How to Make Detox Juice in 10 Minutes

Make a fresh cucumber-and-apple detox juice in about 10 minutes by blending the produce with water and straining it if you prefer a thinner drink.

What is detox juice?

Detox juice is a fruit-and-vegetable drink often marketed as a way to help the body remove waste. This recipe uses ordinary produce and water; it does not require a supplement, powder or special equipment beyond a blender.

Despite the name, there is no good evidence that detox juice removes toxins or replaces the body's normal detoxification processes. The liver and kidneys do most of that work, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste; sweat removes only trace amounts. For more ingredient ideas, see the best juices for detox.

The distinction between juice and a blended drink matters. Straining removes some of the pulp and fiber, while leaving it in produces a thicker drink that retains more of the whole ingredients.

How do you make detox juice?

This recipe makes approximately 1–2 small glasses, depending on how much pulp you strain out. It takes about 10 minutes and does not need to steep.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (about 100 g) chopped cucumber
• 1 cup (about 125 g) chopped apple
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) cold drinking water
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) lemon juice, optional

Steps

1. Wash your hands, then rinse the cucumber and apple under clean running water. Rub the surfaces gently and cut away any damaged areas; do not use soap or detergent on produce.
2. Prepare the cucumber and apple by chopping them into pieces your blender can handle. Remove the apple core and seeds, and leave the edible skins on if you want to retain their fiber.
3. Blend the cucumber, apple and water until smooth. Add the optional lemon juice before or after blending, depending on how tart you like the drink.
4. Strain the mixture through a clean fine-mesh sieve into a clean container if you want a thinner juice. Skip this step if you prefer a thicker drink with more pulp and fiber.
5. Serve the detox juice promptly in a clean glass. Add a little more drinking water if the flavor or texture is too concentrated for you.
6. Refrigerate any remaining juice promptly in a covered container at 40°F (4°C) or below. Make only as much as you expect to drink promptly, and discard juice left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Wash the blender, sieve and other equipment after use. Washing produce and equipment reduces contamination, but it does not make homemade raw juice pasteurized or guarantee that it is free of harmful germs.

How often can you drink detox juice?

There is no established schedule for drinking detox juice, and you do not need it daily to support detoxification. If you enjoy it, have a small glass occasionally as part of your usual meals and choose the amount that fits your needs.

Juice is not a substitute for regular meals or a varied diet. Whole fruit and vegetables provide fiber and are more filling than strained juice, so keep them in your diet rather than relying on juice for all your produce.

Consider the ingredients and your overall eating pattern if you drink juice often. Fruit contains natural sugars, and even juice without added sugar can affect blood glucose and expose teeth to sugar and acid. Leaving the pulp in retains more fiber, although the drink still contains the sugars in the blended ingredients.

A juice fast or cleanse is not necessary. Restricting yourself to juice can leave you short of protein and other nutrients and may be unsafe for people with certain health conditions. If you are considering a restrictive diet, discuss it with a healthcare professional first.

What are the benefits of detox juice?

Detox juice can be an enjoyable way to consume water and produce. The water in this recipe contributes to hydration, which helps the body carry out normal functions, including those of the kidneys. You can also support hydration by drinking plain water; detox juice has not been shown to have a special cleansing effect.

The cucumber and apple provide nutrients from the original produce, although the amount in your glass will depend on the ingredients and whether you strain the mixture. Keeping the pulp preserves more fiber than discarding it. No specific health benefit can be promised from this recipe, and no studies provided for this topic demonstrate that detox juice improves detoxification.

Flavor is a practical benefit: cucumber, apple and optional lemon make a drink that some people may find easier to enjoy than plain water. You can adjust the water or leave out the lemon without changing the basic method. Avoid adding sugar if you want the flavor to come from the produce itself.

Who should be careful with detox juice, and when should you stop?

Homemade detox juice made from raw produce is unpasteurized and can contain harmful germs even when the ingredients have been washed. Pregnant people, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems should choose pasteurized juice rather than raw homemade juice.

If you have diabetes, ask your healthcare professional how juice fits your blood-glucose plan. If you have kidney disease or have been told to limit fluids or certain minerals, check with your care team before drinking juice regularly; suitable ingredients and amounts depend on your individual restrictions.

People taking medications should also be careful with ingredient changes. For example, anyone taking warfarin should ask their clinician about keeping vitamin K intake consistent before adding large amounts of leafy greens to a juice. Do not stop or change prescribed medication to make room for a juice routine.

Stop drinking the juice if it makes you feel unwell or you suspect it has spoiled. Seek medical advice for persistent vomiting or diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, or signs of dehydration. Get urgent help for trouble breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat.