Three smoothie ideas to replace one meal a day and reduce cholesterol while losing weight

There are a wide variety of ways to shed pounds and feel healthier. However, some methods are no-brainers when it comes to improving your health and vitality. While working out regularly is important, maintaining a balanced diet is just as vital. Some think that skipping daily meals will help them lose their unwanted weight, but this actually slows down the metabolism. What does do the trick, however, are meal replacements. More specifically, smoothies! That’s right, this delicious and refreshing drink actually has a number of health benefits.

Meal replacements can not only help you slim down in no time, they can also help reduce your cholesterol levels! And don’t worry, just because they’re healthy doesn’t mean they don’t taste good. They’re filling and delicious! Starting off your day with one of these can work to boost your metabolism without packing on unwanted calories of typical meals like fast food and frozen options filled with preservatives. Here are a few smoothie ideas you can use to replace one meal a day and get on your to that goal weight:

Chocolate
Ready for the best news you’ll hear today? You can actually have chocolate in your diet and still lose weight. By replacing one of your daily meals with a chocolate-soy smoothie, you get that chocolate taste without all of the added sugar. The soy protein works to lower your cholesterol as well. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, soy protein works to lower total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol significantly more than milk. So go ahead and skip that sugary donut and reach for a chocolate smoothie instead. Your body will thank you!

Strawberry
If you’re more of a fruit fan, opt for a delicious strawberry taste that will please your taste buds and the scale. By replacing meals with this low-calorie smoothie, you may lose weight, decrease your cholesterol and improve overall heart health. To enhance the flavor even further, try adding some fresh fruit to the top.

Vanilla
A smoothie that incorporates natural vanilla will help you get on your way to slimming your waist. Instead of a calorie-packed meal, a replacement smoothie provides balanced nutrition and will help you maintain a healthy diet. Many wonder if meal replacements like these actually keep you full – the answer is yes. With a healthy level of dietary fiber, smoothies help curb your hunger so you don’t have to overindulge later on. When mealtime comes around, you’ll be craving this sweet and refreshing alternative.

A few smoothie tips
Any flavor you choose is sure to be delicious, but there are a few things you can do to enhance this delicious meal replacement. If you especially love fruit in your morning smoothie, Lunchbox.com suggested adding some on top. It really enhances the flavor.

If you’re always on the go, consider making a number servings at night so that you can have a few smoothies ready to go whenever you may need them. This makes it even easier to shed the pounds, even with a busy schedule.