Have you ever succumbed to smoothies? These fresh and unctuous drinks are a huge success: stars, fashionistas and queens of "healthy" swear by these concentrated fruits and vegetables. We take stock of a trend originally born in the 1960s, which has been experiencing a revival for some time.

This is what a smoothie?

By definition, a smoothie - literally creamy - is a drink made from crushed or mixed fruits and vegetables, sometimes diluted with a little fruit juice. Most often, these "purees" of fruit are served, with crushed ice or frozen yoghurt. The French term (hit) insists elsewhere on this product freshness while the English name emphasizes its smoothness.

When sold in supermarkets, smoothies are hybrids between fruit juice and puree, with no added milk or yoghurt. However the manufacturers prefer to dilute with water or juice our enabling consumers to drink with a straw. It should also be noted that most commercial smoothies are instant pasteurized in order to better preserve the vitamins and flavors of the fruits.

Smoothie vs fruit juice

A smoothie is not strictly speaking a drink, since it is a mixture of fruit and / or ground and mixed vegetables. The entire fruit or vegetable is found in the smoothie: soluble fiber, insoluble fiber and juice. Its thick, creamy texture can be achieved with other ingredients: crushed ice, honey, frozen yogurt ... Moreover with yogurt, smoothie is akin almost to a milkshake.

One of the pioneers of juice, Norman Walker severely criticized smoothies in one of his books. It inquires into effect on their health effects since the fibers that they contain will somehow been swallowed because neither saliva nor chewed "(...) convert the fruits and vegetables into liquid pulp or semi -liquid without removing the cellulose is devoid of interest. Drink this mixture of juice and pulp is very bad for the digestive organs that are subject to more severe test than when you eat carefully chewing the fruit and vegetables whole. Salivation and long chewing are indeed essential to complete the digestion process when cellulose fibers are still present. (Norman Walker, Your health by the fresh juices of vegetables and fruits, Editions Utovie - p.23).

Smoothie, good for health but not only ...

Despite everything, the smoothie is a devious way to consume fresh fruits and vegetables: necessary contributions in our diet. And given the different recipes that exist, this is not its only benefit! Detox, tanning activator, or good for the hair, smoothies contain amazing secrets and come to infinity.

So, ready to succumb to the smoothies trend?