This cucumber-apple smoothie often doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves. It is a simple yet invigorating drink combines the subtle, refreshing taste of cucumber with the sweet crispness of apple, creating a beverage that is as satisfying as it is nourishing. The apple makes it great for fall or winter, while the cucumber is refreshing and makes it nice in summer too.
Nutritional Profile
Cucumbers are composed of about 95% water, making them exceptionally hydrating. They are low in calories, and they provide small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and various antioxidants.
Apples, on the other hand, are known for their dietary fiber and vitamin C content. The soluble fiber in apples, specifically pectin, aids in digestion and could contribute to a sense of fullness.
When you combine cucumber and apple, you get a smoothie that’s not only low in calories but also offers hydration, essential vitamins, and fiber. However, it’s important to understand that while this smoothie has various beneficial nutrients, it should not be considered a meal replacement or a cure-all for health issues. Rather, it’s a supplement to a balanced diet.
How I like to Use the Cucumber and Apple Smoothie
This smoothie can be particularly enjoyable during specific parts of the day and activities:
- Morning Kickstart: The light, refreshing taste can serve as a palate cleanser in the morning, and the natural sugars from the apple provide a gentle energy boost.
- Post-Workout: The hydrating qualities make it suitable after a workout, helping to replenish fluids lost through sweating.
- Afternoon Slump: Instead of a high-calorie snack, this low-calorie smoothie can offer a refreshing pick-me-up without the guilt.
- Hot Days: The high water content provides a cooling effect during hot weather, making it a healthier alternative to sugary drinks.
Pin This Smoothie Recipe!
Apple and Cucumber Smoothie Recipe
The cucumber-apple smoothie is a testament to the idea that simplicity can yield immense satisfaction. Its refreshing taste, coupled with its hydrating and nourishing properties, makes it a versatile beverage suitable for various occasions. This smoothie is a delightful addition to daily routines for those who enjoy a crisp, refreshing beverage that steers clear of excess calories and added sugars.
Cucumber and Apple Winter Smoothie
A refreshing smoothie made from cucumber, mango and apple.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber, pared and chopped
- 2 medium sized apples, core removed and cut into chunks
- 1 cup of cubed, frozen mango
- 1 orange, peeled
- water to fill line
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into the NutriBullet or other blender
- Blend until smooth.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 164Total Fat: 0.6gSodium: 5.4mgFiber: 6.8gSugar: 33.7gProtein: 1.7g
Cathy Mitchell
Saturday 9th of July 2022
Hi... Not sure from the way the the nutritional info is laid out as to whether the sugar content is: 6.8 gm or 33.7 gm... if the sugar is the latter where the heck is it coming from?
Nutrition Information: Amount Per Serving: Calories: 164Total Fat: 0.6gSodium: 5.4mgFiber: 6.8gSugar: 33.7gProtein: 1.7g
Blair Deseaux
Friday 9th of June 2023
@Cathy Mitchell, It's really not that confusing. The formatting of the nutritional info is a little off, but it should be obvious that the information is presented as [Nutrient Name]: [Amount][unit]. For example, "Protein: 1.7g" means that there are 1.7 grams of the nutrient known as "Protein." For the nutrient "Sugar," the amount that is listed is 33.7 grams.
As to why this amount of sugar is so surprising to you, well anyone's guess is as good as mine. Are you aware that sugar tends to taste sweet? And are you aware that sweet foods generally contain sugar, which is what makes them taste sweet?* The reason that apples, oranges, bananas, pineapples, melons, etc., taste sweet is that they naturally contain sugar. Even vegetables that we don't think of as being sweet typically contain some measurable amount of sugar. In fact, granulated table sugar is typically made using two different plants: sugar cane or beets. In the case of beets (which are typically thought of as vegetables), the beetroot is processed in order to extract the sugar component and leave other parts behind. Beets are used because they are relatively high in sugar, but in theory, sugar could be extracted from any fruit of vegetable, purified, and then allowed to crystallize into granulated table sugar. We could make table sugar using carrots, for example.
Let's say you're making apple sauce from scratch. You can simply blend up some apples and then be done with it. Your apple sauce would contain the sugars naturally present within the apple. If you used five apples, where each apple contains 19g of sugar, then the total amount of sugar in the apple sauce would be 95g. However, if you added 20g of table sugar to make the sauce sweeter, then the sweetened sauce would contain 95g + 20g = 115g of sugar total. This is not rocket science here...
*The only real exception to this that you will encounter in everyday life is when artificial sweeteners (such as Splenda or saccharine) or natural noncaloric sweeteners or sugar alcohols (such as stevia, erythritol, or xylitol) are used, but this recipe obviously does not contain any artificial or added sweeteners, as all of the ingredients are plain old fruits/veggies or water.
Carleen
Monday 11th of July 2022
The nutritional values can sometimes be off. I use a program that calculates it. However, there is a lot of fruit in this recipe and apples in particular tend to be high in sugar. For example a medium apple has around 19 grams of sugar. Keep in mind that the sugar value is not added sugar. It is sugar in general, which is present in all fruits.