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11 Healthy Smoothie Ingredients You Need to Start Buying

These are the nutrient gold mines that'll make your smoothie delish and healthy
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Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has countless benefits: It's an alkalizer that helps calm and heal from the inside out, says Patalsky, and it also improves digestion and hydrates skin. You can find aloe plants at your local grocery store, but make sure to only add the gel you find inside the leaves to your smoothie (not the whole plant).

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Chia Seeds
These miracle seeds are the new darling of the nutrition world for good reason: In addition to their omega-3 fatty acid content (omegas prevent everything from cancer to the common cold), they also fill you up and keep you satiated. That's because chia seeds absorb water, and just like they plump up when submerged in liquid, they plump up in your body. Soak them for 10 to 15 minutes before blending and you'll get a thick smoothie that'll keep you feeling really full. You can also add dry chia seeds to your favorite healthy smoothie recipe. Patalsky recommends adding a teaspoon.

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Cacao Powder or Nibs
Adding raw cacao powder or nibs will give your smoothies a rich, chocolate flavor. Cacao is full of free radical fighting antioxidants -- so chocoholics, rejoice!

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Coconut Water
Coconut water's slightly sweet flavor makes it a great smoothie base swap for sugary juice. "It adds an accent of mild sweetness to your blend," says Patalsky.

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Salba Seeds
Paula Simpson, a beauty nutritionist, recommends adding salba seeds to your smoothie, which come from the same family as chia seeds. One teaspoon provides about 3,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, which is great for cognitive, circulatory, and skin health.

Some people can't start their day without a venti-sized quadruple-shot latte. Me? I can't get going without my morning green smoothie. Go ahead. Call me a crunchy, lentil-lovin' yoga snob like my co-workers do. But nothing gets me going in the morning like a kale-almond butter-blue-green algae-banana smoothie. It's my (healthy) crack in a blender.

Gone are the days of your basic strawberry-banana-OJ sugar overload combos. By now, most of us realize that your average smoothie isn't the best idea if you're looking to drop pounds. You're much better off blending your own concoctions at home, and tossing in some key extras that boost the nutrient content and keep you feeling fuller longer. With the right smoothie recipes, you can sneak in nutrient-dense superfoods, seeds, and greens -- and still get a delicious outcome. Skeptical? Here are some basic, healthy smoothie tenets:

1. Sweeten with fruit, not sugar.
2. Toss in a frozen banana if you want a naturally creamy texture.
3. Experiment with ice cubes that aren't made from water so you don't water down your flavor. Try frozen milk or nut milk, or frozen coconut water.
4. Add nuts and seeds for healthy fats and filling protein.
5. Add some veggies! Smoothies don't have to be all fruit.

We talked to several healthy smoothie experts -- a registered dietitian, a nutritionist, and a vegan author/blogger -- to bring you the best smoothie add-ins for taste and health. A spoonful or two of these ingredients will supercharge your mornings faster than you can say venti-skinny-vanilla-latte-with-an-extra-shot-of-espresso.

Now, get blending!
BY LILA GLICK | JUN 3, 2013 | SHARES
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