Recipe Collection: Green Detox Smoothie

Written by Jamie

Every December, I remind myself that it’s the holidays and it’s okay to indulge a little. By January, though, that indulgence has made itself all too apparent when I feel run down and end up catching the bug going around the neighborhood. This detox and weight loss smoothie helps me get back on track and feel great.

I’ve been trying to make a smoothie every morning for the health benefits. We all feel so much better when I do, but I’ve found that putting a little prep into it can make the process a little easier. This smoothie recipe happens to be one of my absolute favorites. I love how it tastes, but I love how I feel after drinking it even more.

About the Ingredients

A smoothie is only as good as its ingredients. Yes, strawberries and vanilla-flavored yogurt are technically a smoothie, but you want one packed with nutrition to keep you and your family feeling great. This detox and weight loss smoothie contains healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, enzymes, and other good stuff to keep you healthy. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients.

Coconut Milk

Not only is it smooth and creamy, but coconut milk can also help aid in weight loss. It contains medium-chain fatty acids that boost thyroid function and metabolism with healthy fats to keep you full. Instead of raising cholesterol levels, these fats actually do the opposite. “Coconut milk can help you lower cholesterol levels, improve blood pressure, and prevent heart attacks or a stroke.” – Dr. Josh Axe

• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorous
• Manganese

Raw Honey

This golden substance contains polyphenols that raise blood antioxidant levels and help fight diseases like cancer. All around, raw honey contributes to healthier cells (1). Regular honey from the store is a dead food and processed much like regular white sugar in the body. Raw honey, however, one that hasn’t been heated above 115 degrees, is rich in (2):

• Antioxidants
• Enzymes
• Vitamin C
• B vitamins
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Sulfur
• Phosphate

Chia Seeds

These little seeds are a powerhouse for nutrition. They gel when mixed with liquid and help to really clean your body out, especially the colon. Chia seeds help reduce visceral adipose, also known as belly fat, boost metabolism, improve energy, and more (3).

Kale

Just one cup of this leafy green gives you over 200% of your dv of vitamin A and 134% of your vitamin C requirements. If you think that’s impressive, it also has nearly 700% of your vitamin K! For a green food it’s also surprisingly rich in calcium and essential fatty acids that boost brain function.

When eaten with other healthy fats, kale’s fat-soluble carotenoids become more bioavailable to the body. And when eaten with lemon juice, the iron in kale is also more readily absorbed by the body. Lucky for you, this smoothie uses healthy fats from coconut and lemon (4).

Green Tea

This drink is probably most popular for its high level of cancer-fighting antioxidants. It can also help speed up metabolism and protect cells. Studies have shown it increases thermogenesis in the body, a natural byproduct of metabolism that can significantly aid in weight loss, unlike caffeine alone (5).

Since cheap, bagged green tea can be high in naturally occurring fluoride, choose a quality loose-leaf variety. Even natural sources of fluoride can be hard on those with thyroid problems, a condition many of us have (6).

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is high in fiber to help fill you up and aid digestion. It also helps regulate insulin levels in the body. “The smaller the insulin spike after a meal, the more efficiently the body processes food for use as energy and the less it’s stored as fat in the body (7).” This study showed that adding grapefruit and its juice to the diet helped participants lose weight.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is high in citric acid, aids your body’s digestion of foods, and purifies the lymphatic system. It also helps to cleanse the liver, resulting in clearer skin. Lemon can also reduce bloating (8).

Green Detox Smoothie

This recipe makes two servings. If you want to increase the benefits of this smoothie further, try adding a serving of Earthley’s Greens Powder, which combines traditional greens like spirulina and kelp with green tea and nutrient-rich herbs to give a boost to your daily nutrition, energy, and wellness.

Ingredients:

• 1 grapefruit, peeled and seeds removed
• 2 cups fresh kale
• 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
• 1 cup green tea
• 1-2 tbsp. raw honey (to taste)
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 cup chia seeds

Directions:

Step 1: Pour the green tea into ice cube trays and put in the freezer until solid. I like to do this the night before. You can also juice the lemon and mix this with the green tea before freezing.

Step 2: In a blender, combine the kale, grapefruit, coconut milk, and chia seeds; puree until very smooth.

Step 3: Add 1 tablespoon of the honey, the green tea ice cubes, lemon juice, and pulse until smooth and icy. Add more honey to taste, if desired. If the mixture is too thick, add some filtered water to thin.

What’s in your favorite detox smoothie?