It takes little time to make fruit smoothies, and they are quite filling as well. You really do not need special equipment to enjoy those fruity treats. All you need is a blender and you are good to go. Smoothies offer many health benefits, and one great reason to include them in your diet is that they use the whole fruit and provide you with loads of fiber. That fiber keeps you full and prevents hunger pangs. This in turn helps keep your weight in check. Still, people have questions regarding smoothies, wondering if blending fruit removes fiber.

Does Blending Fruit Remove Fiber?

No, it does not. If you use a high-speed blender, it might break down fiber but you still get the same amount of fiber that you would otherwise get from the whole fruit. A blended smoothie is actually better in that it makes it easier for your body to absorb nutrients from it. This speeds up digestion and provides a number of health benefits.

Blending fruits only changes their appearance and texture and does nothing to change their nutritional value. Most people blend fruit to make it more drinkable or spoonable. You should avoid storing your blended smoothies for long because longer storage time may cause nutrient degradation. In fact, the vitamin-C content of pineapple, kiwi, strawberry, mango, cantaloupe, and watermelon may come down by 5% to 25% when stored for six days at 41F.

Preparations That Do Reduce Nutrients

Does blending fruit remove fiber? You already know the answer. However, there are other things you should avoid to prevent nutrient degradation. For instance:

• Do not soak fruit pieces before use. It is especially true when you have already peeled or cut fruit pieces. Soaking them in water would result in a significant loss of nutrients. You will lose vitamin C and B-vitamins because they are water-soluble.
• Avoid cooking your fruit. It is important because some nutrients cannot withstand heat. You should also be careful when blending your fruit. Blending for too long can cause some heat to generate in the blender, which may destroy some nutrients. Some heat-sensitive nutrients are vitamin C, pantothenic acid, vitamin A, folate, and thiamine.
• Avoid juicing if you are interested in fiber. Juicing will result in complete loss of insoluble fiber mainly because your juicer obtains the juice from the insoluble fiber only. Insoluble fiber is important for your health because it lowers blood sugar levels. Moreover, juices are going to have a more prominent insulin response that can actually contribute to weight gain.

Tips for Making Great Blends

Does blending fruit remove fiber? Not really. Blending is a great way to enjoy fruits, and there are certain tips to make your smoothies a lot healthier. For instance:

1. When Smoothies Are Too Thick

• You may add small amounts of milk, water, or juice to your smoothies and then blend it again for 10-20 seconds to get a better consistency.
• To avoid the problem again, be sure to add liquids to your container first and then introduce veggies or fruit and finally ice on top.

2. When Smoothies Are Too Thin

• You can simply add frozen fruit, such as bananas, or add frozen yogurt to your smoothie and process again for 20-30 seconds.
• To avoid the issue, be sure to use a variety of fruits and veggies in a variety of textures.

3. When Smoothies Are Too Bitter

• Simply add oranges or pineapple to add fruit sweetness to your smoothies. Bananas can also help neutralize bitter flavors, and so can strawberries. Adding vanilla bean, cacao, agave, or unsweetened cocoa powder to your smoothie and process for 10-20 seconds at speed would do the trick.
• To avoid the same problem again, keep in mind that baby greens are going to be milder as compared to mature greens. Use small amounts of bitter greens and add more once your taste buds adapt.

4. When Smoothies Are Too Sweet

• Add a bit of frozen lemonade or lemon juice to the blender and process for another 10-20 seconds to neutralize excess sweetness.
• To avoid the same issue again, be sure to use a balance of citrus and sweet fruits. It is better to avoid sweeteners like agave or honey because fruit have their own natural sweetness.

5. When Smoothies Are Not Sweet Enough

• You can add maple syrup, honey, grapes, dates, agave, or a little sugar to the blender and process for another 10-20 seconds. You can also use watermelon instead of water to sweeten your smoothie.
• To avoid the same issue, be sure to use a little sweetener at a time.

6. When Smoothies Are Not Creamy

• You can use avocado in case your smoothie does not look creamy enough. Be sure to remove the skin and pit of the avocado and then add it to your smoothie. You can also get similar results from vanilla yogurt, frozen yogurt, and ice cream. Just add to the smoothie and blend for another 10-20 seconds.
• To prevent the same problem in future, you may opt for a good combo of solid and liquid ingredients.