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These 5 healthy smoothie additives pack a nutritional punch and will help stop you from getting bored with your same old smoothie recipe!
I’m a creature of habit. Every morning, almost without fail, I get out of bed and make myself a big smoothie in my Vitamix (I got a refurbished Vitamix here and saved a good amount of money.)
I’ve always found it difficult to eat solid food first thing in the morning, but I know the importance of eating a healthy breakfast. A superfoods smoothie provides an excellent dose of nutrition, and helps me start my day off on the right foot.
I have my go-to recipe that I make on the days I’m feeling uncreative.
My Go-To Smoothie
- Baby spinach
- Frozen berries
- Peanut butter
- Avocado or banana
- Raw cacao powder
- Medjool date
- Protein powder
- Almond milk
After blending the ingredients in my Vitamix, I sprinkle dried goji berries and cacao nibs on top.
And while I can’t argue with the nutritional benefits of this classic smoothie blend, I like to change things up sometimes.
Recently, I’ve been experimenting with adding different, unexpected ingredients into my smoothies. These five ingredients may seem unusual, but they all provide unique health benefits, and are excellent additions to your healthy morning smoothie.
5 Healthy Smoothie Additives To Supercharge Your Smoothie
Coconut oil
I eat a tablespoon or two of organic, unrefined coconut oil every day, either straight out of the jar, in my 3 ingredient heart-healthy dark chocolate, or by adding it into my smoothie.
Coconut oil has a multitude of health benefits. It contains fatty acids which help to nourish the skin, hair, and nails, it’s antibacterial and antimicrobial and best of all, coconut oil helps you absorb more antioxidants.
Additionally, coconut oil is a great metabolism booster, which means that coconut oil can actually help you lose weight.
Tea
Most commonly, people use almond milk, cow’s milk, or water as the liquid in their smoothie (I usually use almond milk.)
Most herbal teas contain a variety of health benefits, and can be an excellent alternative liquid.
Some good herbal tea options for your smoothie include:
- Chamomile tea – soothing and relaxing
- Green tea – high in antioxidants
- Dandelion tea – helps to cleanse the liver
- Rosehip tea – boosts the immune system
Steep your tea in a covered vessel to retain the essential oils (this is the tea infuser I use) let it cool, then use it in place of your regular liquid.
Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are not only delicious, they’re highly nutritious, too.
Hemp seeds:
- Contain a perfect 3:1 balance of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids
- Are an excellent source of protein
- Contain all 20 amino acids, including all 9 essential amino acids (the ones our bodies cannot produce, which means we must get them from food)
- Are rich in vitamins and minerals
You can buy hemp seeds in bulk from Thrive Market and sprinkle them on top of your smoothie (they’re also a good healthy snack to have on hand during the day.)
Beets
I am a huge fan of beets in salads and burgers (and just plain), so I don’t know why I didn’t think of adding them to my smoothie until recently.
Beets pack a huge nutritional punch, and also give your smoothie a gorgeous, vibrant color.
Beets are high in vitamins and minerals and dietary fiber. They’re low in calories and help to reduce bad cholesterol.
If you’re pregnant, beets are a particularly good addition to your smoothie due to their high levels of folate, which helps to prevent neural tube defects.
Chickpeas
If you enjoy a creamy, thicker smoothie then canned or soaked chickpeas are a great addition (and they have a very mild flavor, so they won’t ruin the taste of your smoothie.)
Chickpeas are high in fiber and protein, contain various vitamins and minerals, and are a good source of antioxidants.
Like beets, chickpeas also contain a high amount of folate so they’re a good choice for pregnant women.
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