Best Superfoods for Smoothies
Superfood is that high energy, nutritious ingredients that can add great nutritional value even when used in smaller quantities. Superfoods are paired with different combinations of fruits and vegetables to fill in the nutritional gaps and provide the dieter all the much-needed nutrients. The commonly used superfoods for smoothies include the following:
1. Hemp Seeds
Go for these little seeds to add a protein boost to your routine smoothies. A three-tablespoon serving of matcha can add ten grams of protein to each serving, which is more than enough to meet your protein needs. In this serving, you can also get ten grams of omega-3 fatty acids, which can support your heart and brain health
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2. Goji Berries
The red-orange berries will definitely add some sweetness to a smoothie. And they also have a number of nutrients as well. They are packed with zeaxanthin, an antioxidant commonly known to improve eyesight and health. Gojis have a good amount of fiber—about 2 ½ grams per two tablespoons of serving.
3. Cacao
Cacao powder, or cocoa powder, are two words that are interchangeably used, but you should know that cacao is the raw, less-processed variety of cocoa, and due to this minimal processing, the cacao is rich in flavonoids. These are the antioxidants that have shown to boost blood flow to the brain. Moreover, cacao also has anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Chia Seeds
Like hemp seed, these small seeds are also packed proteins, omega-3s, and fiber. A two-tablespoon serving can provide six grams of proteins, ten grams of fiber, and five grams of omega 3s. They are also good for meeting your nutritional need for minerals like iron and magnesium.
5.Turmeric
It is a commonly used Indian spice that is added to food for its endless health benefits. The yellow-coloured spice can make your drink super healthy and delicious for sure. Turmeric also contains curcumin, which is an anti-inflammatory compound, and the research has suggested that turmeric can also help relieve sore or painful joints.
6.Collagen
You know that collagen is basically a protein that actually supports and promotes good, smooth, and healthy skin. Collagen is largely available in a separate powder form, which is edible and healthy; you can add this powder to your smoothie.
7.Camu Camu
The pale orange powder, Camu Camu, is packed with vitamin C. A single teaspoon of Camu Camu can provide 2,400 milligrams of vitamin C per serving, which is about thirty times more than an orange. That is considered great and healthy for your skin, as vitamin C helps fight against skin damage caused by the UV rays coming from the sun, and it also boosts the production of the skin-smoothing collagen.
8.Maqui
It is a dark purple powder, which provides more of the antioxidants than other fruits like blueberries, acai berries, pomegranates, or blackberries. Maqui is rich in anthocyanins, which a family of phytonutrients that have been seen to have a preventive effect against heart problems and cancer formation. It might help your strength against a common cold or flu; a few pieces of evidence suggest that anthocyanins also have antimicrobial properties.
9.Matcha
If you often visit a coffee shop, then you must be familiar with this matcha green powder. As the matcha powder is a concentrated form of green tea, it is packed with antioxidants like ECGC, which has been used to prevent tumour formation in human cells and reduce the risk for certain types of cancers. Studies have revealed that it has strong anti-infective properties, and it helps boost metabolism in the body.