What are superfood powders?

By

Holly Brooke-Smith

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Supercharge your juice or smoothie with one of these powdered extracts. Find out what moringa, acai, maca, chlorella, baobab and spirulina can potentially do for you...

1. Moringa

Leaves of the Moringa oleifera tree (native to Africa and Asia) are full of antioxidants and carotenoids, which may help improve cholesterol ratios and help manage blood sugar levels. The nutty flavour works well in fruit smoothies.

2. Acai

Related to blueberries, dried acai berries from the Amazon are rich in antioxidants and have immune-supporting and cardio-protective properties.

Acai smoothie bowl topped with chopped fruit and seeds

Try blending them into a delicious acai smoothie for a nutritious breakfast.

3. Maca

In its powdered form, this Peruvian root will boost your energy and may help to keep hormones balanced. Other health claims include helping to reduce blood pressure and support fertility. It has a sweet, malty flavour.

4. Chlorella

Bright green chlorella powder on a spoon

Derived from algae, this powder is rich in carotenoids, which can improve skin, and studies have shown that it helps to lower cholesterol. It does taste rather ‘pondy’, so it is best mixed with other foods such as yogurt.

5. Baobab

The fruit of the African baobab tree is high in fibre, antioxidants and vitamin C. It moderates the release of sugars, which keeps energy levels steady. It is also beneficial for your digestive health.

6. Spirulina

Green spirulina powder heap next to a spirulina smoothie

A blue-green algae, spirulina is high in protein, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium and iron. Stir it into smoothies.

Try adding one of these to our smoothie recipes.

Find out more about how to eat well in our healthy eating section.

This page was last reviewed on 5 July 2019 by Kerry Torrens.

A qualified nutritionist (MBANT), Kerry Torrens is a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food magazine. Kerry is a member of the The Royal Society of Medicine, Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT).

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