An orange banana smoothie is a blended type of fruit drink that generally serves as a quick and convenient breakfast or lunch. The combination of fruit provides numerous nutritional benefits and helps contribute to a diet that includes five servings of fruit a day. Smoothies made using these two ingredients together generally have a thick consistency, however, they are adjustable, and often include other common fruit smoothie ingredients such as milk, yogurt, and crushed ice.
Orange banana smoothies can be a healthy source of antioxidants and other vitamins that the body requires in order to maintain maximum health. This beverage provides a considerable amount of vitamin C, which comes from both the bananas and the oranges or orange juice. Folic acid is another complex vitamin that exists in the orange juice that is frequently used for blending the smoothie, and is increased by the addition of bananas. This type of smoothie is also a source of potassium and vitamin B6 as well as a source of other beneficial nutrients, such as phytochemicals, carotenoids and bioflavinoids.
There are many health benefits from drinking the combined nutrients of these two fruits. The bananas and oranges that make up an orange banana smoothie are a convenient way of maintaining good cholesterol levels and may decrease the risk of certain types of cancer. Combining a healthy, low-fat diet with the regular consumption of this drink may also heighten these cancer-fighting effects. In addition, regularly drinking an orange banana smoothie may help improve or maintain good blood pressure, and may reduce the chance of heart disease, boost the immune system, and even maintain healthy eyes.
Adding complementary flavors to an orange banana smoothie can increase the overall taste of the drink. What to add ultimately depends on the taste of the person drinking it, however, both bananas and oranges commonly go well with, and are found in, many different fruit and vegetable smoothie combinations. On their own, bananas can contribute not only to a beverage's taste, but also its thickness. Oranges, often in the form of orange juice, are also a common ingredient for blending. When put together they complement and mix well with many vegetable or other fruit smoothie flavors, such as carrots, pineapple, frozen blueberries, or other types of berries.