When I started making my own detox smoothie the first thing I realized is that it will never taste like something off the menu at a Planet Smoothie…and nor should it ever.
The difference between a homemade detox smoothie and chain store smoothies (with the exception of a few) is added acidic toxins, like sugar. But isn’t this true with most foods we don’t make at home? Everything is healthier when we see what we’re putting into our dish (or in this case our blender).
If you’re like me, I like to pack my smoothies with optimal nutrition and to be honest, there isn’t much rhyme or reason to them. My usual smoothie has spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, avocado, mixed berries, mango, cinnamon, turmeric, and collagen protein. However, sometimes we need more targeted smoothies. When I feel fogged in a certain area, I find food that will clear that fog per say.
I then ask myself which part of my body needs a detox. Where am I hurting? Why am I feeling fatigued? What do I want to improve? When I target a problem area I can design a detox smoothie specifically designed for that relief.
Pick a detox smoothie from 7 recipes to help combat whatever is fogging your body:
1. Matcha Smoothie for Protecting Youthful Skin:
• 2 peeled, sliced and frozen ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup chopped pineapple
• 3/4 – 1 cup light coconut milk
• 2 tsp matcha green tea powder
• 1 heaping cup organic spinach or kale
Matcha is a powerful ground, powdered form of Japanese green tea that is actually much more potent in antioxidants than regular green tea offers. Because it is a powdered form, it is typically much thicker and foamier than steeped tea. Coupled with potent antioxidants, a matcha smoothie also contains a catechin called EGCG: a natural phytochemical found in plants. EGCG protects cell membranes from damage from free radicals.
If this isn’t enough to convince you, matcha is a natural and high source of caffeine to replace a sugary morning Frappuccino from Starbucks. Additionally, it contains the super food chlorophyll, which helps your body detoxify from chemicals we ingest from acidic foods. Matcha is also strong in improving metabolism function and supporting weight loss efforts.
Not to mention, matcha is delicious! To sip, blend, or bake with!
2. Beet and Dragon Fruit Smoothie for Detoxifying for Liver:
• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 medium dragon fruit
• 1 medium beet, raw
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root
• Pinch of cinnamon
• 1 to 2 cups of water (depending on desired consistency)
• Optional: Scoop of vegan protein powder
The betaine, pectin, and betalains in beets helps your body detoxify by aiding in the removal of toxins we build up from too much acidic foods, exposure to pollution, and from internal stressors in the liver. Your liver health is vital as it is part of your body’s filtration system. Your liver decides which substances that you ingest are waste and which substances are nutrients to better your body. This means your liver deals with toxins firsthand and can therefore get a little dirty.
You liver needs to need to be cleaned and maintained. When your liver is “cleaned” or detoxified, it eliminates fat, stones in the gall bladder, and even helps lower your cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
3. Blueberry and Avocado Smoothie for Brain Function:
● 2 cups blueberries
● 1 cup pomegranate juice (or any berry juice)
● 1 cup ice cubes
● 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
● 1 ripe banana, peeled
● Half of an avocado, peeled and pitted
A blueberry smoothie contains flavonoids which actually aid your brain in creating more neurons. Flavonoids, like matcha and turmeric, are another strong contender for antioxidant defense forces. Now it is actually the component that gives blueberries its color, anthocyanin, that helps reduce damage to our brain’s neurons. Because of an increase in neurons, it aids your brain’s hippocampus, which is your long term memory storage. So blueberries aid in overall function, prevention, and memory for your brain health. And they’re delicious!
Feel free to layer any detox smoothie with layers of plain Greek yogurt, granola, or even raw almond butter.
4. Arugula Pear Smoothie for Oxygenation (adding oxygen to the body’s systems):
• 1 oz arugula
• 2 pears
• 1 tbsp dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup ice
Alongside other leafy greens, arugula contains an antioxidant that lowers glucose levels in the body. Arugula is a champion of weight loss and maintenance. Arugula is also high in nitrates which helps your body from an oxygenation deficiency. This means that an arugula smoothie is optimal for athletes or any level of exerciser from extended workouts. Arugula’s nitrate is also wonderful for people with cardiovascular or respiratory problems.
5. Turmeric Smoothie for Inflammation:
• 1 large ripe banana, peeled, sliced, and frozen
• 1 cup frozen or fresh pineapple
• 1/2 Tbsp fresh ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 cup carrot juice
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Turmeric is a plant from the same family as ginger which is another ancient healing spice. Inflammation is a part of arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease which when left untreated, can lead to pain and complications. Turmeric is powerful enough to reach the nucleus of cells and block inflammatory molecules invading the cell much like prescriptions with this purpose. A turmeric smoothie has anti-inflammatory components that are coupled with antioxidant properties that help strengthen your body’s preexisting antioxidants.
Feel free to add turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon for additional anti-inflammatory properties to any detox smoothie!
6. Chocolate Avocado Smoothie for Strengthened Hair:
• 1 avocado 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 medium cold banana
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or coconut cream
• 2-4 tablespoons milk, optional
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Hair needs omega-3 and protein for growth. To limit breakage, add avocados to your diet with your multivitamin supplements. It’s actually recommended that you take your vitamins with avocados because avocados are made of monounsaturated fats that aid in your body’s absorption of nutrients like carotenoids and vitamins a, d, and e.
You can even wear an avocado hair mask while you sip your avocado smoothie!
7. Cherry Protein Smoothie for Muscle Recovery:
● 1 cup cherries, pitted, frozen
● 1 cup coconut milk, from carton
● 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Cherries contain anthocyanin which aids your body in muscle recovery from soreness. Our muscles often feel inflamed after an extensive workout and therefore need anti-inflammatory foods to reduce that discomfort. Our muscles’ recovery is just as important as the workout itself. A cherry smoothie is particularly beneficial if you work out at night because cherries contain melatonin which help relax your body. So go ahead, drink some cherries recovery of the body and mind!
To make your smoothies more powerful and more Instagram-ready, top them with some of these:
– Chia seeds: omega-3, protein, magnesium, fiber
– Cacao nibs: iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, antioxidants
– Flax seeds: omega-3, fiber, protein, vitamin b1
– Hemp seeds: protein, magnesium, iron, fiber, omega-3
– Chopped almonds: protein, fiber, vitamin e
– Raw granola: fiber, manganese, iron, vitamin e
– Bee pollen: protein, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc
– Unsweetened coconut flakes: fiber, iron, zinc, manganese
– Raw honey: vitamin b6, calcium, copper, zinc
The best part of smoothies is that there is no limitation on the ingredients you can blend together, however, some ingredients are just more powerful when paired intentionally.
Smoothies are the most convenient way to get maximum nutrition with very minimal effort. Most of these ingredients can be frozen and prepped for busy mornings and blended for a safe, on the go breakfast. Which detox smoothie will you start with?
