Detox Smoothie Recipes: Cleanse Your Body with Delicious Blends
If you’re looking for more ways to fuel your body with healthy foods and cleanse it of toxins like artificial ingredients, you’re not alone. The topic of detoxing has become popular recently as a way to jumpstart a healthy routine. However, a healthy routine doesn’t require an extensive detox regimen that’s hard to manage and impossible to stick with. Instead, detoxing can be as simple as incorporating more fruits and veggies into your life via easy-to-make green smoothies at home. Detox smoothies offer variety, flavor, and natural sweetness while hydrating the body and providing the fiber needed to aid with digestion. If you’re looking for healthy smoothie recipes that will keep you fueled, you’ve come to the right place.
What is Detoxing?
Most people talk about detoxing as a way to “reset” their body. Detoxing is most often associated with the liver; however, the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system, and even your skin help the process. Commercial detoxification methods have grown in popularity as a quick fix for recovering the morning after a party, the week after the holidays, or anytime someone feels they’ve overindulged for too long. Yet, the body doesn’t need any magic potion to detox—it just needs the natural foods that are readily available. In fact, the number one detox myth is that your body needs you to do something special to perform a detox. With a well-balanced diet, your body can likely detox on its own.
That’s where detox-friendly smoothie recipes come in. They use highly nutritious foods like raw vegetables, leafy greens, nutrient-dense fruits, and nuts or seeds to give your body a boost. That boost can aid with digestion, help you recover after a workout, or help you feel like you’ve reset your stomach after a day (or more) of heavy eating. Incorporating detox smoothies into your weekly or daily routine keeps your body detoxing naturally. These recipes use ingredients that are readily available, fresh, and easy to prepare in a Vitamix. While you might not be too keen on eating a bowl of cooked spinach on a daily basis, when you blend raw spinach with a little banana, the result is a delicious smoothie detox recipe you could eat every day.
Key Ingredients for Detox Smoothies
While leafy greens like spinach and kale are often considered the best ingredients for a detox smoothie, they’re just the start of the foods you can use.
One of the most overlooked ingredients for detoxing is water. Water and natural water products—like coconut water—have been shown to flush out the body and aid with digestion. Water helps lubricate and cushion joints and keeps your body functioning normally. Water can come from many sources, including the fruits and ice cubes you add to your detox smoothie.
Speaking of fruits and other ingredients—you may wonder if some are better than others for detoxification. Foods like garlic and apples are believed to aid the liver. Ginger has been used for centuries to help soothe a sour or upset stomach and studies have shown it can speed up digestion. While adding garlic to a smoothie is likely not on your to-do list, apples have lots of healthy fiber, as do most fruits, including berries, pineapple and bananas. If you’re a fan of ginger, a small dose of fresh ginger in a smoothie can add a refreshing twist.
You can also add superfoods and boosters like chia seeds and flaxseeds. No special powders are needed—just use your Vitamix to grind up these ingredients and make your own high-protein, superfood powder. The extra fiber from these seeds is particularly beneficial for digestive health, aiding in regular bowel movements and maintaining a healthy gut.
Our Most Popular Detox Smoothie Recipes
The keys to sticking with a healthy eating plan are two-fold: taste and ease. Our most popular delicious detox smoothie recipes combine simple ingredients with natural sweetness, easy prep and fast cleanup! Each makes about 4 to 5 servings. Freeze the extras and re-blend later or cut back the quantities to make a smaller batch.
Going Green Smoothie
Why you’ll love it:
We consider this a great starter recipe for anyone interested in adding more greens to their diet.
Ingredients:
½ cup (120 ml) water
1 cup (150 g) green grapes
1 slice (90 g) pineapple, peeled with core
2 cups (600 g) fresh spinach
½ (55 g) banana, peeled
½ cup (65 g) ice cubes
Directions:
Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
Start the blender at its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed.
Blend for 45 seconds or until desired consistency is reached, using the tamper to press ingredients toward the blades.
Tips!
Want the smoothie a little sweeter? Add pitted dates or a splash of agave nectar.
