Monday, September 19, 2011

Ways To Create Thick And Creamy Smoothies Using Dairy And Non Dairy Ingredients

By Alison Graham


A home smoothie maker can produce even more delicious thick and creamy smoothies if dairy products such as milk, cream and yoghourt are added or with the addition of one of the many dairy alternative milks available. Careful selection of ingredients will ensure that the smoothies continue to be healthy and lower in calories. Milk and some dairy alternative milks are an excellent source of the mineral calcium that is important for ensuring healthy bones and teeth in children and protecting adults, especially post-menopausal women from osteoporosis.

Lactose intolerance and difficulty in digesting dairy milk can be a problem for many people but there are now many non-dairy alternatives that may be added to smoothies. By utilizing these milk substitutes, everyone is able to have the pleasure of drinking delicious, creamy, thick milk shakes and smoothies.

To add more interest to smoothies or shakes, flavored rice milk is available. Rice milk is nice and delicious and it is worth adding because of this although its texture isn't as thick as cow's milk. Oat milk is easily obtainable and is thick and delicious. An array of nut milks can now be purchased so it's fun to experiment with different types.

Yoghourt can be added to your smoothies to make them thick and delicious too. Some yoghourts such as the thick 'Greek' type yoghourts are high in calories so it is best to check before purchasing and choose one of the lower fat versions of those thick and creamy varieties. To include an extra dimension to smoothies, add fruit yoghourts.

Yoghourt is a great source of calcium and people who are unable to tolerate drinking cow's milk often find that they can digest yoghourt. Live Yoghourts, known as probiotic yoghourts have many health advantages and are especially great for repopulating the gut with 'good' bacteria after taking antibiotics. High fiber yoghourts which actively lower cholesterol are now accessible and make good additions to smoothies.

One of the best sources of calcium naturally available in the diet is cow's milk. Full fat milk is probably best avoided by everyone except active young kids who need additional calories because it is high in saturated fats which dietary advice dictates ought to be avoided. Fortunately, it's still possible to obtain all the benefits of drinking milk from both skimmed and the low-fat varieties.

For any really special treat, dairy cream added to smoothies will make them even more luxurious. This super-rich creaminess can also be achieved by adding mascarpone or creme fraiche. Cream contains a lot of vitamin E but it also includes a lot of saturated fats and for this reason ought to be limited in our diets.

A good option if you are watching your calories is to look for one of the non dairy milks now available in supermarkets. Dietary advice is that Polyunsaturated fats are a healthier choice and just about all nut milks (except coconut milk) are high in these. It is advisable to choose a calcium enriched version of non-dairy milk and many soya milks available in supermarkets are an excellent choice.

To sum up, there are lots of ways to make your smoothies much more delicious with the addition of some of the ingredients to ensure they are creamier and the amount of additional calories can be controlled by checking labels on packaging and selecting the healthier options. For me, this is among the best things about using a smoothie maker to create my own smoothies at home as I can decide exactly what ingredients are put into my smoothies.




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