Mild Green Detox Smoothie

The end of Summer is approaching, Fall is almost here, and back-to-school time is at hand for many families. After a long summer filled with indulgences, it’s to get “back on track“.  With that in mind, I am declaring this week “Smoothie Week” on Simmer + Sauce. This week, I’ll be posting a new easy, healthy smoothie recipe every day for 5 days, to get you motivated and ready to conquer anything that comes your way. My posts (not including this one), will be short and targeted, focusing more on some of the essential recipe ingredients and their nutritional value.  With that intro, I kick off smoothie week with a green detox smoothie that I think you’ll love.

I won’t sugarcoat this: this is not a milkshake alternative.  It is exactly what it’s called: a green smoothie with detoxifying ingredients. Detox has been a trendy word for the last several years.  It is short for detoxification, meaning a way to cleanse one’s body from unwanted pollutants and chemicals found in our food and environment. Some health gurus believe detoxing is an essential part of maintaining good health, and can also be a way to aid weight loss.

Extreme detoxing diets can be dangerous. I do advise eliminating chemicals by way of sensible eating and lifestyle changes. Common sense tells us to engage in regular exercise (of any kind), drink plenty of water, eat organic (where possible), and generally practice moderation. This can also incorporate having a “detox” smoothie occasionally. Detox smoothies can be made in many ways but are typically packed with natural ingredients that taste good and are thought to have cleansing properties like lemons, limes, kale, spinach, watercress, arugula, wheat germ, avocados, apples, pineapple, beet, yogurt, cranberries, cilantro, fennel, watermelon, ginger, dandelion greens and green tea.

Pineapple, (which I used in this smoothie) is a tropical fruit rich in vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants. They are also believed to help boost your immune system, build strong bones, and aid in digestion, due to their dietary fiber. Despite their sweetness, a cup of raw pineapple has only about 85 calories.

Chia seeds are also a great go-to for any smoothie so I added some here as well. Don’t be fooled by their size: one ounce of chia seeds contains 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fat and are loaded with magnesium, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants.

I wanted to develop a detox smoothie that had a great subtle flavor and was not gritty. I think I hit the nail on the head with this one.