The world of “superfoods” can be confusing and chaotic with all of the unfounded marketing claims and hype going around.
Superfoods are often overlooked because of this, but some foods really are super.
This list breaks down the top 17 superfoods for smoothies – no hype, just facts.
I go over the benefits, taste, and what each superfood blends well with so you can get started on your superfood smoothie journey!
17 Best Smoothie superfoods
Why superfoods for smoothies?
While you technically could eat everything on this list on its own, smoothies are the perfect way to add a variety of superfoods to your diet. Smoothies were practically made to mask the sometimes not so appealing flavors of the superfoods on this list (looking at you spirulina).
Not to mention that most of these foods come in powdered form which makes them super easy to mix into your smoothie!
So in no particular order, here’s 17 of my favorite smoothie superfoods:
What Makes it Super?
Turmeric is a rhizome similar to ginger that is known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it a great choice for arthritis sufferers or to prevent chronic inflammation and diseases. It’s main active ingredient is curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound.
Taste:
Turmeric has been used for centuries as a spice in India and is commonly used in curries. It has a warm, earthy, and peppery flavor.
I like to blend my turmeric into tropical smoothies, the flavor pairs great with pineapple and coconut!
Smoothie Recipe:: Pineapple Turmeric Smoothie
What Makes it Super?
Matcha is the highest quality, specially cultivated green tea leaves. The benefits of matcha are very similar to green tea except more potent. 1 cup of matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of green tea!
Matcha is great for a non-jittery energy boost thanks to it’s L-Theanine content. It also has metabolism boosting properties making it a great choice for weight loss.
Taste:
Matcha has a similar flavor to green tea but is very high in chlorophyll which gives it a slightly grassy and “green” taste. Matcha’s flavor is subtle and can be easily covered up in fruity smoothies.
Smoothie Recipe:: Tropical Green Matcha Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Maca is a Peruvian root that has been used medicinally for thousands of years. It is an adaptogen which means it helps modulate system function and keep the body in a balanced state. Maca is specifically useful for boosting energy, enhancing mood, and promoting sexual health by balancing hormonal levels.
Taste:
The taste of maca is best described as nutty and earthy. Some people love it and some people hate it so it’s one of those things you’ll have to try for yourself.
I recommend blending maca into your morning smoothies to start your day off right with a boost to your energy and mood. I find the flavor pairs really well with peanut butter and dessert smoothie flavors.
Smoothie Recipe:: Chocolate Maca Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Chia seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Most modern diets consume way too much omega-6 fatty acids and too little omega-3 fatty acids. This inbalance is a major cause of chronic inflammation.
Chia seeds are also a rich source of plant-based protein with close to 3 grams of protein per tablespoon!
Taste:
Raw chia seeds have little to no taste. This makes them perfect for almost any smoothie! You can blend them in or add them as a topping for an extra crunch.
Smoothie Recipe:: Anti-Inflammatory Green Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Camu Camu berries come from a shrub native to the Amazon rainforest and its surrounding swampy areas. Camu Camu is a true Vitamin C superfood, it is actually the highest known food source for Vitamin C. These berries contain up to 60x more Vitamin C than an orange! Camu Camu berries are the perfect immune boosting addition to your smoothies during cold and flu season.
Taste:
Camu Camu berries are most readily available in powdered form. The taste is slightly sour which makes them pair well with other sour fruits like citrus.
Smoothie Recipe:: Pineapple Beet Immunity Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is one of the most nutritionally dense and nutritionally complete foods on the planet. It is a rich source of vitamins A, K1, K2, and B12, and phytonutrients like carotenoids, GLA, and SOD. Spirulina is also known for its high protein content (over 4g per tablespoon). It also has an extremely high chlorophyll content which helps remove toxins from the body. Because of its detoxifying properties, spirulina has even been used as a treatment for arsenic toxicity.
Taste:
Spirulina tastes like what you would expect from algae – its fishy and similar to seaweed. Personally, I can’t stand the taste of spirulina but that is what makes it perfect for smoothies. I use sweet fruits in my smoothies to cover up the spirulina taste so that I can still my daily dose of this amazing superfood.
Smoothie Recipe:: Bright Blue Spirulina Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Cacao beans, known as “the food of the gods” are what gives dark chocolate (70% cacao) its high antioxidant content. In its raw powdered form, cacao offers a guilt free way to get the variety of health benefits you’d expect from chocolate minus all the extra fat and sugar. Cacao is high in antioxidants and is a source of 4 major feel good chemicals that boost our mood!
Taste:
Perhaps the best tasting superfood on the list, cacao has a rich chocolate flavor only more bitter. Cacao pairs great with anything that chocolate pairs with. I like my cacao in peanut butter or berry based smoothies.
Smoothie Recipe:: Peanut Butter Cacao Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Baobab is a fruit that grows on Africa’s Baobab trees or “Tree of Life”. This fruit is one of the most alkaline foods on the planet with a PRAL score of -52. It is also very high in vitamin c and fiber. The soluble fibers in the Baobab fruit are a great prebiotic which helps to encourage the growth of beneficial microflora in the gut.
Taste:
Baobab has a slightly sour and tart tropical flavor – very delicious! I’ve found Baobab powder to be good in almost any fruity smoothie.
Smoothie Recipe:: Strawberry, Mango, & Baobab Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Hemp seeds are exceptionally high in protein for a plant-based food, even higher than chia seeds. They’re also a great source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a 3:1 ratio (the ideal ratio).
