5 Super Dairy-Free Supplements for Healthy Smoothies

We hear so much about protein powders. It’s easy to forget about the many other nutrients that our bodies require and may be deficient in. And I’ve already covered dairy-free protein powders extensively. So today I want to share some other dairy-free supplements that I often blend into my morning smoothies.

5 Super Dairy-Free Supplements for Healthy Smoothies

This is not a paid post, nor am I offering any type of medical advice. These are just dairy-free supplements that I’ve researched, tried, and that work well for me and my husband. All are free of gluten, nuts, and soy, but a few are not vegan. I have referenced which of these dairy-free supplements are vegan, for your convenience.

Collagen for Joint & Connective Tissue Support

They say after 35, your body starts to break down more rapidly. And I’m not going down without a fight! I exercise regularly to keep my muscles, bones, and tendons strong and my skin healthy, but a little insurance never hurts.

I learned about the different types of collagen from a brand called Collagen MD, by Neocell. They made a powder supplement that is formulated with an “anti-aging” blend of highly-bioavailable collagen type I & III peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, folic acid, biotin and vitamin B12. That particular product has gotten harder to find, but Neocell Super Collagen is readily available. And brands like Zeal Naturals Collagen contain additional ingredients like hyaluronic acid and biotin.

You aren’t supposed to take collagen with any type of protein, so I use it when I’m making all-fruit or mostly-fruit smoothies. It adds body to frozen fruit smoothies for a creamier consistency. See my Healthy Skin Smoothies post for some fun recipe blends.

Omega 3s

I sometimes add flaxseeds or chia seeds to my smoothies, but haven’t been a big fan of adding oil. However, I really like Coromega 3 Squeeze Packets,. They are oil blends, which do contain fish oil and egg yolks, but also boast 650 mg of omega-3 fatty acids and 1000 IU Vitamin D3 per little packet. They come in a variety of flavors. Thus far, I’ve used the Tropical Orange (straight up and in smoothies), which tastes like sherbet!

L-Glutamine (vegan)

This is an amino acid that is popular in the bodybuilding communities, but has also been touted for boosting immunity and gut health. The research is mixed, but our physician recommended L-Glutamine for both myself and my husband. We both noticed digestive benefits within a few weeks of taking it in our smoothies. Eggs, meat, dairy, and wheat are abundant food sources of L-Glutamine, but these foods may be limited in many of our diets.

As far as dairy-free supplements go, this powder is light and just a little is needed, so it goes virtually unnoticed in almost any blended drink. I use NOW L-Glutamine Powder (though I do occasionally buy other brands), which is labeled as vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and free of top allergens. Note that glutamine peptides are different, and are sometimes sourced from wheat. If you are looking, seek out L-Glutamine the amino acid, specifically.

Probiotic Powder (vegan)

So that “high potency” probiotic at the grocery store has a whopping 5 billion CFUs (those live active little healthy bacteria)? Well how about 100 billion CFUs with 12 different probiotic strains in a hypoallergenic formula? Yes, for real. Ther-Biotic Complete Powder (they also offer pills) has been my probiotic go to for years. It is a great dairy-free option for making your own yogurt, but I simply swirl a serving right into my cool morning smoothie.

What I love about this probiotic powder is that a) it works well for me, b) you can simply use less of the powder if you don’t need a full 100 billion CFUs (not preportioned like pills), c) it can be used in cold recipes, stirred in or for culturing, and d) the company has indicated that this is a truly dairy-free formula! (always double check if a severe allergy is a concern for you).

Calcium & Magnesium Citrate

I’m really picky about calcium supplements. As mentioned in my Dairy-Free and Vitamin D post, you don’t need to take vitamin D with calcium. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so it stays in your system until you need it. But from the studies I’ve read, taking magnesium with calcium aids in absorption. And again, from the studies I’ve read, calcium citrate and magnesium citrate are two of the best forms for absorption. To get them, I like BlueBonnet Liquid Calcium. It contains only the citrate forms of calcium and magnesium, and it also happens to contain Vitamin D. It is made free of top allergens, but it does contain vitamin D3, which most likely isn’t vegan.

I like the taste of BlueBonnet, but it is a little chalky (from the calcium). In thick smoothies, that chalkiness dissipates. If using liquid calcium, make sure you shake it very well before each use as the minerals tend to settle.

Do you use any Dairy-Free Supplements?

We would love to hear your personal recommendations and thoughts on supplementation, so feel free to share your favorites in the comments!