Top 9 Slimming Smoothies Looking to slim down? Start by sipping one of these nine nutrient-packed smoothies! Loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables, these easy-to-make drinks will help you detox, beautify and energize in just minutes.While many of us use meal replacement shakes as a weight loss tool, how effective are they in helping us to shed kilos? Losing weight can be really, really tough. So it's no surprise that there's big money to be made in weight loss aids, especially if they work.One popular option is meal replacement shakes, which allow you to replace a regular meal with a shake (plenty of people would rather drink a chocolate shake for breakfast than eat a bowl of porridge).The idea behind meal replacement shakes is to replace one or two meals a day to help reduce the chances of over-eating, says Associate Professor Tim Crowe, an accredited practising dietitian and nutrition researcher at Deakin University.They can be a good option for people who are time poor or lack skills and interest in cooking, he says."

An advantage of using shakes to help with weight loss is they are very easy to use."While shakes provide reasonable nutrition, he says they are not designed to replace your whole diet."To lose weight you do need to eat sensibly around them and your other meals still have to be portion controlled.""They are reasonably high in protein and lead to a feeling of fullness. But as part of a calorie reducing diet you will be hungry. You can't hide that."Crowe says there is evidence that meal replacment shakes can help you lose weight if you use them as directed."Lap Dogs For Sale UkOverall the evidence is reasonably positive that they help with weight loss for up to a year. Good Running Shoes WalmartThis is as sustainable as any other method of weight loss, but most people do regain weight."Digital Wireless Baby Camera Web Monitoring

However, people tend to do better with weight loss if they get support from a dietitian, he says.You'll find meal replacements in pharmacies and health food stores. Many come as powders that you make into shakes, but some come in the form of soups or bars. Crowe says there are regulations around what can be called a meal replacement – for instance, they must provide adequate amounts of 16 vitamins and minerals.Crowe says you should ensure you know what you're buying as other protein and energy bars are likely to be high in sugar and kilojoules and not suitable if you're trying to lose weight.But this doesn't mean we should all start replacing meals with shakes.For starters, while meal replacement shakes might be convenient, replacing meals isn't going to help you get a handle on learning how to eat in a healthy way so that you can maintain any weight loss for the long-term.They also don't contain everything you need when it comes to a healthy diet. Crowe says: "they don't contain enough fibre and they lack phytonutrients, which are beneficial nutrients from fruit and vegetables."

As well, meal replacements miss the mark when it comes to the pleasure of eating. This is not just about the wonderful variety of tastes, smells and textures that you experience when eating food; it's also about the social aspects of eating. Humans have always enjoyed sitting down together to eat real food."Shakes don't address the social aspect of eating and people using them will have a hard time eating out," Crowe says. "You can't eat like that forever. Taste fatigue can be quite common."Medically supervised weight lossDr Priya Sumithran is an endocrinologist and researcher from the University of Melbourne Department of Medicine at Austin Health whose research focuses on obesity.She says many weight loss clinics use meal replacements as part of a supervised very-low-energy diet (VLED) for people with obesity. Only shakes formulated for adequate nutrition are suitable for use as part of a VLED."Using meal replacements as part of a very-low-energy diet should only be done under medical supervision," she says.

This helps ensure the right product is being used in the right way, that people can have their health conditions monitored and they have someone to discuss questions and concerns with. email ABC Health & Wellbeing If you're looking to sip away the pounds, juice cleanses may not be the best idea. Smoothies, however, could be your best-kept weight-loss secret: the blended beverage offers you tons of nutrition as well as protein and fibre to help keep you full until your next meal. Whipping up a smoothie for breakfast will further help you rev up your metabolism first thing in the morning, so here are 12 smoothies to fill you up as the scale ticks down. Vegan Chocolate Milkshake Smoothie This chocolatey smoothie is just 350 calories, and since it offers 22 grams of protein and almost 10 grams of filling fibre, it's the perfect breakfast to keep you feeling full and satisfied all morning. This carrot cake smoothie offers 19 grams of filling protein and over nine grams of fibre.

For more fibre, protein, and thickness, add chia seeds to your next smoothie. They'll keep you full without the need to make a mid-morning pastry run. This chia berry smoothie is also packed with antioxidants for your health. This thick, tasty apple-cinnamon smoothie is a favourite of celebs for keeping them satisfied for hours. It blends up quickly, so you can make it on a busy morning and feel full until lunch. If you've had a big night out or are just feeling a little overstuffed, wake up with this debloating papaya smoothie. Filled with enzymes to aid in digestion as well as potassium to help flush out excess sodium, this smoothie will help you start your day right and feel a little lighter as well. Protein, fibre, and calcium make this sweet green smoothie a filling, fat-burning meal. From celeb trainer Harley Pasternak, it's a favourite among starlets looking to reset after an indulgent period. Flat-Belly Smoothie Featuring Pineapple and Kale Had a big night?

Start today right with a debloating smoothie that helps you depuff and re-energize. This filling flat-belly smoothie is a great way to kick off your morning after a few too many evening indulgences. Skip the pastries, and opt for something lower in calories and better for you instead. Luckily, this banana bread smoothie tastes like what you crave with a healthy dose of protein, fibre, good fats, and more. It's perfect for when you need to fuel up before a hectic morning. This high-protein vegan vanilla milkshake smoothie seems like an indulgence, but it's not — you'll be excited to know that, in this case, having dessert for breakfast is actually an excellent idea. At just over 350 calories, 9.2 grams of fibre, and 15 grams of protein, this almond butter and berry smoothie makes a delicious and filling breakfast smoothie to enjoy if you're trying to lose weight. Start your day right with a glass of fat-burning ingredients, like calcium-rich Greek yoghurt, almonds, and broccoli;