Taste:
Hemp seeds have a nutty flavor that is very mild. This makes them great blended into any smoothie or added as a topping for some crunch!
Smoothie Recipe:: Strawberry Banana + Hemp Seed Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Moringa oleifera is a large tree species in northern India and although almost all parts of the tree can be eaten, the leaves are what’s most commonly consumed. Moringa has a lot of hype right now as the next big superfood because it is extremely nutrient dense, high in antioxidants, and has antidiabetic properties.
Taste:
Moringa powder tastes distinctly “green”. It has a bitter and sweet flavor that isn’t overpowering. Moringa will work great in almost any smoothie but I particularly like adding it to my green smoothies.
Smoothie Recipe:: Good Morning Moringa Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic and medicinal plant popularized by ayurvedic medicine. Its typically used as a treatment for stress and anxiety, to improve brain function, to balance hormonal levels, and to help regulate sleep cycles. It has also been shown to have anti-cancer properties!
Taste:
The health benefits of ashwagandha are impressive but the taste is equally off-putting. It is pungent and bitter. I’ve found that sweet fruits with stronger flavors like berries are good for masking the taste.
Smoothie Recipe:: Wild Blueberry Ashwagandha Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Butterfly pea powder comes from the butterfly pea flower that is typically ground into a powder to be used in teas in Southeast Asia. This is another ayurvedic and medicinal plant that contains a variety of antioxidants. It’s typically used for its anti-ageing skin health properties and to improve brain function.
Taste:
Butterfly pea powder has a similar flavor to green tea and its subtle flavor goes well in almost any smoothie. It can be used to make anything from deep blue to bright purple smoothies!
Smoothie Recipe:: Blue Lemonade Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Flax seeds are another great source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. Research shows they could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and even certain cancers.
Taste:
Similar to the other seeds on this list, flaxseed has a mild nutty flavor and will go with almost any kind of smoothie. These seeds are great as a smoothie bowl topping or ground and blended into your smoothies for a healthy boost.
Smoothie Recipe:: Super Green Smoothie Bowl
What Makes It Super?
Chlorella is another green algae superfood that’s very similar to spirulina. Chlorella is also extremely nutrient dense (although less so than spirulina) and contains the highest amount of chlorophyll in any known plant. This makes it a great choice for detoxification.
Taste:
Chorella has a similar fishy taste to spirulina so you’ll need to cover it up with a fruity tasting smoothie.
Smoothie Recipe:: Supercharged Blueberry Chlorella Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Reishi mushrooms known as “the mushroom of immortality” are another adaptogen making them great for managing stress and balancing hormonal levels. However, Reishi mushrooms are most known for studies that show them to be a natural cancer fighter and protector against degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s.
Taste:
These mushrooms have a bitter taste which means they pair well with sweeter fruits or citrus.
Smoothie Recipe:: Superfoods Reishi Green Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Bee pollen is one of the world’s most nutritiously complete foods, meaning it has almost all the nutrients humans need to survive. It is actually responsible for the health benefits of honey! Bee pollen is also a great natural energy booster thanks to the antioxidant and bioflavonoid rutin which is abundant in bee pollen. Pollen is often associated with allergies but counterintuitively, bee pollen is actually used to treat allergies and asthma. It reduces histamine in a similar way to over the counter allergy drugs.
*Bees are not harmed in the collection of bee pollen. It is a non-invasive process.
Taste:
Bee pollen has an pleasantly sweet and floral flavor. I like to sprinkle my bee pollen on top of smoothie bowls so that its subtle flavor isn’t lost.
Smoothie Recipe:: Blissful Bee Pollen Smoothie
What Makes It Super?
Acai berries are another antioxidant packed superfood. The antioxidant content of acai berries varies from similar to a blueberry to up to 10x the antioxidants of blueberries. While acai berries aren’t the most antioxidant rich superfood gram for gram, they make up for this with a larger serving size. Acai is a delicious berry meaning it can make up the majority of your smoothie instead of just adding 1-2 tbsps like most superfood on this list.
Taste:
The flavor can be described as a cross between raspberries, and blackberries. Acai pairs great with other berries, tropical fruits like kiwi and mango, and even cacao powder!
Smoothie Recipe:: Tropical Acai Bowl
Organic Spirulina Tablets
Your post is one of the best posts I have seen. Before reading it I knew only spirulina only. I knew that spirulina is a superfood and it is a reachest source of protein but I didn’t know about other food. Your post will help many people and make them aware.
Thanks For Post!
Kailey
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Spirulina is a great superfood to add to smoothies but there are tons of others as well! It just depends on what kind of health benefits you’re looking for!
Deb
Thanks for this post. I knew of most of these products with the exception of a few. I really needed to be reminded. I have most of these products sitting in my kitchen cabinet. This article came to me st the right time. Really great information for all.. Thank you lots more people will be informed not only about the products but suggestions on how to pair them in smoothies for optimum taste.
Kailey
I’m glad you found the information helpful Deb!
Tammy
Great post!!! My daughter and I are doing a green smoothie for lunch challenge as we head into the holidays. I signed up for your 5 day smoothies, and am excited to use this list for an additional 17 days!!! Thank you!!
Kailey
Good luck on the challenge Tammy, the holidays are the perfect time for a smoothie challenge!