Smoothie Operator

With our sedentary lifestyle and fast-food culture, acidity and heartburn is common. Other wrong eating habits are also to blame, says medical doctor, Geeta Sundar

It was in the 1960s that smoothies became a sensation in the US. In India, we are only now waking up to the potential and possibilities of this ‘meal in a bottle’

:: Nupur Amarnath 

In 2003, Tropical Smoothie, the US-based chain of smoothie maker, set shop in India only to close down within a year. People couldn’t fathom why they must pay double the cost for a “milk shake”. But puritans will tell you that a smoothie is not a milk shake. “It’s so much more,” says Sunita Roychowdhury, chief dietician, Rockland Hospitals. “They can substitute a meal, especially breakfast, as you can customize it to be as healthy as you want,” she adds. Nutritionist Dr Parul Patni of Diet Solutions says that smoothies are healthier option as you can control the calorie count by selecting what to use. “They have more fiber than juice, which also helps in keeping hunger at bay,” she says.

    Rahul Kharbanda, India’s only ISSA-certified fitness trainer and owner of the Delhi-based Athena gym swears by smoothies for packing in all the necessary nutrients in easy-to-eat form: and you don’t even have to make the effort of chewing. “A smoothie is a blend and carry beverage. It takes not more than ten minutes to make, doesn’t require you to sit and eat and all your necessary carbs, vitamins, minerals and required calories can be had in five large gulps,” he says.

Shake it UpTechnically, a smoothie is a blended, chilled, sometimes sweetened beverage made from fresh fruit. They are bespoke beverages that can be made to fit any requirement. All you need is a blender. Want to pack muscle? Add whey protein. Better skin? Add blueberries and raspberries — the anti-oxidants help. Want to make it a breakfast? Add some bananas for carbs “And even some oatmeal and nuts,” Roychowdhury suggests, adding that it’s better to blend at home as you can be sure of the ingredients.     Stick to fresh fruits — not frozen or canned, fresh juice, low-cal yoghurt or fat-free milk or soy milk. Even restaurants have now savvied up, adding low-cal smoothies to the menu. Delhi-based All-American Diner at the India Habitat Centre is a case in point.     The restaurant has stocked smoothies since its beginning, but Rakesh Anand, food & beverage manager at Old World Hospitality, which runs it, says they have of late noticed a surge in demand.“People consider smoothies healthier as the ingredients are natural,” Anand says. At the Diner, a smoothie starts at 125 and goes up to 155. Some restaurants offer add-ins such as soy milk, whey powder, green tea, herbal supplements or nutritional supplements.     But many question the nutritive value of such “health” drinks. “A pre-made smoothie can’t be equated to eating real fruit. Unless you are making it at home, you can’t be sure of the nutrition you are getting,” warns Roychowdhury.     Even Kharbanda agrees. “For weight loss, we always recommend eating the whole fruit because it is a lot more satisfying for the appetite.” Avoid adding sugar and make do with the natural sugar present in the fruits.! DID YOU KNOW?  In the early 1970s, the co-founder of Smoothie King, Stephen Kuhnau began selling blended fruit drinks under the name “smoothie”. Kuhnau later admitted that he didn’t invent the word smoothie. The term dates back to the “fruit- and fruit juice-based drinks made by the Hippies” in the late 1960s. Blender’s Pride Depending on what you use, smoothies can help you pack muscle, keep your heart happy or uplift your mood Better Strength2 tbsp peanut butter 1 banana 1/3 cup whey protein ½ cup fatfree yoghurt 1 cup fat-free milkBetter Heart1 banana ½ cup raspberries 1 tbsp peanut butter ½ cup non-fat yoghurt 1 cup fat-free milkBetter Digestion½ cup cherries (pitted) ½ cup mango ½ cup lowfat yoghurt 1 cup pineapple + orange juice 1 cup iceBetter Breakfast1 banana 1 peach (cut) ¼ cup orange juice 1 cup iceBetter Brains½ cup blueberries ½ cup raspberries 1 cup pineapple + orange juice ½ cup low-fat yoghurt 1 cup iceBetter Mood½ cup blueberries ½ cup mango 1 cup pineapple + orange juice 1 cup ice