Supercharge Your Smoothies...With Herbs!

As the sun starts to take center stage once again, it shines a light on our routines, our diets, and our health regimens. I love the feeling of a season shift because it also shifts our habits. Most find they’ll start to move towards lighter and fresher foods, earlier mornings, and increased activity. Around the springtime is when I usually change my breakfasts from oatmeal to smoothies. And just like with my oatmeal, I like to stay creative with my smoothies. Here are some smoothie hacks to make the best of your breakfast, and your days!

Make it Green: Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is my favorite hack for a green smoothie. I want the benefits of greens, the detox effect, red blood cell support for exercise, and sustained energy for whatever my day brings me. However, I find that a lot of greens powders overpower the flavor of my smoothies. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color and what also makes them so dang good for us. Isolating it from a plant can give us the benefits, without the ”green taste!”! I like to add liquid chlorophyll to smoothies with bananas, protein powder, coconut water, and almond milk. Simple, hydrating, and detoxifying.

5 Flavor Berry Punch: Schisandra

This hack pairs perfectly with a berry smoothie! Schisandra is a berry itself with tart flavors and big benefits. It’s flavor compliments other, sweeter berries. Schisandra is known as the 5-flavor berry. It's sour, sweet, bitter, warm, and salty. All of these flavors speak to the body systems it supports: the detox organs, adrenal glands, the nervous system, and brain. I like to add liquid schisandra to a smoothie with raspberries, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, greek yogurt, and oat milk. Its packed with free radical scavengers, skin supportive vitamins, and vitamin C!

Energy Blast: Maca Root

Maca root is a great supercharger for active folks. It supports sustained energy, muscle recovery, hormone balance, cognitive function, bone health and libido. It has a nutty and earthy flavor and can be taken before or after a workout. Maca is a root that comes in red, yellow, and black varieties. Yellow is the most common and is well known for mood support and its apoptogenic properties. Red maca is well known for its bone health and libido support. Black maca is well known for its mental focus and physical performance support as well as supporting sexual drive. I add liquid maca to a smoothie with bananas, pears, protein powder, cinnamon and cardamom, and oat milk. The nutty flavor compliments this sweet and savory, hardy smoothie.

Happy spring, and happy smoothie making!

Rebecca Younger is passionate about herbs and women's health. She aspires to plant seeds of inspiration within her community about plant medicine and healthier ways of life. She studied Herbal Medicine at Herbalism Roots in Denver and is a certified Doula through the Matrona Foundation. She is the customer journey lead at WishGarden Herbs.

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.