Best Smoothie Ingredients For Optimal Health: According To A Nutritionist

Craft Smoothie was recently featured in a Newshub Wellness article alongside Registered Clinical Nutritionist Laura Warren. The article, titled 'Nutritionist reveals ingredients to add to your morning smoothie to make it beneficial for health' shares Laura Warren's advice on what makes a healthy smoothie, as well as the importance of how you're consuming your smoothies, and the impact this has on your nutrient intake.

Rather than providing a list of smoothie ingredients that you should or shouldn't be eating, Laura offers more holistic guidance for anyone looking to increase their nutrient intake through diet and lifestyle choices.

Here's an extended interview with Laura Warren to provide valuable insights and actionable tips for using smoothies to support optimal health.

Which ingredients are best to include in your smoothies for optimal health? 

Good quality fats like avocado, coconut yoghurt, nut butter and coconut milk boost metabolism, balance blood sugars and make us feel satisfied for longer.

Leafy greens are an excellent source of nutrients including folate, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin C and fibre - now that’s a superfood!

Berries are rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, fibre and polyphenols which are micro-nutrients that reduce inflammation. Plus they add vibrant colour and gentle sweetness once blended with other smoothie ingredients.

Every smoothie recipe in your Craft Smoothie Box includes a wholefood source of healthy plant-based fats, protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. You can expect two smoothies with leafy greens in every smoothie box and a combination of fresh and freeze-dried berries (depending on the season)

How can you get the most nutritional benefits from your diet? 

You are not what you eat, you are what you absorb, so to get the most nutrients out of your diet you want to eat when you are hungry (not bored, emotional etc) and also in a calm state.

The Parasympathetic nervous system (Rest and Digest, Heal and Repair system) wants to be fully activated so the nutrients can be extracted. Be mindful when you eat/drink - ensure you are in a relaxed state, ideally sitting down take a few slow breathes in and out the nose and a few moments of gratitude for your food before you drink or eat.

The key to a healthy diet is to consume a variety of wholefoods that are ideally locally grown. My view is to keep it simple and ideally eat foods grown as close to home as possible.

Aiming to eat local foods and in season is the best practice for high nutrient content in food because nutrient value decreases rapidly once the produce is picked off the tree or pulled from the ground.

Produce is also only as nutritious as the soil it is grown in. Its very rewarding to be apart of the process of nourishing the soil in your backyard with seaweed and magnesium salts etc and then picking what you grow to add to your smoothies or meals. 

Get inspirational smoothie recipes and ingredients delivered to your door by Craft Smoothie, so you can boost your breakfast with local seasonal ingredients at their nutritional peak!

How does eating nutritional smoothies and wholefoods impact your immune system?

Nutrients help the immune system in several ways: working as antioxidants to protect healthy cells, supporting growth and activity of immune cells, and producing antibodies. Epidemiological studies find that those who are poorly nourished are at greater risk of bacterial, viral, and other infections.

Think of food as the fuel to make our body work. If the fuel quality isn’t nutrient dense our bodies don’t operate at their optimum.

Want to learn more about protecting your immune health? Get more practical tips for supporting optimal immune function

What are the benefits of smoothies?

Smoothies are a great way to consume a nutrient-packed meal or snack that’s easy to prepare and tastes great. Kids, teens and adults all love smoothies and it’s a fun exercise to come up with different combinations that taste great and support optimal health.

One thing I recommend to clients over the winter months is to add warming spices like cinnamon and ginger to their smoothies and reduce the frozen elements to support digestion and the circulatory system when the weather is colder.

Discover more about the organic superfoods, including warming spices like cinnamon and ginger, that you can expect in your Craft Smoothie Box

What do you love about Craft Smoothie?

The convenience and time saving factor is great for busy days. Once blended together the smoothie provides everything you need - quality protein, healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits - all in a to-go cup.
There’s next to no prep work, no cooking, hardly any clean up. Perfect for busy parents, kids whose hunger has hit 'right now' and everyone in between!

Want to give a Craft Smoothie Box a try? Order by midnight on Wednesday for delivery on Tuesday

About Laura Warren, Registered Certified Nutritionist:

Laura Warren has been in the wellness industry for more than 17 years and her services are dedicated to inspiring connection back to natural living, vitality, freedom, and self through one on one education, group workshops, corporate wellness and unique experience retreats.

Now based in Queenstown, Laura focuses on a simple and mindful approach to health that supports the body's innate healing capacity, prioritising lifestyle changes that are fun and easy to implement for her clients. She is also a Level 2 Wim Hof Method Instructor, XPT Breathwork Coach and a Complete Oxygen Advantage Instructor. To learn more about Laura Warren's clinic, workshops and retreats, visit the LIVE WILD website.