Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
My Low Cholesterol Diet Love of Kencko Instant Smoothies
High cholesterol runs in my family, so it was something I knew I had to watch out for. In early 2024, I had my annual physical and my doc told me my cholesterol levels were getting high. She gave me a year to try to make changes on my own via diet and exercise.
Read on to learn about the Kencko smoothies I love on my low cholesterol diet plus learn about some other lifestyle changes I’ve made to see if I can naturally lower my cholesterol (and I’ve already lost weight!).
Kencko Instant Smoothie Ingredients: BLUES
As a Walmart Creator, I often walk through the store seeing what items they may have that will make my life better or brighten someone else’s life. I found a really cool planter there and turned it into an origami money plant. See that project here or in my YouTube video below or here via my channel @carolynjbraden.
In a recent trip, there was an endcap full of boxes of smoothies by a brand called Kencko. I was drawn to the organic label on the box as we eat mostly organic and Non-GMO and have for many years. Just because something is organic, doesn’t mean it fits my current low cholesterol diet, so I always read the labels. I was extremely surprised to see the ingredients were completely natural and had no additives. Each box listed out very simple concoctions of freeze-dried fruits and veggies.
I grabbed a “Blues” box (banana, pineapple, apple, orange, baobab, thai lime leaf and lucuma) and a “Purples” box (berries blend). They had a shaker by the brand too (see it here on Walmart, and it comes with one smoothie packet), but I had a BlendJet at home, so I just figured I could use that. I took it home and made one.
Kencko Instant Smoothie Ingredients: PURPLES
You can blend the freeze-dried fruit and veggie mixtures in the packets (each of my boxes had 4 packets, which made 4 smoothies for $9.97, which is much less per smoothie than a coffee shop or smoothie bar) with water or milk. I added some ice and about 10 ounces of filtered water to my BlendJet with one packet of the “blues” and blended it through 2 cycles of my BlendJet to break up the ice.
Watch me make the smoothie in my 1-minute video below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Other Kencko Products to Try (links to Walmart):
Kencko Passionista Organic Fruit Snacks (Mango, Passion Fruit)
I blended my Kencko smoothies in my BlendJet
The Taste
The “blues” was a bit tropical tasting and the “purples” tasted just like a berry smoothie…perfect! Neither were very sweet due to having no added sugars. This was something I was looking for; a treat that satisfied my sweet tooth without added sugar. They are vegan, Non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, yet refreshing and flavorful and filling.
If you are on a low cholesterol diet, the Mayo Clinic recommends you reduce saturated fats, eliminate trans fats, increase soluble fiber and more. Read their full recommendations in their article here. Reducing sugar is connected to reducing fats in my diet because I love sweets!
Ways to lower cholesterol
Strangely enough, the less foods packed with added sugars you eat over time, the less you crave it. I watched a documentary called That Sugar Film and the creator and experimenter, Damon Gameau, experienced the same. The less sugar he ate, the less he craved it. I still have a sweet sometimes (I love Justin’s peanut butter and chocolate cups!), but I don’t crave them like I used to. I keep only mini versions on hand now so I don’t over indulge.
The Kencko packaging shows the goodness inside!
Other than altering my diet, I’ve also ensured I walk 10,000+ steps a day, taking a break when I feel my body needs it. Writer Jade Biggs wrote an article for Cosmopolitan and said how walking more helped her too and you can read about her experience here.
I was always a walker and lover of exercise, but I wasn’t being as vigilant of my daily routine as I should have been. Getting our lives disrupted by an evacuation and all the headaches that came along with our Hurricane Ian experience really got me off track, but I am doing much better now.
My current favorite Kencko smoothies
I started using avocado spray to coat my pans instead of drops of olive oil, I have omitted using butter as often as possible in my cooking and I’m cut back on eating sweets. It has not been a year yet, but I have lost 8 lbs. in about 4 months, so I know my body is liking my changes so far.
If I need to go on medication, I will, but because my doctor believed I certainly could attempt to lower my cholesterol on my own in a year’s time, I’m going to keep trying. My husband and I are also reading the book called “Good Energy” by Casey Means, MD, to learn more about our diet and overall health. It’s been very insightful.
A great on the go snack!
If you are having some health issues like me, where they aren’t a big issue YET, start educating yourself and talk with your doctor. Take control of your overall health because it does matter. I recommend Kencko products as part of my low cholesterol diet and look forward to trying more of their products. They are travel friendly and are a great pantry staple to have on hand all the time, especially when cravings hit!
If you loved this idea, we know you’ll love this one too: How to Make CJ’s Tropical Chicken Salad
Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.