Adding a smoothie to your daily menu can be a great way to kick-start your morning. A delicious blend of vegetables and fruits provides a healthy, refreshing snack perfect for any time of the day. Fruit and vegetables are the main additions to most smoothies, but it’s simple to add a few powerful favorites to help make the most delicious—and nutritious—smoothies.
Here are five simple power additions that are perfect for any smoothie.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented probiotic drink. It’s generally a fermented tea (green or black), sugar, and fruit juice with added cultures of bacteria and yeast. It can easily be used in any smoothie as a base and will provide a wide array of health benefits, one of the greatest of which is its ability to detox the body. It’s also been known to improve digestion, help with weight loss, increase energy, reduce joint pain, and prevent cancer.
Kefir
Kefir is a creamy fermented product that is traditionally made using cow’s or goat’s milk. The health benefits are endless, including antibiotic and antifungal properties. Kefir has been used to treat allergies, cancer, digestive issues, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more.
Flax
Flax seeds pack a big nutritional punch. They have a crunchy and chewy texture with a slight nutty flavor. Stirring one tablespoon into your favorite smoothie will add essential vitamins and minerals. Flax seeds are a good source of protein (1–2 grams of protein per tablespoon) and are chock full of omega-3 fatty acids (which are a key force against inflammation in our bodies), antioxidants, minerals, and essential vitamins. They are also low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. If you don’t like the texture of full flax seeds, you can grind them before adding to your smoothie.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice is a powerful drink filled with amazing nutritional benefits. Pomegranate juice has been found to have three times the antioxidant activity of red wine and green tea. Adding it to your smoothie could help reduce stress and protect against heart disease and cancer. Try to use organic pomegranate juice when you can.
Matcha
Matcha tea is the dried leaves of green tea ground into a powder. Add the powder directly to your smoothie to give it a nutritional boost.
The list of health benefits is long, including providing many minerals and vitamins. It can also protect against many kinds of cancer and help prevent cardiovascular disease.
There are so many simple ingredients to add to any smoothie to give it a more powerful and nutritious punch. Adding any one or all of these supplements can help you make the most delicious and nutritious smoothies year round.