Beverages

The New Way to Smoothie

A traditional smoothie is typically brimming with enough sugar to send your blood sugar spiking and have you snoozing by midmorning. Meet the new generation of smoothies: They're low in sugar (less than 10 grams per serving), fiber-rich and use healthy fats to fuel you.

May 27, 2020 Beth Lipton

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Smoothie Boosters

These versatile additions will help your basic morning bevvy skyrocket into a nutritional superstar.

1. Greens

Dark leafy greens, such as kale, Swiss chard and spinach, are a great way to get antioxidant vitamins C and E, as well as inflammation-deterring vitamins A and K. They contain carotenoids, a type of plant pigment, which work as antioxidants useful for combating cellular damage from inflammation-creating free radicals that could wreak havoc on everything from your skin to your eyes to your cardiovascular system. Getting your greens in powder form can be a way to add carotenoids into your system. A fermented blend can make the nutrients more bioavailable.

TRY: Whole Earth & Sea Fermented Organic Greens $37, wholeearthsea.com

2. MCT Oil

Medium-chain triglyceride oil, which is composed of medium-chain fatty acids, is notable for its positive effect on the brain. Along with a carbohydrate-restricted diet, MCT oil can help encourage the formation of ketones, water-soluble compounds that can be used as fuel by the body and brain. Those same ketones that benefit the brain are also used by athletes for energy and endurance. Look for an MCT supplement that doesn’t contain lauric acid but rather one of the three true medium-chain fatty acids – caproic acid, caprylic acid and capric acid.

TRY: Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil $25 for 16 oz, bulletproof.com

3. Medicinal Mushrooms

Adaptogens are leaves, berries, roots or mushrooms that help protect your body from stress and fatigue, so opting for a supplement that includes a variety of them can give your smoothie a real boost. Try a blend that includes immune-enhancing reishi – which stimulates the activity of the body’s natural killer (NK) cells, or immune cells that attack cancer and virus-infected cells – and cordyceps, which has anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, antimicrobial and anti-aging properties.

TRY: Four Sigmatic 10 Mushroom Blend $30, us.foursigmatic.com

4. Collagen

This trendy ingredient is known for its skin-beautifying benefits and for keeping hair and nails strong. Though it’s one of the most abundant proteins in the body, your production of it starts to drop off in your mid-20s, so adding it to smoothies can be helpful. Bonus: It’s also good for joints, bones and gut health.

TRY: Vital Proteins Marine Collagen $36, vitalproteins.com

5. Bee Pollen

After bees collect pollen from flowers, they mix it with their saliva to form bee pollen, used as a source of nutrition for the hive. Luckily, we can enjoy it, too. The slightly sweet granules are loaded with nutrients and carry anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic and mood-boosting benefits.

TRY: Stakich Bee Pollen $10, stakich.com

Don’t Fear The Fat

These smoothies are rich in heart-healthy, brain-boosting fats, such as those found in avocado, coconut milk and flaxseeds, to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol and help your body absorb nutrients.

The Recipes

Minty Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie

Brewed mint tea forms the base of this refreshing spinach smoothie with just enough pineapple to add a light sweetness, without a ton of sugar.

View the recipe here.

Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie

A staff favorite, this creamy-tart bevvy uses cream cheese for a rich texture while keeping the sugars at just 9 grams.

View the recipe here.

Mocha Power Smoothie

Avocado adds heart-healthy monounsaturated fats to this rich smoothie, while just ½ banana adds enough sweetness for two servings. You can skip your morning coffee and simply add instant coffee right into this drink.

View the recipe here.