprised to see how quickly adding a single banana decreased the level of flavanols in the smoothie and the levels of flavanol absorbed in the body. This highlights how food preparation and combinations can affect the absorption of dietary compounds in foods."

5. Citrus fruits. Citrus fruits like lime, oranges or grapefruits if combined with bananas, lead to indigestion or stomach discomfort for some people. This is because of the presence of acidic nutrients in both bananas and citrus fruits, which makes the combination harsh on the stomach.

For those who want to consume smoothies with bananas, or other high PPO activity fruits and vegetables such as beet greens, the suggestion is to not combine them with flavanol-rich fruits such as berries, grapes and cocoa.

You add too much fruit.

A general rule of thumb is to stick to around 1 cup of fruit per smoothie. That's about a serving. Putting a few different fruits in your blender can easily add up to much more so if you're mixing fruits, keep an eye on the total amount.

And not only is frozen fruit more convenient (and often cheaper) than fresh fruit, they make for a better smoothie too. Frozen fruit blends into a rich and creamy texture while smoothies with only fresh fruit can be watery and runny (more on that later).

If you're adding nuts or cashews to your smoothie, they can cause problems as they're hard for the digestive system to break down. Another common culprit could be your protein. Many cheap proteins are filled with unnecessary fillers and artificial sugars that can cause digestive upset.

And, since sugars can make you feel hungry (due to spikes and drops in blood sugar), Cording suggests trying to add more vegetables than fruits to your smoothies, if possible. Overall, experts say smoothies can be a great way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet—provided you're smart about them.

Research shows that eating one cup of blueberries daily can improve good cholesterol levels and reduce bad cholesterol levels in your body. Blueberries have no cholesterol and are rich in potassium and fiber, which helps prevent cholesterol buildup.

Do you put ice or fruit first in a smoothie? ›

Add small amounts of water, milk, or juice. Work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 10-20 seconds. Tip: Load the container in the following order: liquids first, then soft fruits or vegetables, greens, and ice on top.

Nutrition: Milk is a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamin D. If you are looking for a smoothie that is high in these nutrients, then milk is a good choice. Water, on the other hand, is lower in calories and fat. Taste: Milk can add a creamy texture and richness to smoothies.

Ethylene-producing fruits, such as apples, bananas, peaches and honeydew melons, should not be stored next to avocados, lemons, grapes, onions and other fruits or vegetables that are sensitive to this compound.

If you refer to the diagram above, you'll see that blueberries also have a certain malty scent, which pairs well with cherries, almonds, apples, apricots, blackberries, bananas, lychees, avocados and elderflower.

Enjoying bananas and milk together can help squeeze more nutrients into your diet and boost your intake of several vitamins and minerals.

Blending certain ingredients in smoothies can affect the abortion of nutrients by the body. For example, a banana and blueberry smoothie may be a bad combination. According to a new study, adding a banana to fruit smoothies can decrease the level of flavanols in the smoothie as well as its absorption in the body.