Maca powder and why I add it to my smoothies

Last Christmas I received the smoothie book, Superfood Smoothies. I really enjoy adding some of the superfoods Julie Morris suggests to my morning smoothies.

One ingredient I hadn’t had before was maca. Maca is a root and it’s often sold in powdered form. It’s known in the superfood world as an adaptogen, which means that it can help the body adapt to and balance stress. It also helps increase stamina and fight against fatigue. Yes, please!

Maca pairs best with fruits like dates and bananas, which tend to be a bit sweeter than other fruits. In its raw form, it tastes like butterscotch with some earthiness to it. I use it in some of my smoothies when I use bananas and almond butter as the base. I’ve read that adding a touch of cinnamon helps balance out the maca, in case its flavor is too strong for you. Try adding just a teaspoon to your smoothies if you’ve never had it before.

I add maca to my smoothies because it provides an energy boost in the mornings and is full of B, C, and E vitamins. It gives my smoothies a richer taste, especially when I use it in combination with the fruits I listed above.

Here’s my recipe:

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 cup Earthbound Farm organic mixed power greens
• 1 frozen medium banana
• 1-2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 tablespoon maca powder (or a teaspoon if maca is new to you)

Kat-tip: I found organic maca powder at HomeGoods. A few days later I saw the same brand at Whole Foods for double the price. HomeGoods for the win again!

You can read more about the benefits of maca here and here. And bonus, if you’re a Gwyneth fan, you can read about her morning smoothie here.

Have you tried maca before? Do you have other superfood favorites?