The BEST Superfoods to Add to Smoothies (Simple Everyday Ingredients)

Find out how to make your smoothies super healthy and tasty! Learn about the best everyday superfood smoothie ingredients to add for maximum benefits.

If you've been keeping up with my blog and social media, you might have noticed my love for smoothies. It all began when I started following the ABS diet, which encouraged daily smoothie consumption and sparked my passion for them.

When my eldest was ready for solid foods, I saw an opportunity to introduce nutritious smoothies to her diet, nurturing her taste for healthy eating. And it paid off wonderfully! I'd often include baby cereal powder like Earth's Best Organic Cereal for an extra boost of nutrients.

I applied the same approach with my two younger children, and they adored the smoothies just as much!

I've come across arguments suggesting that smoothies aren't the ideal way to consume healthy foods. While it's true that chewing fruits and veggies allows for more digestive processes (thanks to enzymes in your mouth), blending superfoods can still offer benefits. 

Your body will still absorb the nutrients from these nutrient-dense ingredients without causing harm. So, don't worry too much about the claims against smoothies; instead, enjoy them as a complement to eating whole fruits and veggies.

However, let's focus on the superfoods you can incorporate into your smoothies. While I recognize the benefits of maca powder, camu-camu, hemp seeds, acai powder, blue-green algae, and others, I'll be honest. I don't keep them in my pantry or buy them at the grocery store.

Perhaps when my children are older and can fully appreciate my passion for healthy eating. But for now, I prefer to stick to adding simple ingredients that I always have on hand in my fridge and pantry.

Now, let's dig deeper into the health benefits of these simple, widely available superfoods. 

Avocado

I enjoy including avocado in my smoothies for its creamy texture and lovely green color. Even though my son isn't a fan of eating avocado alone, he happily drinks smoothies with avocado in them, completely unaware of its presence 😀. 

• Avocados are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, E, K, and B-6, as well as folate, potassium, and magnesium.
• Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fats, which benefit heart health. These healthy fats can help lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Avocados are high in dietary fiber, which promotes digestive health, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and aids in weight management by promoting feelings of fullness.

Yogurt

I've written numerous posts highlighting the advantages of yogurt over milk. I also enjoy incorporating yogurt into my smoothies. However, I prefer using plain yogurt since flavored varieties often contain added sugar, which isn't necessary when blending with fruits due to their natural sweetness.

• Plain yogurt is a rich protein source, essential for muscle repair and growth and for maintaining overall health.
• Plain yogurt often contains live and active cultures, which are beneficial bacteria that support gut health and digestion. These probiotics can help maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms in the gut, improving digestion and boosting the immune system.
• Yogurt is a good source of calcium, which is essential for bone health, muscle function, and nerve transmission.

Berries

You can be creative here and add what you like the most, such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries.

• Berries contain antioxidants such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, and vitamin C, which help combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation. These compounds are linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
• Berries are relatively low in calories but high in nutrients, making them a nutrient-dense food choice. This makes them ideal for inclusion in weight loss or calorie-controlled diets.
• The compounds found in berries have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation throughout the body and alleviate symptoms of inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

Spinach

An excellent method for adding greens like spinach to your diet is blending them into smoothies and fruits. Not only does it create a beautiful color, but you also benefit from all the nutrients without tasting the spinach.

• Spinach is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, iron, and magnesium.
• Spinach contains various antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which help protect cells from free radicals and oxidative damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.

Flax Seed

Adding a spoonful of ground flax seeds to your smoothies couldn't be simpler! And the benefits are ample. 

• Flax seeds are excellent plant-based sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid essential for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation.
• The omega-3 fatty acids and fiber in flax seeds can help lower blood pressure, reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and improve overall heart health, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• The omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in flax seeds can help reduce inflammation and promote healthy skin and hair, potentially reducing the risk of skin conditions like acne and eczema.

Chia Seeds

While I seldom include chia seeds in my smoothies, I acknowledge it's a beneficial habit and intend to use them more often in the future. You typically want to add no more than a tablespoon of chia seeds.  

• Chia seeds contain essential nutrients, including fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants.
• Due to their high fiber and protein content, chia seeds can promote feelings of fullness and satiety, which may aid in weight loss or weight management by reducing overall calorie intake.

Nuts

If you enjoy the added crunch of nuts in your smoothies, incorporating them is an excellent way to boost healthy protein intake. However, I avoid adding them when making smoothies for the whole family, as my kids tend to object to the "bits" in them. Nonetheless, I enjoy the nutty flavor of my smoothies. I enjoy walnuts and almonds and often incorporate a small amount of peanut butter or almond butter into my smoothies.

• Nuts are packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are exceptionally high in vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, and selenium, necessary for overall health and well-being.
• Nuts are rich in unsaturated fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and further support heart health.
• The anti-inflammatory properties of nuts, particularly their high content of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, can help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases associated with inflammation, such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Adding nutrient-rich foods like fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds to your smoothies is good for you. It can lift your energy level, keep your heart healthy, care for your brain health, help with digestion, and make you feel better overall. Smoothies are an easy and yummy way to give your body the good stuff to stay healthy.

Feel free to personalize your superfoods to add to smoothies by adding healthy ingredients such as tropical fruits, almond milk (or any other plant-based milk) while considering this handy list of nutritious, everyday great superfoods.

Here Are Some Healthy Superfood Smoothies You'll Like

• Vegan Orange Tropical Smoothie with Coconut Water
• Creamy Green Smoothie with Avocado and Spinach
• Healthy Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie (Easy Recipe)
• Easy 4-Ingredients Banana Spinach Smoothie with Yogurt
• Fresh Mango Smoothie with Kefir (Mango Lassi)
• Healthy Banana Avocado Berries Smoothie