Is Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Good for Weight Loss?
No, Bolthouse Farms green goodness fruit smoothies are not good for weight loss because they come packed with 56 grams of carbs per serving, of which 46 grams come from sugar.
When you give your body such a high amount of sugar in one go, this will provoke a massive blood spike for which insulin the hormone needed to transport the sugars in your blood to all the cells in your body is released.
The longer insulin is present in the blood the more fat burning will be stopped till its levels are low again.
Plus to store all the sugars in your blood in your cells you need to be having a demand for so much energy if not the sugars will be converted to fat and get stored in your adipose tissues.
So in short this is the problem with Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness smoothies or any other flavors of smoothies they have.
But are there any benefits of drinking this at all? Come find out as I do a deep down on this topic.
Nutritional Value of Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Smoothie
As per the official website of Bolthouse, 1 serving of green goodness contains the following nutrients.
Serving Size: 15.2 fl. oz (450 ml)
Calories: 240
Carbohydrates: 56 g
Fat: 0.5 g
Protein: 2 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugars: 46 g
Sodium: 30 mg
Let’s look at the ingredients it has
Pineapple Juice From Concentrate (Water, Pineapple Juice Concentrate)
Apple Juice From Concentrate (Water, Apple Juice Concentrate)
Mango Puree From Concentrate (Water, Mango Puree Concentrate)
Banana Puree
Cucumber Juice From Concentrate (Water, Cucumber Juice Concentrate)
Kiwi Puree
Contains 2% Or Less: Natural Flavors, Spirulina**, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Green Tea**, Spinach**, Broccoli**, Barley Grass**, Wheat grass**, Garlic**, Jerusalem Artichoke**, Nova Scotia Dulse**
As you can see the first 4 major ingredients of “green goodness” are not exactly green, they are juice fruit juices.
Close to the bottom of the ingredient list, you see that all the green ingredients actually are less than 2% of the recipe.
Downsides Of Green Goodness Smoothie
There are many downsides to drinking this green goodness fruit smoothie when you are trying to lose weight, let me go over each of them in detail.
They are High in Sugar
I’m not here to demonize sugar – you’ve probably heard enough of that already. It’s important to understand that sugar is a source of energy for the body.
However, when you consume more than your body needs, it converts the excess into glycogen, a form of stored glucose.
The body’s capacity to store glycogen is limited, typically around 100 – 200 grams, stored in the liver and muscles, and this also depends on your muscle mass.
The issue with drinking a smoothie like this is that it packs 46 grams of sugar in just one serving. The body will store as much as it can as glycogen, but once that storage is full, it starts converting the excess sugar into fat, storing it in adipose tissue.
This process is scientifically known as de novo lipogenesis. In simple terms, when you consume a high-sugar drink, whether it’s from natural or added sugars, you’re likely to store most of it as fat.
This means, that instead of moving towards your weight loss goal, you’re actually gaining weight in the form of fat, which you’ll eventually need to work off. This doubles your efforts.
The only scenario where consuming a lot of sugar doesn’t lead to fat storage is if you lead a very active lifestyle, like doing high-intensity workouts or being a marathon runner, where there’s a high demand for quick energy sources like sugar.
But if you’re reading my blog, chances are you’re an average person trying to lose weight while balancing a job and finding time to exercise.
Therefore, a high-sugar smoothie isn’t conducive to weight loss. Don’t worry, though – I’ll suggest some better alternatives later in this article, so stay tuned.
They Barely Have Any Fiber
A Bolthouse Farms smoothie contains just 3 grams of fiber per 450 ml serving. In my opinion, that’s quite low.
Moreover, it only contains soluble fiber, which is just one of the two essential types of fiber. Let’s delve into why fiber is crucial for weight loss.
Whole fruits contain two kinds of fiber: soluble (dissolves in water) and insoluble (doesn’t dissolve in water). Both types are beneficial.
Insoluble fiber slows down the absorption of sugar from the fruit. It acts like a slow-release mechanism. For instance, when you eat an apple, the sugar doesn’t flood your body all at once.
Slow sugar absorption is easier for your body to manage. It prevents your liver from being overwhelmed and converting excess sugar into fat, thus maintaining a steady blood sugar level.
However, when fruit is blended into a smoothie, the fiber is broken down so much that it becomes less effective. As a result, the sugar from the fruit enters your body more rapidly, similar to drinking a soda, which can cause a quick spike in blood sugar levels.
In the case of Bolthouse Green Goodness, they’ve used only juice concentrates of fruits and omitted the peels, which contain insoluble fiber.
This is why their dietary fiber content is so low, which isn’t great not just for weight loss but also for overall health.
They Barely Have Any “Greens”
Yes, you read that correctly. This is a smoothie drink that calls itself “green goodness” but is primarily made of fruit juice with just a hint of vegetables added seemingly as an afterthought.
