We LOVE smoothies!
If you read our recipes, you’ll see we spend A LOT of time creating new delicious smoothie blends for you to enjoy. What is so great about smoothies is just how versatile they can be! You can load them up with almost anything from nuts, seeds, fruits, veggies and other nutritious foods and powders- making them a great addition to any diet.
But here’s the thing, how do you know if your custom blend is really the best? With so many awesome options and evolving health food trends, it can get pretty confusing figuring out which superfoods are actually worth the hype, and which you may want to skip.
I wanted to make it easier for you. So, I made a list! When it comes to choosing my top fave smoothie boosters there’s a few categories of superfoods that I like to include- detox-related, gut-health related, antioxidant/anti inflammatory.
To help you step up your smoothie game, here are my top 8 smoothie super boosters (for now!):
Chlorella
Chlorella is a blue green algae that can provide helpful support in promoting chelation/natural detoxification particularly from heavy metals that we have way too much exposure to. The pigmentation helps to protect cells from oxidative damage, and also acts as a prebiotic adding the healthy gut bacteria we need to for digestion.
How to use: Add 1/2 teaspoon to your smoothie, chlorella has a STRONG taste so be sure to pair it with sweet fruits like banana, mango, pineapple or apples.
Our Favorite Products:
Activated charcoal
Charcoal gets a lot of press, some good and some not so good. Tread lightly on this one, but I certainly think it’s a worthwhile item to have in your cabinet. Charcoal, when consumed in small doses, may have some worth while benefits. Activated charcoal binds to toxins and unwanted substances, cleansing the gut and helping issues like diarrhea, gas, indigestion, and combating harmful toxins like mold. Keep in mind charcoal can also cause medication or vitamins taken in recent hours to be ineffective- so please be careful and reach out to your MD if you have questions (or your dietitian!).
How to use: I suggest to start slow and increase your dose gently. Start with a 1/4 of a teaspoon, and increase to 1 teaspoon over time, the taste is mild and mixes well with almost anything!
Our Favorite Products:
Viva Doria Virgin Coconut Shell Activated Charcoal Powder
Reishi
If you haven’t read our magical mushroom post, please do- you’ll see why these as well as some other mushrooms are high on our list of must haves. They’re healing, anti-inflammatory, and so good for you. The good news about reishii is that most often they come powdered and therefore are easily mixed into smoothies- so let’s use them for your smoothie mix.
How to use: add 1 tsp of Reishi powder to your smoothie, some people find Reishi powder to have a bitter taste, so try adding masking flavors like ginger, honey or almond butter
Our Favorite Products:
Four Sigmatic, Reishi Mushroom Elixir
Schisandra
Schisandra is an adaptogen that helps support the adrenal and nervous system. Adaptogens are natural substances considered to help the body adapt to stress and help to normalize certain processes. Schisandra has a high concentration of antioxidants, and may help inflammation as well as immune function. It also may help with liver detoxification, and digestive function.
How to use: Schisandra is also known as the five flavor berry due to its five distinct tastes: salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and pungent or spicy. Add 1 tsp to your smoothie, and try pairing with citrus fruits like lemon, oranges, and grapefruit.
Our Favorite Products:
Moon Juice- Schisandra Berry Powder
Collagen peptides
They’re SO crucial as the building blocks of our tissues and muscles, and are so important for skin and tissue elasticity, muscle growth and repair, and joints. Our body’s natural collagen production slows as we get older, which causes fun things like wrinkles, sagging skin and joint pain. Collagen peptides can help us improve the health of our skin, hair, teeth and nails, as well as reduce joint degeneration, and help live and cardiovascular function.
How to use: Collagen Peptides are pretty much flavorless, odorless, and soluble in both cold and hold liquids making them perfect for any smoothie. Add 1-2 scoops of powder and blend with your favorite concoction.
Products we love:
Vital Proteins, Collagen Peptides
Cacao/ cacao nibs
If you like chocolate you’ll really like this one too. Raw Cacao has over 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries, and are loaded with flavonoids that may help protect the heart and the body from aging and free radical damage as well. Cacao/cocoa also contains minerals like iron, magnesium, and calcium.
How to use: Add 1-2 tbsp to any smoothie that you want a delicious chocolatey taste!
Our Favorite Products:
L glutamine powder
L glutamine is often thought of as more of a supplement than a booster, but nonetheless I put it in my smoothie (and have my clients do the same). L glutamine is healing for the digestive tract and for our muscles and soft tissue as well, and can be a great post-exercise booster.
How to use: This powder has virtually no taste making it an easy add in to any morning or afternoon smoothie. You can add about 3-4 grams, once or twice daily (that’s 1 scoop).
Our Favorite Products:
Pure Encapsulations, L-Glutamine Powder
