Let us not converge under false pretenses here: There are more powerful powders and potions on the market than any otherwise occupied healthy vegan can keep up with. In one way, this is great: there are quick, chockablock sources of all the targeted vitamins, antioxidants, nutrients and so on we are all after.

However, it can be a bit overwhelming, too. Do we actually need all these powders and potions? Are they natural? Overly processed? Is one enough? Should it be a concentrated source of one superfood or a milled mixture? It seems one’s entire life could become consumed with which health craze to consume.

In order to narrow this discussion though, let’s assume we aren’t using these to replace meals or a healthy, plant-based, whole food diet. Let’s say we are simply after natural, nonchalant boosts to incorporate into our good habits, and let’s consider simple foods rather than complicated products.

These powerful powders and potions are perfect for sliding into our daily routines and providing something a bit beyond what a balanced diet does.

Potions

Apple Cider Vinegar is old school, like back to Hippocrates, and has been used to promote good health for millennia. The important thing to remember is that its raw, organic ACV that gets the job done best, stuff with debris floating around in it rather than the more processed clear versions. It cleans up and balances your systems inside and out. Use it everyday on beans, salads, sandwiches and sauces, or you can make a tonic by mixing it with water.

Make your own with these simple recipes, one of which makes use of scraps and skins from apples.

Kombucha, also used for thousands of years, is a fermented tea, which can be a bit of an acquired taste but equally a very beneficial drink to sip with lunch. Again, we are after kombucha that is raw, not pasteurized, as the process nullifies all the benefits it can provide. It provides important probiotics, helping with detoxification, digestion and other bodily functions. It’s as easy as a glass a day.

You can buy a SCOBY, the mother bacteria, for next to nothing and start making your own.

Green Tea is nothing new either and has been used for thousands of years as a medicine. Here we should look for organic, fair trade varieties to keep things clean and ethical. The boost provided from a three times a day habit means a healthier heart, a stronger brain and less disease. And, green tea can be counted towards your daily dosage of water.

To boost the magic of green tea, be sure to squeeze a bit of citrus into it as the vitamin C gives the antioxidants staying power.

Powders

Turmeric has been used — you guessed it — for centuries upon centuries as a powerful dietary addition. It turns out science has found curcumin, a compound in turmeric, has major anti-inflammatory and antioxidant attributes. It protects the brain, shields the heart, prevents cancer and helps the body do all the things a healthy body needs to do. Put it on fatty foods and combine it with black pepper.

Ideally, you can find fresh turmeric to make your own powder, but there is quality organic turmeric available.

Cacao has been used since for many years throughout history as an important health-promoting powder, even to the point of being given divine powers.It’s healthiest at its organic and raw state, remember. So raw cacao powder (versus heated cocoa) provides possibly the highest amount of antioxidants (and magnesium) of any food, in addition to a rich combination of nutrients.

Another great thing about cacao powder is that it makes for fantastic raw desserts with loads of other great nutrients.

Moringa is the last of our proven potions and powder and has also been cultivated as a medicinal, highly nutritious food for ages. Moringa is rich in antioxidants, nutrients, minerals and vitamins, so much so that it’s currently being revitalized as a crop to battle malnutrition.  What’s more is that most of the benefits are multiplied in its powdered form.

Moringa is widely available as a powder, but it’s an easy growing tree that can be harvested from year-round.

This, by no means, is a comprehensive list. After all, food is medicine, and as is evident by these short profiles, this has been the case for thousands and thousands of years all over the world. So, by all means, feel free to comment below with your favorites.

Lead Image Source: Energy Boosting Vegan Superfood Protein Shake