5 Superfoods To Add To Your Smoothies Slideshow

If you've been drinking juices and smoothies for the last five years, undoubtedly you've seen acai berries on the menu. Acai berries are loaded with antioxidants that fight free radicals, as well as amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. And as a bonus, acai berries don't have much sugar. The easiest way to add them to a smoothie, Morris advises, is a freeze-dried powder; juices are more perishable and you'll get a more concentrated punch of vitamins from a powder.

Want to know how to use acai berries in a superfood-packed smoothie? Click ahead for Morris' recipe for an acai (with beet) smoothie. 

Yep, the parent of the chocolate we love to indulge in. Chocolate in its raw form, cacao contains tons of minerals, antioxidants, and polyphenols that are especially good for heart health. Morris says cacao powder is the best for smoothies, but if you like your smoothies a bit crunchy — say, in a more dessert-like smoothie — cacao nibs are also a good option. 

We're all about the seeds: much like hemp seeds or chia seeds, flaxseeds are packed with nutrients. They're filled with essential fatty acids, as well as vitamin E and fiber. You can buy it in powder form, Morris says, but make sure if you buy them whole to grind them in a powder; the body won't digest the seeds in their full form. 

Hemp seeds come from the Cannabis sativa plant (different from the marijuana cannabis), and taste a bit like sunflower seeds. When added to smoothies, Morris notes, hemp seeds add a creamy texture to smoothies when blended with water (3 tablespoons of seeds per cup of water). You can find hemp powder or hemp protein powder in stores, which are best for creamy smoothies using nuts, bananas, and cacao, Morris says.

The "longevity fruit," goji berries taste a bit like raisins but more tart. Still, goji berries are a great addition to just about any smoothie. Morris says a goji berry is an "amazingly balanced" superfood, thanks to its more than 20 vitamins and minerals, plus macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates). If we could name one superfood Superman, this might be it. You can find dried goji berries in health stores, but make sure they don't have added sugars or preservatives. 

Want to get your fill of hemp seeds and goji berries? Click ahead for Morris' recipe for her mango chili smoothie.