Smoothies

Now, wait just a second. Before you get into an uproar, let’s be clear here – not all smoothies are created equally. When you go to a chain restaurant or supermarket and buy either a standard-issue custom smoothie or pre-packaged smoothie, it often consists of chemicals, preservatives, additives and a whole lot of sugar.

When making your own smoothie, you still need to be cautious to not load it with fruit juices (apple, orange, passion fruit, etc), ice cream, milk or excess bananas, as these can quietly (and sneakily) up the sugar content to an unacceptable level.

All that not-so-good stuff will create a cycle of spiking your blood sugar before it crashes, which is linked to type II diabetes and insulin resistance. Both of these conditions can also lead to much more complicated and difficult-to-manage health problems.

Making or ordering your own custom, vegetable-heavy smoothie is a great choice. A base of water, coconut milk or almond milk is a good way to go. From there, add in a good mix of rainbow-colored vegetables. And if you’re really feeling lively, throw in some peeled roots or herbs, such as ginger or turmeric.