You are not seeing it wrong. In many places across the United States, especially in busy cities, smoothie bars are sprouting like mushrooms.
The data also supports it. According to Mordor Intelligence, the smoothie market could achieve over 5 percent of cumulative annual growth rate from 2020 to 2025.
What’s with all the hype?
What’s a Smoothie?
Smoothies are a popular drink made from a mixture of crushed ice or other frozen fruit or veggies, some liquid, and a few add-ons like nuts, seeds, peanut butter, or other natural flavors.
A blender is typically used to break down the unrefined cells of fruits and vegetables so that their nutrients can be easily absorbed by the body.
However, more people sell powder versions of these ingredients, and most don’t make these products in their garage. They instead work with liquid dietary supplement contract manufacturers, who could help them with formulations.
Smoothies come in many flavors and varieties, and most contain about 100 calories per 8-ounce serving. Sometimes mistaken as juices, they have thicker consistency simply because they don’t throw away the pulp.
Why Are Smoothies Popular
Smoothies are popular for a lot of reasons. The first on the list is their supposed health benefits:
• Smoothies are often low-calorie as they contain fruits and veggies only. While they contain fat, the sources are usually healthy, like avocados, nuts, and seeds.
• Muscle recovery smoothies can be used as post-workout recovery drinks due to their high protein content, including whey powder and soybean powder (includes all essential amino acids).
• They can promote a healthy heart. Healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, and seeds provide monounsaturated fatty acids, which help reduce LDL cholesterol levels. They also contain omega-3 that helps prevent inflammation.
• Digestive health smoothies can be used as an easy way to get digestive health benefits such as prebiotics and probiotics from yogurt and cultured whey. Yogurt, a good source of probiotics, has been associated with improved immunity, bone health, and weight management.
• Some smoothies also contain flaxseeds that contain fibers known as lignans. These promote healthy bowel function by increasing the gut bacteria that produce butyrate, a fatty acid considered helpful in preventing obesity and insulin resistance.
• The high fiber content from fruits and vegetables provides detoxification benefits. Initially, it will make you go to the toilet more often because the fiber stimulates the intestines to remove waste products from the body. In turn, though, many people talk about feeling lighter.
• Anti-aging smoothies with natural antioxidants such as blueberries, acai berries, goji berries, and pomegranate help fight aging by neutralizing free radical damage to cells.
• Gluten-free smoothies are suitable for those who have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
Smoothies can help Americans meet their daily dietary requirements, while a drink might already count as a meal because it contains fruits, vegetables, protein, and even carbs.
Smoothies Are Convenient
Many Americans want to eat healthily but can’t because they’re always busy. They don’t have the time to prep and cook a meal for 30 minutes.
Some also struggle with cooking. In a survey among 2,000 Americans, over 50 percent said they experienced a kitchen disaster. Only one in five said they had at least one standout dish. Those who said they could cook were usually experts in breakfast meals with recipes dominated by eggs.
Smoothies are quick and easy to make. In fact, they’re a no-brainer. They can follow the general formula, which is about two cups of greens, a half cup of fruit, some liquid like water or milk, and a few extras one wants to add. Voila! Blend everything, and they can already have a filling meal.
Those who are always on the go can make a smoothie or two ahead as long as they’re willing to consume the drinks within 24 hours. They can invest in portable blenders or containers, so they can drink them while commuting.
Smoothies Can Be Affordable
A lot of consumers believe that eating healthy is expensive. However, that might not be entirely true. Many studies already show that not everyone has to buy organic food. Moreover, these factors are helping bring the prices of commodities down:
• More businesses are investing and selling healthy options. The more choices there are in the market, the more likely the costs will decline.
• Many recipes call for only a few essential ingredients.
• People can buy items in bulk.
• There’s not much difference in terms of nutritional value between frozen and fresh vegetables and fruits. Frozen goods often are cheaper and, of course, last longer.
• Liquid diet supplements or powder versions of greens can be cheaper in the long run.
The smoothie market is growing because it matches the needs of consumers today: a convenient, affordable healthy drink that can help replace a meal while still fueling the body with its much-needed nutrients.