Clean Green Detox Smoothie

A delicious fiber-filled smoothie capable of cleansing our bodies with coconut water, fresh greens, fruits, vegetables, and ginger.

Do you ever feel sluggish after vacation or after eating an especially heavy meal or junk food?

When I visit family or travel for work, I often find myself eating in restaurants that use a lot of salt and oil. Things I try to avoid whenever I cook for myself at home. I also have a sweet tooth. And while I try to eat healthy treats whenever I can, I succumb to my temptations when I’m tired, hungry, and with other people.

Lame excuses, I know. The food I eat in a restaurant may be “plant-based” or “vegan”; but that certainly does not imply it’s a healthy meal. For instance, Impossible burgers and French fries are absolutely delicious and I adore both, but my body doesn’t always tolerate them well. Call me weak. I fully admit it.

So what do I do when I get home and feel sluggish and need a reboot?

This Clean Green Detox Smoothie comes to my rescue. This is a quick and easy smoothie comprised of healthy fruits and vegetables known to help rid our bodies of unhealthy toxins. Did I just say I put vegetables in my smoothie? Yes!!! Consider it a bottled fruit and vegetable salad. It’s super good for you. So much fiber and nutrients bottled up in one tasty drink.

It will rejuvenate, enegerize, and brighten your day. You will feel so much better after consuming this drink. Pinky swear.

So let’s chat a bit about the ingredients.

I recommend using Coconut Water in this Clean Green Detox Smoothie because it contains many healthful nutrients. Coconut water is found naturally in young green coconut and is comprised of 94% water. One cup of coconut water contains 2 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and only 46 calories. It also contains Vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and calcium. (Healthline)

Coconut water also contains antioxidants which neutralize free radicals in our bodies so that they can’t cause any harm. It also lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and insulin. By including coconut water in this smoothie, it helps neutralize and eliminate the toxins we’ve been exposed to. (Healthline) If you don’t have coconut water, you can use plain water instead.

The next key ingredient is two handfuls or cups of fresh raw greens. Not only do fresh dark, leafy greens provide a vibrant green hue to this Clean Green Detox Smoothie, they also provide ample micronutrients and fiber. They also cleanse your colon. (Healthline). As an example, one cup of raw spinach provides an impressive 181% daily value for Vitamin K, 56% for Vitamin A, and 13% for manganese. (Healthline)

Next up is pineapple! Not only does pineapple taste great in this smoothie, it’s also super nutritious. One cup of pineapple contains 1 gram of protein, 1.7 grams fat, and 2.3 grams of fiber. It also contains Vitamins C and B6, Manganese, Copper, Thiamin, Folate, Potassium, Magnesium, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Riboflavin, and Iron. Vitamin C supports a healthy immune system while the healthy antioxidants help combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Pineapples also contain bromelain, a group of digestive enzymes that aid in digestion. (Healthline)

Ever hear that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? There’s a reason this old adage is often quoted as a contributor to good health and well-being. One medium apple contains 4 grams of fiber plus healthful vitamins, including Vitamins C, K, A, E, B1, B2, B6, and potassium! But even better, apples contain polyphenols and pectin which acts as a prebiotic that feeds your gut bacteria and aids in digestion. (Healthline). So go ahead and throw in a cored apple!

Celery is the next powerful ingredient in this Clean Green Detox Smoothie. One cup of celery contains 5 grams of dietary fiber, which promotes a healthy digestive tract. It also possesses an alkalizing or neutralizing effect on acidic foods and is a great source of antioxidants, which protects your body from oxidative damage and reduces inflammation. Celery also contains nutrients like Vitamin C, beta carotene, magnesium, iron, and sodium, flavonoids, pectin-based polysaccharides, and phytonutrients. (Healthline)

But the final fruit is actually the unassuming cucumber. Like tomatoes, we often use cucumbers as vegetables, but technically they’re fruit. One medium unpeeled cucumber contains 2 grams of protein and 2 grams of dietary fiber. But it also contains Vitamins C and K, Magnesium, Potassium, and Manganese. Cucumbers promote hydration and digestion, as well as reduce inflammation due to its high antioxidant content. (Healthline)

Next up is Ginger, a flowering plant from Southeast Asia. It is considered one of the healthiest spices we can consume. It has long been used as a medicine due to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, primarily due to Gingerol, the main bioactive compound in ginger. But ginger is also rich in antioxidants, which reduces oxidative stress and aids in digestion. (Healthline)

Even the lime juice used in this Clean Green Detox Smoothie serves a purpose. Obviously it contributes to the flavor profile. Just one fresh lime contains 0.5 grams of protein, 0.1 gram of fat, and 1.9 grams of dietary fiber. Limes also contain Vitamins C and B6, Iron, Calcium, Thiamin, Potassium, antioxidants, and important nutrients that strengthen our immune systems, aid in iron absorption, and promote healthy skin. Limes contain flavonoids, limonoids, kaempferol, quercetin, and ascorbic acid that act as antioxidants to combat oxidative stress in our bodies. (Healthline). Pretty potent little lime!

And last, but certainly not least, are herbs. I’ve included fresh mint and basil as options in this smoothie. Each alters the flavor slightly, but both are incredibly delicious. Fresh herbs offer many of the same health and nutritional benefits of dark leafy greens. Mint is rich in Vitamin A, Iron, Manganese, and Folate. Studies demonstrate that mint aids in digestion by encouraging food to move more efficiently through the stomach. (Healthline). Basil offers similar nutritional properties but varies depending on the type of basil. To read more about basil, check out this article on Healthline.

I think it’s important to know why the various ingredients are included in this healthful Clean Green Detox Smoothie. I enjoy learning about the different health attributes and properties of the food I eat, so hopefully you’ve benefited from the read.

This Clean Green Detox Smoothie is super simple to make. Simply add all of the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth, which takes about 30 to 60 seconds, depending on your blender. Because many of these ingredients are typically stored at room temperature, you may want to add ice to your smoothie. Not only will it thicken it up slightly, it will also lower the temperature, making it a little cooler and more enjoyable if you prefer your smoothies cold. But it really depends on your preference.

Once blended, pour your Clean Green Detox Smoothie into a large glass, blender bottle, or jar. It’s best consumed within an hour or two to gain the healthful benefits of the fresh ingredients, spices, and herbs. But I have successfully made this smoothie the night before for a quick grab-and-go breakfast in the morning. It’s important to store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

I hope you enjoy this Clean Green Detox Smoothie as much as I do.  

I would love to see your results! Please leave a comment and rate it down below, tag a picture @pebblesandtoast and #pebblesandtoast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!   Enjoy!!   

And don’t forget to subscribe for new plant-based and vegan recipes today!!

Smoothie Ingredients

• 1 cup coconut water or fresh water
• 2 cups fresh raw greens
• 1 cup fresh or frozen pineapple*
• 1 apple, cored and quartered
• 1 celery stalk
• ½ cucumber
• 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 sprigs of fresh mint or basil (or both)
• 1-2 cups cubed ice** (optional)

Instructions

1. In a high-speed blender, blend all of the smoothie ingredients together until completely smooth, about 1 minute.
2. Pour smoothie into a glass or jar and enjoy!!

Notes

* You can use any frozen or fresh fruit you like in this smoothie bowl.  However, if you want the smoothie to stay vibrant green, you need to pick yellow or green fruit/vegetables (kiwi, cucumber, celery, banana, mango, peach, pineapple).

** Ice cools down this fruit and vegetable beverage and makes it much more enjoyable, but not required.