My Top 10 Superfoods For Healthy Delicious Smoothies

I must confess, I absolutely love superfoods! They are nutritional and flavorful powerhouses that are worthy of a place in not just a tennis player's diet, but everyone's diet. These are foods that are packed with nutrients that will help improve your health in a number of ways.

From the high antioxidant levels in acai berries to anti-aging effects of goji berries, and everything in between, these superfoods will have you feeling and looking your best. And, every one of them can be used in your next smoothie.

Here are my top 10 smoothie worthy superfoods in alphabetical order. You can add one or a combination of several to the majority of your smoothies. In case you're wondering, goji berries are my favorite superfood :)

My Top 10 Superfoods

Acai

Cacao

Cacao is the seed of the cacao tree, which grows in Central and South America. They are often called beans and are the flavor behind everything chocolate. Most chocolate products do not count as superfoods because the processing has eliminated much of the nutrition. If, however, you get raw cacao, you have a minimally processed food that is packed with nutrition. Raw cacao contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that can improve your health in a number of ways. Cacao has been shown to increase blood flow, lower bad cholesterol levels while raising levels of the good type, lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, and improve brain function, vision, and mood. Add cacao to a smoothie, but do not expect it to be sweet. Raw cacao is bitter and needs a little natural sweetener. FIND IT HERE.

Camu Camu

Chia Seeds

Coconut Oil

The health benefits of coconut oil come as a surprise to many. We have long been told to avoid saturated fats like the plague, but the experts were wrong about this one. Coconut oil is high in saturated fats, but in spite of that it has been proven to aid weight loss, lower LDL, or bad cholesterol and raise HDL levels, and even help to reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease. Coconut oil has also been shown to have an antibiotic effect. In studies, it helped to treat pneumonia and to kill the bacteria that cause acne. You can store coconut oil much longer than other oils because it does not go rancid easily. Add a tablespoon to a fruity or chocolate smoothie and you will enjoy the subtle flavor of coconut as well as all these health benefits. FIND IT HERE.

Goji Berry Powder

Hemp Seeds

Maca

Maqui

Spirulina

Honorable Mentions

The top ten are the best of the best superfoods, but there are others worth exploring. Flax seeds have long been recognized as a potent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and are, therefore, an excellent way to reduce inflammation. They are also high in fiber and antioxidants. You do need to grind these seeds before you use them, or they will pass right through you.

Chlorella, like spirulina, is a species of blue-green algae that is harvested from lakes. It has high amounts of protein, B vitamins, vitamins C and E, iron, magnesium, and trace minerals. Like spirulina, it can detoxify your body by removing heavy metals.

I encourage you to explore the wonderful world of superfoods and all their amazing benefits by adding one (or more) to your next smoothie. Try them all out, but use just a little to start with to gauge your body's reaction. If you like it, increase the amount you use. In no time, you will be feeling your best thanks to the power of superfoods.

Where to buy Superfoods?

Your local health food store should carry most, if not all of these superfoods. And for those of you who prefer purchasing online, I recommend Amazon. As a Prime member, I take full advantage of free 2-day shipping on practically everything in my house!

What is your #1 favorite superfood for smoothies? Share in the comments below :-)