In a world always on the lookout for shortcuts to a healthy life, the term “superfood” is thrown around without any real definition. While it’s true that some natural foods have qualities that make them stand out of a crowd, the truth is that now food, no matter how great, is the cure-all of a poor diet in general.
We drink our kefir every day because it makes us feel good and some studies show that it may help regulate our digestion and immunity. When we blend up our famous kefir smoothies, we add ingredients that we consider to be “superfoods” because they provide us with the nutrients we believe we need most to live a healthy life.
Every individual is different, and we by no means believe our suggestions work for everyone, but to us, our superfoods and the ones we choose to spotlight a great place to start when exploring new foods.
With that being said, below are five of our favorite smoothie add-ins we believe take the benefits of our kefir to the next level, as well as our favorite smoothie recipes that include them. We hope they inspire you to experiment in your kitchen and take your smoothie game to the next level.
As always, we’re not medical professionals and kefir is not meant to diagnose or treat illness or disease – use your best judgment and always reach out to a medical professional first if you have any health concerns.
Sensational Superfood Smoothies
Hemp Seeds
Considered by some to be one of nature’s “perfect foods,” hemp seeds are complete proteins that contain ample amounts of fiber and antioxidants. They’re also one of the richest plant sources of the essential fatty acids (EFAs) omega-3 and 6 and are a good source of iron and magnesium.
A 15 gram serving of hemp seeds will set you back roughly 90 calories while providing 8 grams of heart-healthy fat, five grams of protein, and zero grams of sugar.
We enjoy hemp seeds most with our tropical blends, including our Pina Banana Smoothie and our Strawberry Basil Kefir Smoothie.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are easily one of our favorite smoothie additions. The small sees soak up liquid (between nine and 12 times their volume!) and like hemp seeds, chia seeds are rich in protein, antioxidants and EFAs, as well as calcium and magnesium. Chia seeds stand out, however, because they’re incredibly high in fiber, with every one ounce serving packing 11 grams of prebiotic soluble fiber!
You’ll see chia seeds sprinkled on most of our smoothies (you gotta have that fiber, after all!), but we think they go best in our Hibiscus Berry Kefir Smoothie and our Coconut Lime Kefir Smoothie.
Flaxseeds
Continuing the trend of plant-based EFAs, flax seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, soluble and insoluble fiber, and protein. They’re also a great source of lignans – compounds that some studies show have a positive effect on cardiovascular health.
The best and most efficient way to reap the benefits of flaxseeds is by milling or grinding them. Like chia seeds, they can turn gelatinous when mixed with liquid, so we like to throw them in the blender with our smoothies, like our Berrylicious Beet Recovery Smoothie or our Probiotic Wildberries Smoothie.
Goji Berries
Seeds aren’t the only “superfoods” we add to smoothies! You’ll almost always see a fresh or frozen berry in our blender, and when we’re lucky enough to have some on hand, soaked goji berries are a deliciously sweet surprise.
Native to some part of Asia and Europe, goji berries are a bit harder to get in the U.S. and can be expensive. Because they pack an impressive nutritional punch for their size and rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C and iron, they’re worth trying if you can get your hands on them! They’re perfect for smoothie bowls, including our World Cup Kefir Açai Bowl and our Superfood Nuts and Berries Smoothie Bowl.
Cinnamon
Ah, cinnamon, how we love you? We’ve covered cinnamon in a superfood spotlight post before, but it’s definitely worth mentioning again. You can read all about it here, but to be brief, some studies show that cinnamon ay lower blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes and may reduce total cholesterol and lower LDL levels.
Even more, cinnamon consumption is also linked o a reduced risk of heart disease. And it’s delicious; what else is there to say? Other than give our Oatmeal Pear Breakfast Kefir Smoothie and our Honey Spice Kefir Lassi a try, that is.
Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe or superfood? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!