Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of nutrition into a snack or meal.  Today we’re going to explore some of the best herbs to add to your smoothies for the most nutrition!   

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10 Herbs to Add to Your Smoothies

Lamb’s Quarter (Wild Spinach)

A  common garden weed, you can find lamb’s quarter growing in fields, along roadsides, in gardens and in manure and compost piles.

One of the most highly nutritious plants ever analyzed, lamb’s quarters beats many common greens like spinach and kale in vitamin and mineral content.  It’s especially rich in fiber, beta-carotene, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and manganese.   Like spinach, it is high in oxalates so it can cause kidney stones in some people.   It’s always a good idea to rotate the greens in your smoothies for this reason.

Used fresh, lamb’s quarter is mild tasting like spinach and makes a tasty addition to smoothies.  You can substitute lamb’s quarter in any recipe that calls for spinach.

Chickweed

Chickweed is another commonly foraged plant you might find growing in your yard in the spring, early summer and the fall.  It’s one of my favorites!  You can find it growing in sun or part shade and it loves moist conditions.

Chickweed, a traditional convalescence food,  is easy to digest and is very high in minerals.  It has more iron and zinc than even collards or kale!

It’s a mild tasting herb so use it fresh by the handful in your green smoothies.

Nettle

Another highly nutritious herb, nettle is high in both chlorophyll and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, silica, iron and vitamins A, C, E, and K.  One of the best herbs to take daily when you’re feeling tired or depleted or to rebuild reserves after a long or intense illness, either in a nourishing herbal infusion or in a smoothie.

Nettle also detoxifies the body and helps maintain even blood sugar levels.

Add small amounts of the fresh herb to your green smoothie or 1-2 teaspoons of the dried herb. Nettle has a green, salty taste.  You can read more about using nettle in this post.

Nettle Smoothie Recipes

 Chocolate Superfood Smoothie 

Nettle Smoothie 

Earth Shake: A Green Smoothie with Nettle

Astragalus

Astragalus is a sweet, food-like herb that is deeply nourishing and helps to build up the immune system.  This amazing herb creates a protective barrier to protect you from illness and increases your white blood cell count (your body’s defense system again infection.)

Powdered astragalus makes a wonderful and delicious daily addition to your smoothie, especially during the cold and flu season.

For more on how to use astragalus to boost your immune system (plus lots more astragalus recipes,)  you can check out this post.

Astragalus Smoothie Recipes

Immune Boosting Herbal Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Chocolate Superfood Smoothie

Turmeric

Turmeric has so many benefits, we’ll only focus on a few in this post.

First, turmeric is an amazing antioxidant.  Consuming turmeric regularly can help protect from harmful carcinogens and other environmental toxins and help our liver to process metabolic wastes more efficiently.

Turmeric can also help to normalize cholesterol and blood sugar levels and decrease high blood pressure.  It is a strong anti-inflammatory herb, promotes healthy skin and may even prevent cancer.

Adding turmeric to your daily smoothie is a great way of consuming this beneficial herb on a regular basis.  Turmeric has a prominent flavor so start with small amounts added to your smoothie.

Turmeric Smoothie Recipe

Tropical Turmeric Smoothie 

Ginger

Adding a bit of ginger to your smoothie can improve digestion and aid in the absorption of nutrients.   It’s especially helpful for gas, bloating and constipation or if your stomach tends to feel heavy after meals.

Ginger is also a warming and stimulating herb and makes a wonderful addition to a smoothie during the fall and winter months to increase circulation or if you have a cold constitution.  You can read more about ginger here.

Add up to a tablespoon of freshly grated ginger to your green smoothie.  It pairs especially well with apple, cucumber, kale and lemon.

Ginger Smoothie Recipes

Kale-Ginger Detox Smoothie 

Bilberries

A close relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and huckleberry, bilberries are loaded with antioxidants that prevent, decrease and reverse damage to cells from free radicals.

Bilberries also improve night time vision, reduce eyestrain and help your eyes adjust more quickly to the darkness.

Rotate bilberries with other fresh or frozen berries in your daily smoothies.

Bilberry Smoothie Recipe

Bilberry Dream Smoothie

Cilantro

As so many kitchen herbs are, cilantro is wonderful for digestion, easing bloating, burping, cramping and flatulence.  It contains a wealth of minerals such as vitamins A, C, E, K, and B, as well as folate, beta carotene, calcium,copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc.

It is also believed that cilantro binds to toxic heavy metals and removes them from the body.

Cilantro pairs well with exotic fruits like pineapple, guava and papaya.

Cilantro Smoothie Recipes

My Favorite Caribbean Green Smoothie 

Cilantro Detox Smoothie (Day 3) 

Parsley

Another common kitchen herb, parsley is high in nutrients, especially Vitamins K, A and C.  It is especially high in Vitamin K, which we need for a healthy heart and to build strong bones.

Along with being a nutrient-dense herb, parsley is also good for stagnant digestion such as bloating, constipation and gas and for strengthening the function of the kidneys.

As an added bonus, parsley also freshens your breath!

Add a handful of fresh parsley (especially the flat-leafed variety) to your smoothie for all these benefits!

Parsley Smoothie Recipes

Happy Digestion Smoothie 

Green Apple, Pear & Parsley Cleansing Smoothie 

Rose hips

Delightfully tart and loaded with Vitamin C, rose hips make a great smoothie addition to boost the immune system and prevent or treat colds and flu.   With more than 50% more Vitamin C than oranges, it is one of the best sources of Vitamin C.

If you don’t have a powerful blender, try powdered rose hips for a better consistency or grind your seedless rose hips in an herb grinder before adding to your smoothie.

Rose Hips Smoothie Recipe

Rose Hips Smoothie 

Where to Buy

If you don’t grow your own herbs, it’s important to purchase your dried herbs from reputable companies to ensure you are getting unadulterated herbs that have been ethically harvested.

Dried Chickweed:  Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs

Chickweed Seeds:  Amazon or Strictly Medicinal Seeds 

Powdered Astragalus:  Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs 

Turmeric Powder :  Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs

Dried or Powdered Nettle:  Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs 

Nettle Seeds:  Amazon, Strictly Medicinal Seeds or Mountain Rose Herbs 

Powdered Rose Hips:  Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs 

Dried Rose Hips:  Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs 

Bilberries:  Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs 

Herb Grinder:  Amazon

What are your favorite ingredients and herbs to add to smoothies?     Please let me know by leaving a comment below or sharing a comment or picture on my Facebook Page or on Instagram . 

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