Metabolism | Healthy Smoothie Recipes For Life

Weight loss smoothie recipes are made with natural fruit, vegetables and filtered or ionized water. Certain fruit and vegetables promote weight loss through an optimal use of energy. By combining these elements with purified water, a simple smoothie can have amazing health benefits.

Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes and Metabolism

Metabolism can be defined as the biochemical reactions within living organisms to maintain life. These chemical reactions may be anabolic or catabolic. Anabolic reactions change smaller molecules into larger ones such as making new cells. Energy is used in the process. Catabolic reactions break down complex molecules into smaller ones. Energy is released during this process. When the body has an imbalance of energy or calories from food, the excess energy may be stored as fat or glycogen.

Effective weight loss smoothie recipes are made with foods that help the body burn more calories in digestion than is contained in the food itself. Sometimes referred to as negative calorie foods or catabolic foods, these fruits and vegetables help speed up catabolic reactions – the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates for energy.

There are many fruits with these qualities that can be incorporated into weight loss smoothie recipes. The following are among the best:

Berries – Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries

Citrus Fruit – Lemons, Limes, Oranges, Grapefruit

Melons – Watermelon, Cantaloupe

Pineapples, pears and plums also fall into this category.

Green vegetables to include in weight loss smoothie recipes are asparagus, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, lettuce and spinach.

Not only are these fruits and vegetables low in calories, they contain powerful antioxidants as well. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals which can be produced during oxidation, a metabolic process. A free radical is an atom with an unpaired election. This free radical will quickly seek an electron from a healthy molecule to regain stability. The human body in a balanced state has natural free-radical defense mechanisms. However, when there are too many free radicals from external toxins or bad food choices, a chain reaction of electron stealing can occur. Cells may be damaged to the point of disrepair and disease.