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4 Super Easy Ways to Reduce Sugar in Your Post-Workout Smoothie

Updated: May 27, 2020


Sugar is a sneaky little guy. Especially when it comes to breakfast. Sugar in excess can cause weight gain, hormonal imbalances, acne, and anxiety. Having a morning smoothie is one of the easiest ways you can get tons of body loving nutrients that serve your health and wellness goals, but it's also a sneaky vehicle for sugar too. Today I'm sharing 4 ways you can reduce the sugar content of your smoothie to help tap into fat burning mechanisms, reduce breakouts, and stabilize your mood!


Check your base

The liquid base of your smoothie is a great place to start when cutting sugar. Many smoothie places use fruit juice like orange, apple, or pineapple. Most fruit juices come in at about 30-35g of sugar per 12 oz. serving, which doesn't make it a great option for your smoothie base. Opt for an unsweetened dairy-free milk like almond, coconut, cashew, or hemp. You can also use coconut water, although this contains more sugar than unsweetened-dairy free milk, but not as much as fruit juice.

Use low sugar fruits

Not all fruits are created equal. Some have much lower fiber while containing higher sugar contents that will spike your blood glucose levels and throw you out of fat burning mode. Dates contain about 16g of sugar per ONE piece. On the other hand, 1/2 medium sized banana or 1/2 cup blueberries contains about 7g. Use 1-2 of these lower sugar fruits as an alternative to higher sugar fruits. Note - dates are a great sweet treat, but they shouldn't be used daily.

Add healthy fats to make it creamy

High sugar yogurts or multiple bananas are often used to make a smoothie creamy. Instead, opt for healthy fats such as avocado, coconut meat, chia seeds, coconut butter, or almond/peanut butter to reduce the sugar content. This will also help to increase the satiety level of your smoothie and make you feel fuller longer.

Check your protein powder

If you use protein powder in your smoothies, check that it doesn't contain any added sugar. Monk fruit and stevia are generally tolerated by most people and do not contribute to the total sugar count. If your protein powder contains sugar, I suggest switching it to a sugar free brand.


Smoothies are one of my go-to meals to have after I've worked out. They're fast, easy, and so tasty! You can find low sugar, delicious smoothies in my THRIVING eCookbook! It also has simple lunch, snack, coffee, and dinner recipes that will help you reach your nutrition and wellness goals!


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This content (on www.autumnellenutrition.com and in marketing emails from Autumn Elle Nutrition) is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors, nutritionists and/or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Autumn Elle Nutrition nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

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