I’ve written before about how to build the “perfect” smoothie, but today I want to take it a step further. These are like secret weapons you can add to your smoothie to make it even more nutritious!
FIBER
Adding a quality fiber source to your smoothie is essential for keeping your gut happy and feeling full. Fiber helps feed your gut bacteria and keep things working. Add one of these fiber sources to your smoothie: ground flaxseed, chia seed, acacia powder, psyllium husk, cauliflower. I personally keep chia seeds and ground flax on hand (store in fridge for freshness) and I also like acacia fiber when I want something tasteless. I buy the frozen riced cauliflower from Trader Joe’s and add instead of ice to thicken up my smoothie.
MACA
Maca is an adaptogen which means it helps support your adrenals to protect against burnout and chronic stress. It has been shown to support hormone balance, sex drive, mood, and energy. If you’re experiencing hot flashes- maca might help! It’s also shown to improve body mass index and bone density. The list of benefits goes on: it can help boost memory, lower anxiety, depression, and PMS symptoms. I add 1 tsp to my smoothies 😉
BLENDER BOMBS
I just started using these to add more flavor and nutrients to my smoothies. I’ve only tried the cacao and peanut butter and love the taste! The ingredients are legit, low sugar, gluten free, soy free, and dairy free. They are essentially an “all in one” smoothie booster! I also bought their granola to sprinkle on top of my smoothie of a little crunch! Their website also has a lot of great smoothie recipes if you’re looking to experiment with your smoothie flavors. You want to be sure to still add a protein, fat, and fiber source to your smoothie…while these ‘bombs” do have some of these nutrients in them, they aren’t adequate amounts. So you should still add your collagen, ground flax, and MCT oil to your blender bomb smoothie…and don’t forget a big handful of greens 😉
MCT OIL
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are fats that are naturally found in coconut and palm kernel oil. Due to their shorter length, MCT oils are more easily digested and absorbed from the GI tract and metabolized quickly by the liver which encourages the use of fat as energy rather than storage! This is why MCT oil is considered a “fat-burning” oil because it uses fat as an energy source. MCT oil increases metabolism and helps control blood sugar- yes please! I add 1 tablespoon to my smoothie as my fat component. You could also use MCT oil as salad dressing or drizzle over veggies.
SPIULINA
Spirulina is often referred to as blue-green algae and it’s insanely healthy…maybe even worthy of a “superfood” title dare I say. Spirulina is a nutritional powerhouse and has a TON of health benefits such as: immunity booster, gut health, lowering blood sugars, heart protective, lowering cholesterol, mental health benefits due to it’s amino acid content, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant rich! I add a tablespoon to my green smoothies and while it doesn’t have the best taste I think it’s worth it 😉
xx, A