Berry Delicious Smoothie
Why you’ll love it:
A blend of berries delivers antioxidants, while pineapple and bananas provide a boost of fiber.
Ingredients:
3 cups (720 ml) water
2 medium (240 g) banana, peeled
2 cups (370 g) frozen pineapple chunks
2 cups (280 g) frozen strawberries
⅔ cup (100 g) frozen blueberries
⅔ cup (60 g) frozen cranberries
Directions:
Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
Run the Smoothie Program or start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 40–50 seconds, using the tamper to push ingredients toward the blades.
Tips!
Add kale, spinach or other leafy greens to incorporate more nutrients without compromising on flavor.
Warm Citrus Ginger Tea Smoothie
Why you’ll love it:
This smoothie is served WARM for a unique twist. It includes ginger and the tea of your choice—use a green tea to enhance the smoothie’s antioxidant cleansing power.
Ingredients:
3 cups (720 ml) fresh brewed lemon tea [or orange tea], warm
1 medium (150 g) apple, quartered, seeded
1 lemon, peeled
½ (60 g) orange
1 piece (5 g) fresh ginger root
3 Tablespoons (45 ml) honey
Directions:
Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
Run the Hot Soup Program or start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 5 minutes 45 seconds.
Tropical Escape Smoothie
Why you’ll love it:
Lime enhances the tropical flavor of this smoothie while it promotes natural detoxification process and adds antioxidants.
Ingredients:
¼ medium (35 g) orange, peeled
¾ cup (180 ml) water
¼ cup (60 ml) Coconut Milk
1 small lime, peeled
½ (65 g) banana, peeled
½ cup (80 g) frozen mango chunks
1 cup (160 g) frozen pineapple chunks
2 cups (260 g) ice cubes
Directions:
Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
Run the Smoothie Program or start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 40–50 seconds, using the tamper to push ingredients toward the blades.
Tips!
Smoothie too thick? Add small amounts of water, milk, or juice. Work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 10–20 seconds.
Ginger Greens Smoothie
Why you’ll love it:
Loaded with nutrient-dense kale and water-rich cucumbers, ginger is the predominant flavor. The ginger adds a bit of spice to this easy-to-make detox smoothie.
Ingredients:
½ cup (120 ml) water
1 (300 g) cucumber
½ (80 g) celery stalk
2 medium (375 g) apples, seeded, halved
2 cups (60 g) kale
1 piece (5 g) fresh ginger root
Directions:
Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid.
Start the blender at its lowest speed and quickly increase to its highest speed.
Blend for 30–45 seconds, using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades.
Tips!
Start with a small amount of ginger and add more to achieve your own personalized flavor.
Additional Tips for Making the Perfect Detox Smoothie
Don’t forget the liquid. Smoothies need a good blend of liquid and solid ingredients to achieve just the right texture.
Start slow and go high. Many Vitamix blenders feature a smoothie button for one-press blending. Other Vitamix models allow you to easily adjust the mix. For the best smoothie blend, start the blender on low and then quickly ramp up to high. Process for 10 to 20 seconds.
Load ingredients with liquids on the bottom and frozen foods last. Here’s a quick guide:
Liquids (water, juice, yogurt)
Dry Goods (grains, seasonings powders)
Leafy Greens
Fruits & Veggies
Ice & Frozen Ingredients
For a thicker detox smoothie, use frozen fruits or add more ice. Process for 20 to 30 seconds.
For a thinner detox smoothie, add a little more water, milk or juice.
If your smoothie is too bitter, add banana or strawberry to help neutralize the flavor.
Looking for more smoothie-making tips? Here’s our ultimate guide to blending smoothies in your Vitamix high-speed blender.
Conclusion:
Smoothies deliver popular detox ingredients in a drink that’s tasty, filling, and refreshing. Since they’re easy to make, you’re more likely to stick with a routine that promotes healthy eating. Start with the basics, then add the ingredients you like most. Experiment with flavors and superfoods, and you’ll find you’ve created your own collection of recipes for detox smoothies.