In my research, I found forum users adamantly stating, “Fruit juices are necessary for green smoothies, otherwise, they taste terrible.”
I agree that green smoothies aren’t always the most palatable. However, their natural taste is what contributes to their healthiness.
It’s akin to wanting a bowl of green leafy salad but drenching it in maple syrup because it’s not sweet enough. My point is, that not everything needs to be sweetened to be enjoyable.
Over time, this habit can condition your taste buds to expect a certain level of sweetness, making even plain water seem unappealing.
Ultimately, this product isn’t a true green smoothie but rather a fruit juice/smoothie with an abundance of genetically modified ingredients.
Also Read: Smoothie vs Milkshake For Weight Loss
Alternatives To Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Smoothies For Weight Loss
There are plenty of alternatives to green goodness.
Make Your Own Smoothie
This is a simple and effective way to make sure that the smoothie you are drinking is supportive of your weight loss goals. To make sure that this is true your smoothie has to tick off three of the following boxes.
Use Fruits That Don’t Have a Lot of Carbs
It’s a good idea to keep the carbs low when you’re trying to lose weight. You don’t need to go as low as a keto diet but remember, carbs are for energy, and most people don’t need too many.
So when you are making a green smoothie and you feel like you need a little bit more sweetness. Choose fruits with fewer carbs, like watermelon, raspberries, apples, oranges, and pineapple.
Make Sure It’s Full of Fiber
I’ve mentioned before how important fiber is. It slows down how fast your body absorbs sugar.
To add more fiber, put in seeds or nuts like chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, and walnuts. You can also use whole grains or oats, which are good for fiber too. Try rolled oats, quinoa, buckwheat, or millet.
These add more than just fiber – they make your smoothie thicker, and tastier.
You can cook or soak these before putting them in your blender, or sprinkle them on top like granola for a crunchy texture.
Avoid Adding Extra Sugar
You don’t need to add more sugar because the sweetness from the fruits should be enough. If you really want it a bit sweeter, consider using healthier sweeteners like allulose or stevia.
Opt For Organic and non-GMO green drinks
If you prefer to buy ready-made green drinks, you should look for organic and non-GMO options that are low in sugar and high in fiber and protein.
For example something like Cell-nique Organic Supergreen Pomegranate Drink
Let me show you its nutritional content.
As you can see 1 bottle of this contains just 84 calories, and 13 g of sugar, granted it is low on protein and fiber.
Plus the ingredient list is mostly made up of organic ingredients. So the point is that instead of drinking Bolthouse green goodness this drink is better than that.
The second alternative is Amazing Grass Greens Blend Superfood
While this is not a smoothie but more like a smoothie powder.
The product contains a variety of organic ingredients, including wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa, spirulina, spinach, chlorella (cracked cell wall), broccoli, acai, maca, carrot, beet, raspberry, rose hips, pineapple, green tea, acerola cherry, flax seed powder, apple pectin fiber, and digestive enzymes. It also includes probiotics like L. acidophilus.
These drinks are made with natural and organic ingredients, such as superfoods, probiotics, enzymes, and herbs, that can support your health and weight loss goals.
Water or Herbal Tea
Sometimes, the simplest and cheapest alternative to Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Smoothies is water or herbal tea.
Water and herbal tea are calorie-free, sugar-free, and hydrating, and they can help to flush out toxins, reduce appetite, and improve digestion.
You can also add some lemon, ginger, mint, or honey to enhance the flavor and benefits of water or herbal tea.
Drinking water or herbal tea before or between meals can help you feel full and prevent overeating.
Also Read: Best Time To Drink Green Tea For Weight Loss
Conclusion
While Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness doesn’t have added sugar, it’s primarily a fruit juice with less than 2 percent green vegetables, making it not the best choice for weight loss.
If you’re keen on drinking smoothies, it’s preferable to make them yourself. This way, you have complete control over the ingredients.
FAQ
Is Bolthouse Farms’ green goodness actually healthy?
Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness’s healthiness is debatable due to its high sugar content, which may outweigh the benefits of the nutrients it contains.
Are Bolthouse Farms drinks healthy for weight loss?
Bolthouse Farms drinks might not be the best option for weight loss because of their high sugar content and the presence of artificial ingredients, which can be counterproductive for weight management.
What are the benefits of green goodness?
The benefits of Green Goodness are primarily from its fruit juice content, offering vitamins and minerals. However, its healthiness is diminished by the high sugar levels.
How much weight can you lose on a green smoothie?
It cannot be said how much weight you can lose on a green smoothie because the amount of weight you can lose with green smoothies depends on various factors, including your overall diet, exercise routine, and individual metabolism.