To help fuel your workout, skip those bright blue and green-colored drinks. They’re full of sugar, artificial colorings and preservatives. Plus, since they’re often pasteurized, processed, refined and loaded with added sugar and artificial flavorings, you wont be gaining much nutrient content by chugging them before a run. Instead, try making your own drink and reach for natural superfoods to power-charge them. Here are five ways to amp up your homemade energy drink with superfoods.

1. Spirulina

Spirulina is a protein-rich algae that contains 8 essential and 10 non-essential amino acids, potassium, energy giving B vitamins such as B1, B2, and B6, and magnesium.

Try this recipe for an energy boost: Ingredients: Coconut water and ½ teaspoon spirulina powder. Directions: Pour coconut water into sports bottle and mix in the spirulina powder. Tightly secure bottle cap and shake well.

2. Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are a good source of calcium and iron, and they are high in B vitamins, magnesium and manganese.

Try out flaxseeds in this sweet potato pie smoothie. Use whole seeds, or flax oil, which will slow down the release of fruit sugar into the bloodstream, giving you a steady supply of energy for a few hours.

You can also try putting flax oil in this drink: Ingredients: 5 peeled, sweet, seedless oranges and 3 tablespoons of cold-pressed flax oil. Directions: Add a little cold water (about half a cup) and blend.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains significant amounts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, B1, B2, and B6.

To cool down, try this drink: Ingredients: 2 teaspoons raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar; 16 ounces cold water; 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup/raw agave syrup/raw coconut nectar. Transfer all ingredients to a bottle and shake well.

4. Wheat Grass

Wheat grass is a great source of protein, potassium, magnesium and B vitamins. For a boost to any smoothie, add a tablespoon of wheat grass powder.

Try this recipe: Ingredients: 3 large sweet bananas; 2 cups cold water; 1 tablespoon wheat grass powder. Directions: Process all ingredients in the blender until smooth. Pour into a large sports bottle.

5. Goji berries

Adding goji berry powder to a homemade energy drink is a great way to get a berry taste from one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Goji berries are an excellent source of B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.

Try adding the powder inside this raw vegan papaya apple smoothie. You can also substitute the acai berry powder in this super green smoothie for goji berry powder.

With the above recipes and tips, you should never reach for a conventional, processed and unhealthy energy drink ever again. Make your own superfood energy drink for optimum plant-based power that will last for hours!

Image source: Cranberry Coconut Smoothie