How to Make a Detox Smoothie

Make a detox smoothie in about 10 minutes by blending spinach, berries, banana and water into a drink that provides fluid and fiber.

This simple recipe makes one large serving or two smaller servings. For more ingredient combinations, see the best detox smoothies.

What is a detox smoothie?

A detox smoothie is a blended drink made with ingredients such as fruit, vegetables and water. Unlike juice that has been strained, a smoothie generally includes the edible parts of its ingredients, including their fiber.

“Detox” describes the name of the drink, not a special cleansing effect. Your liver and kidneys do most of your body’s detoxification, while your lungs and gut also help eliminate waste. Sweat removes only trace amounts. A smoothie can contribute fluid and nutrients, but it does not remove toxins or replace the work of these organs.

This recipe uses berries and banana for sweetness and spinach for a mild-tasting vegetable. Water keeps the consistency drinkable without requiring juice or a sweetener.

How do you make a detox smoothie?

Use a blender and measure the ingredients before you start. Frozen berries give the smoothie a colder, thicker texture, while the banana helps make it creamy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup loosely packed fresh spinach (about 30 g)
• 1 cup frozen berries (about 150 g)
• 1/2 cup sliced banana (about 75 g)
• 1 cup water (240 mL), plus more as needed
• Optional: 1/2 cup plain yogurt (about 120 g)

1. Wash your hands, then rinse the spinach under running water. Clean the blender jug and lid before using them.
2. Prepare the banana by peeling and slicing it. Check the frozen berry package and follow any preparation instructions on it.
3. Measure the spinach, berries, banana and water. If using yogurt, measure it separately; choose pasteurized yogurt when relevant to your dietary needs.
4. Add the water and spinach to the blender first, followed by the banana, berries and optional yogurt. Putting liquid near the blades can help the ingredients move.
5. Blend until the spinach and fruit are broken down and the mixture looks smooth. Stop the blender before removing the lid or pushing down any ingredients.
6. Adjust the texture with a little more water if the smoothie is too thick, then blend again. Taste it before adding anything else; the fruit may provide enough sweetness on its own.
7. Serve the smoothie in a glass. Keep it unstrained if you want to retain the fiber from the blended ingredients.

Drink the smoothie soon after making it, or refrigerate it promptly in a covered container at 4°C (40°F) or below. For best quality, use it within 24 hours and stir or shake it before drinking, since separation is normal. Discard it if it has been left out for more than 2 hours or shows signs of spoilage; unsafe food does not always look or smell spoiled.

How often can you drink a detox smoothie?

There is no required schedule. A detox smoothie can fit into a balanced diet as often as it suits your needs and the rest of what you eat; you do not need to drink it daily to support detoxification.

Consider the portion alongside your other food. The recipe makes one large serving or two smaller ones, so you can divide it if a full blenderful is more than you want at once. If you add yogurt, it also provides protein, but a smoothie does not have to replace a meal to be useful.

Vary your fruit and vegetable choices over time rather than relying on the same drink for all your produce. Avoid using a detox smoothie as the basis of a restrictive cleanse or as a substitute for regular, balanced meals.

What are the benefits of a detox smoothie?

The main benefits come from the ingredients, not from a special detox effect. Water contributes to hydration, while the fruit and spinach provide nutrients found in those foods. If you use the ingredients in the listed amounts, the smoothie also includes their natural fiber because the mixture is blended rather than strained.

A smoothie can be a convenient way to include fruit and vegetables, particularly when you prefer drinking them. The optional plain yogurt adds protein, and choosing it without added sugar lets the fruit provide the sweetness.

There is no good evidence that a detox smoothie removes toxins from the body or works better than a balanced diet for detoxification. Drinking one is a food choice, not a treatment, and it should not be expected to cause rapid weight loss or make up for an otherwise limited diet.

Who should be careful with a detox smoothie?

Check the ingredients for allergies, including milk if you add yogurt. People with diabetes who monitor carbohydrate intake may want to consider the fruit portion and ask their clinician or dietitian how a smoothie fits their usual plan.

If you have kidney disease and have been advised to limit potassium, or have been advised to limit oxalate because of kidney stones, ask a clinician or dietitian about the ingredients. Spinach and banana may not suit every eating plan. If you take warfarin, keep your vitamin K intake consistent and ask your clinician before making a substantial change to how much spinach you eat; do not stop your medication.

During pregnancy, use pasteurized yogurt and wash produce thoroughly. For children, offer an age-appropriate portion and check with a pediatrician about individual dietary concerns.

Stop drinking the smoothie if it causes discomfort or a suspected allergic reaction. Seek immediate medical help for trouble breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat; contact a clinician if symptoms such as vomiting or abdominal pain persist.