Parsley Detox Green Smoothie
This parsley detox green smoothie is fresh, detoxifying and high in antioxidants—easy to make at home in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients. Vegan, gluten free, nut free, soy free.
Why You’ll Love This Smoothie
- Quickly detoxifies the body
- High in antioxidants
- Packed with nutrients
This parsley detox green smoothie is a great way to start the morning if your goal is to flush toxins from your body and feel refreshed. It leaves you feeling light, energized and nutritionally satisfied. It’s super easy to make with a handful of fresh, healthy ingredients!
Parsley is the key ingredient in this detox smoothie because it acts as a diuretic when consumed. It does this by making the urine more acidic, which in turn causes the body to increase overall urine production. Excess toxins, fats, and salt quickly leave the body in the urine. Regularly enjoying parsley in smoothies can even help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
This smoothie is also high in protective antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they help to reduce oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic diseases over time. Consuming antioxidant rich foods like parsley, lemon, cucumber and other fruits and greens is an easy way to lower oxidative stress in the body.
Ingredients Needed
These are the ingredients you will need to make this parsley detox green smoothie.
Parsley: Use fresh parsley. Wash any dirt from the leaves before adding to the blender.
Cucumber: Wash and roughly chop, leaving the peel on.
Lemon juice: Fresh squeezed is best.
Frozen pineapple & banana: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie and adds sweetness.
Coconut water: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly.
For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Benefits
Hydrating
Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!
High fibre
Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.
Nutrient dense
Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.
Variations
Make it sweeter
For a sweeter taste add 1 tablespoon of agave or date syrup, or an extra frozen banana. Medjool dates can also be used as a natural sweetener! Use 2 or 3 medjool dates, making sure the pits have been removed before adding them to the blender.
Adjust the consistency
If you prefer a thicker consistency you can try the recipe using a bit less liquid than what is suggested. If you want a thinner consistency, try adding a bit of extra liquid to the recipe.
Switch base ingredients
If you don’t like bananas then try something else as the base! Mango usually substitutes banana well. If you’re allergic to or simply dislike a suggested ingredient then try to find something with a similar texture that you enjoy the flavour of. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie, and you can always omit any ingredients you don’t have on hand.
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.
- Pour into a glass and serve your parsley detox green smoothie.
Prep & Blending
Add ingredients in the correct order
Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.
Use a tamper
Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.
Don’t over blend
Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.
Use a high power blender
For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.
Chill your glass
By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!
FAQ’s
Can I use dried parsley instead of fresh?
Dried parsley is still healthy but its health benefits are not as strong as fresh parsley. It may also leave small flakes in the smoothie texture. For these reasons it’s best to use fresh parsley in this detox smoothie.
Can I lose weight with smoothies?
Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.
Can smoothies be refrigerated?
Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar.
Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?
Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.
How can I increase the protein?
If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.
Related
Ginger Cucumber Detox Smoothie
Natural Chia Colon Cleanse Drink
Ginger Celery Debloating Smoothie
Cherry Detox Smoothie (No Banana)
Parsley Detox Green Smoothie
Equipment
- high power blender
Ingredients
- 2 cup coconut water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 handful parsley
- ½ small cucumber (with peel)
- 3 cup frozen pineapple
- 1 frozen banana
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.
- Pour into a glass and serve.