Let's Talk Smoothie Bowls: The Reason They Might be Better than Smoothies for Gut Health

Ah, smoothie bowls. Who doesn't love them? Not only are they yummy, refreshing, and healthy, but they can easily be loaded with a variety of delicious toppings to make for the perfectly filling and satisfying meal. But, that's not all. While both smoothies and smoothie bowls are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, there's a reason that smoothie bowls are potentially much better for our gut.

Digestion starts in the mouth. Saliva functions to moisten our food and make it easy for us to swallow; but that's not all it does. Saliva contains amylase; an enzyme produced in our mouths which breaks down large starch molecules into smaller sugar molecules. This enzyme breaks starches down into maltose and dextrin. Okay, so why is this important and how does it pertain to smoothies and gut health? Let's think here.

If the enzymes in our mouth are designed to break down starches and begin the digestive process, what happens if they aren't secreted? If we aren't chewing our food, we're skipping a step of the digestive process which can be damaging to our gut and stomach health. By not chewing our food, we're giving our stomach a much harder job because our saliva hasn't already broken down the food we put in our mouths. This is often the case when we drink smoothies.

It's not often that while drinking a smoothie, we remember to still chew it. It's not natural and honestly hard to remember. While it's a good practice, this is the reason I prefer smoothie bowls. Because smoothie bowls are thick, loaded with toppings, and eaten with a spoon, chewing them comes much more naturally. By opting for a smoothie bowl over a smoothie we're making things much easier on our bodies.

All this to say, there's nothing wrong with drinking smoothies either; I absolutely love them. It's simply important to remember to chew your food well, even if it feels awkward or unnatural. Your gut will thank you later!

PS. This smoothie bowl has a base of bananas and blueberries and is topped with strawberries, bananas, cacao nibs, and my homemade chocolate tahini granola! It's the best ever!! And if you're looking for a good granola recipe, head to my previous post; you won't regret it!

-Rach

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