Smoothies are great! You can drink one for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even have one as a snack. Smoothies are simple to make and take on the go. You can prepare them ahead of time or throw one together on the fly. If you mix the right ingredients you will be rewarded with a nutrient-packed meal that is great for your health and waistline. But I was thinking, “How can I make my smoothies even better?” With a little research, I’ve found some common and not so common ways to super-charge your smoothie.

Liquid or Base

Let’s start with green tea. It’s a brilliant way to add a ton of antioxidants to a smoothie. Just brew up some green tea like you normally would and let it cool. Make a large batch and freeze it in ice trays if you want to be extra crafty. The green tea will add a nice light, earthy flavor to your smoothie. The metabolism booster is great for oral heath too. If green tea isn’t your thing try coconut water. The flavor is hardly noticeable, but it will still pack a nutritional punch. Coconut water contains electrolytes and naturally alkalizes the body. It will help fight bloating with its digestive enzymes and diuretic effect.

Fiber

 Cha-Cha-Cha Chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber and omega-3’s in anyone’s everyday diet. These tiny seeds reduce inflammation and soothe arthritic pain. All of the fiber in chia seeds helps to stabilize blood sugar. Chia seeds also aid in detoxing the body by absorbing toxins from the GI tract. For the times when the “going” get rough, try psyllium husk. The fiber packed plant collects water inside of your intestines. This makes it way easier to get “going”. Psyllium husk can also help lower your cholesterol. The fibrous husk can bind to cholesterol as it makes its way through your GI tract and flushes it out when you “go”. Remember to drink plenty of water when using psyllium husk and only use it when it’s truly necessary.

 Probiotics

 Meet yogurt’s super cool cousin, kefir. It has many of the same probiotic benefits as yogurt, but it is 99% lactose-free! Add kefir to your smoothies to thicken them and add a nice tang to the flavor. Kefir supports gut health and can help eliminate Candida overgrowth.

Protein

If you want to add a little protein to your smoothie, but want to skip the powders I have a couple options. Oatmeal blends nicely in almost any smoothie and contains 6 grams of protein per 1 cup serving. Nut butters not only add protein but healthy fat and flavor. Protein will help keep you full for longer, so I really recommend adding it in some way.

There you go! Mix a couple of the super-charged ingredients with some fruit and veggies to blend yourself up an epic smoothie.