If you're looking for a super-tasty way to boost your nutrient intake, smoothies are hard to beat. Full of fruits and vegetables and often mixed with protein powder and superfoods, smoothies allow you to consume a full meal in a few yummy gulps. Fresh juice and smoothie bars have exploded in recent years, and more and more people are making their own smoothies at home using fresh ingredients. From post-dinner drinks made with yogurt and ice cream to pre-workout meals in a cup, smoothies are delicious, healthy, and definitely here to stay.

What Exactly is a Smoothie Anyway?

There are various definitions of a smoothie, with the "smooth" texture of these drinks distinguishing them from shakes and juices. According to Cambridge Dictionary, a smoothie is "a thick, cold drink made from fruit and often yogurt or ice cream, mixed together until smooth." However, while this definition is undeniably true, extra information is needed to distinguish smoothies from similar fruit and dairy-based drinks:

• Juices are made from juiced fruits or vegetables, but they contain little to no fibre. This offers some advantages, with vitamins and enzymes separated from plant materials and nutrients absorbed more quickly into the body.
   
• Shakes are very similar to smoothies, with their ingredients and consistency often very similar. However, shakes are more likely to be based around dairy or dairy-alternative products, which gives them a creamier texture.
   
• Smoothies can be just as thick as shakes, but the texture mostly comes from the fruit content. Originally, smoothies consisted of fruit pulp and ice blends, with modern variations also containing yogurt, ice cream, and nutrient-rich powders.

Popular Smoothie Ingredients

The modern smoothie is a broad collection of drinks made from a huge variety of ingredients. While fruit is always needed and yogurt and ice cream are often added for texture, the choice of ingredients leaves plenty of room for imagination. From protein powders to coconut water, from green superfoods to ancient spices, how you make a smoothie is completely up to you. The following smoothie ingredients are among the most popular:

Fruits

Fruit is the basic building block of every smoothie blend. No matter how much ice cream or protein powder you add, the fruit you choose has the biggest influence on the overall flavour and consistency of your smoothie. Most fruits can be added to smoothies, but some are definitely more popular than others. Berries are hugely popular due to their sharp taste and beneficial health properties. Other popular ingredients include banana, mango, apple, peach, melon, and pineapple. Fruits add vitamins, fibre, folate, and antioxidants for general health.

Vegetables

When adding veggies to a smoothie, you need to tread a bit more carefully. Most smoothie-friendly vegetables are also popular in juices, including carrot, zucchini, beetroot, and leafy greens like spinach and kale. You can also add sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli, squash, and even avocado. Some of these vegetables impart their own distinct personality, so start small and try not to overpower the fruit content. Vegetables add vitamins and minerals, with leafy greens adding potassium, fibre, and folate for heart health and general wellbeing.

Yogurt

For many people, a smoothie without yogurt is simply not a smoothie. Commercial or homemade yogurt products can be very healthy, as they add a good amount of protein along with calcium, vitamin B12, and probiotics for gut health. If you want your smoothie to be a nutritious breakfast drink or a filling mid-morning snack, including yogurt is normally a good idea. However, while Greek and flavoured yogurts are a tasty addition to most smoothies, the not-quite-a-liquid consistency of yogurt products doesn't work with everything.

Ice cream

It's hard not to like ice cream, with this smooth and delicious ingredient perfect for adding texture to smoothie blends. Ice cream products can be very unhealthy, however, so it's important to choose products carefully and never add more than you need. Review the calories, fat, and cholesterol content of commercial ice creams, or make your own at home for a healthier alternative. Smoothies made from fresh fruits, leafy greens, and ice cream are a healthy alternative to many standard desserts, however, or you can use yogurt and avoid ice cream altogether.

Protein powder

Mostly associated with shakes, protein powder is the secret ingredient in many of the best smoothies. Protein is essential for energy regulation, metabolism, and healing, and it's particularly popular with sports lovers and fitness enthusiasts. Drinking a protein-heavy smoothie gives you energy before a workout, and it helps you to heal and recover post-workout. If you don't want to use powder, you can add protein to your smoothie by including yogurt, hemp seeds, almond butter, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, or even peanut butter.

Dairy milk

Dairy milk is a popular ingredient in smoothies, as it provides a creamy texture that helps other ingredients to blend together. Milk can also be rather healthy, as it adds a significant amount of calcium and vitamin D to your diet. Not all fruits mix well with dairy milk, however, so choose your ingredients wisely and only select fruits that are both sweet and ripe. Bananas work great with dairy milk, as do berries, mango, and even avocado. Saying that, smoothies don't require dairy milk or even yogurt to create a luscious creamy texture.

Non-dairy milks

If you're a vegan or simply someone who doesn't like drinking dairy milk, there are lots of great alternatives available. Most popular non-dairy milks can be used in smoothies, including soy milk, rice milk, oat milk, and hemp milk. Unsweetened almond milk is among the best options, as it's low in carbs, sugar, and calories and also has a lower fat content than most dairy milks. Soy milk normally has a mild and creamy flavour with a hint of sweetness, which makes it another popular addition in smoothies.

Coconut liquids

As the most luscious of the non-dairy liquids, coconut water, milk, and cream deserve special mention. Coconut water adds natural sweetness to any smoothie blend, and coconut milk is the perfect stand-in for yogurt or milk. For a little texture, coconut cream is a great addition to smoothies when applied in small doses. Coconut liquids make a fantastic dairy-free, lactose-free, and vegan-friendly alternative — as long as you enjoy their creamy, delicious, and rather decadent taste.

Grains, nuts, and seeds

While they're probably not the first ingredients you associate with smoothies, grains, nuts, and seeds can be a great addition. Protein-packed ancient grains such as millet, quinoa, and amaranth are a worthy addition to many smoothies, and even good-old oats can be used to great effect. Not only do these grains add lots of fibre and a rich protein punch, but they also provide a unique sense of creaminess. When it comes to nuts and seeds, some of the most popular additions include walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed.

Superfoods

While there is no exact definition of a "superfood," some ingredients are so packed with nutrients that this word is the perfect descriptor. Some of the most popular smoothie-friendly superfoods include acai, camu camu, maca, goji berries, hemp seeds, matcha, and cacao. While adding these ingredients to your next smoothie won't give you superpowers, these foods are among the most powerful and efficient way to boost your nutrient intake. Smoothies are the perfect playground for superfoods because they blend up nicely and add a sense of texture without spoiling the delicious taste of your chosen fruits and liquids.

Cacao powder

As one of the world's most popular superfoods, cacao powder deserves special mention. While it doesn't have the same sweet taste as chocolate, it's healthier and works much better in smoothies. Cacao powder is packed with beneficial nutrients like magnesium, and it also comes with lots of immune system-boosting antioxidants. Cacao is also rich in theobromine, which helps to reduce inflammation and offers protection from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Cacao does have calories, but because it's rich in phytonutrients and low in fat, most of these calories are beneficial.

Herbs and spices

Just like an evening meal, adding herbs and spices to your next smoothie is a great way to improve the balance of nutrients and refine the overall taste. Mint is probably the most obvious herb to use in a smoothie, with other popular additions including basil, parsley, and coriander. Herbs can be added to smoothies fresh or dried, and you can even infuse them in hot water before mixing. A number of spices can also be added to smoothies, including ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric. Much like cooking a meal, it's important to remember that small quantities of herbs and spices go a long way.

If you want to make your own delicious smoothies at home, Healthy Being has many of the products you need. From protein and cacao powder to nuts, seeds, and superfood blends, we stock the world's healthiest products to help you live your best possible life. Shop now and enjoy free shipping options across Australia and worldwide delivery!