Dreaming of a tropical island vacation? Whip up this tropical green detox smoothie while you dream. With simple, healthy ingredients and a superfood detox ingredient that gives it that beautiful green color. What would that be? Spirulina. It's not weird, it's the power of nature, and a great way to start the day. Read on to learn more about making a delicious green smoothie with spirulina.
Why is this called a green detox smoothie? Because of ingredients that support your natural detox process, like green spinach and a green sea vegetable called spirulina. Not familiar with spirulina? It's a blue-green micro algae found in pristine waters. It's amazing and worth adding to your smoothie routine.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Like This Recipe
- Detox Smoothie Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- Smoothie Instructions
- Serving Suggestions
- The Health Benefits of Spirulina
- Chlorella vs Spirulina
- Health Considerations: Is Spirulina for Everyone?
- Green Detox Smoothie FAQs
- More Great Smoothie Recipes
- ⭐️Did you Make This?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Like This Recipe
- It's quick and easy way for a healthy breakfast or post-workout refuel.
- Both the green in spinach and the deep blue-green color in spirulina comes from a high concentration of chlorophyll, one of natures most powerful detoxifiers.
For another spinach smoothie try this blueberry spinach smoothie recipe.
Detox Smoothie Ingredients
- Almond milk: I use homemade unsweetened almond milk as it's creamier than store-bought as it's unstrained. Do what's best for you.
- Coconut milk: Just a little canned coconut milk makes this green detox smoothie rich and creamy. Use full fat or low fat, or skip for lower fat and use more almond milk or this 1-minute coconut milk. It's customizable.
- Spinach: For dark leafy greens get baby spinach leaves as they are more tender.
- Tropical fruits: Either fresh fruits or frozen ingredients such as frozen pineapple chunks or mango chunks.
- Spirulina powder: The special ingredient. Buy spirulina online or at health-oriented markets. It will be in the supplements area. Be sure to buy powder, not tablets. After research, the best stuff comes from the Big Island of Hawaii.
- Protein: Use a protein powder that works for you or use Greek yogurt. The color of your smoothie will depend on the protein powder you use.
For measurements, please see the recipe card.
If you like this green detox smoothie recipe check out this recipe for a detox green juice with green apple.
Substitutions and Variations
You can change up this green detox smoothie recipe so easily! Next time try some of these ideas:
- Try different milks such as homemade hemp milk, cashew milk, oat milk, or pumpkin seed milk, or regular milk to see what works best for you. Each will provide their own flavor nuances.
- Add a little banana for creamy texture.
- Reduce fruit for lower sugar.
- Add a little fresh ginger root (peel and zest to a pulp before adding).
- Add a little vanilla extract.
- For a no-milk smoothie use coconut water, but read labels for added sugar.
- Add a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the flavor.
- To add fiber and more protein, add a tablespoon of ground flax seeds.
- Swap higher sugar tropical fruit for nutritionally rich green kiwi fruit, peeled or not (but the peel adds fiber.)
- A little fresh mint is nice too.
For another Hawaiian-inspired recipe try this Hawaiian style salad with goat cheese.
Chef's tip: To keep things simple you can use all coconut milk (10 ounces) using my 1-minute homemade coconut milk recipe in place of the almond milk and canned coconut milk. Both are good sources of healthy fats.
Smoothie Instructions
First add your milk, then add the rest of the ingredients to a high-speed blender and puree until smooth.
Serving Suggestions
Pour into a glass and serve straight out of the blender. To chill it down a bit, add a few ice cubes and blend. Use it as a meal replacement for healthy breakfast or after a workout.
Chef's tip: Make it ahead. Most smoothies are best consumed right away, but I've discovered this one sits fine in the fridge until morning. Blend before bedtime, place in an airtight container with a lid, and grab on the way out the door. Shake well before enjoying.
The Health Benefits of Spirulina
Reports on the potential health benefits of spirulina include a boost to the immune system, reducing inflammation, improved digestion, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. It's great for eye health too. This study reports spirulina "may even have anticancer, antiviral and antiallergic effects".
Chlorella vs Spirulina
If you wonder about chlorella versus spirulina, this should help:
- Both are micro algae's.
- Both are classified as superfoods (nutrient dense foods).
- Both are good yet have their own strengths.
- Both grow in pure fresh water.
- Chlorella is harder to cultivate, harvest, and process because of an indigestible cellulose wall, while spirulina has an easily digestible cellulose wall.
- Chlorella is usually more expensive due to the equipment needed to mechanically break down the cellulose walls for bioavailability while spirulina is readily available for human consumption. It is immediately digested and absorbed when consumed, so you don’t need a complex manufacturing process (reducing cost).
- Find more information on the differences here.
Health Considerations: Is Spirulina for Everyone?
While spirulina is considered a healthy food and supplement, it's not for everyone. Please see details in the FAQs below if needed.
Green Detox Smoothie FAQs
While spirulina is considered a healthy food and supplement, its not for everyone. Spirulina is rich in all amino acids, including phenylalanine or some people spirulina may not be a good addition.
If you are pregnant, nursing, or have hyperthyroidism, check with your doctor. People with severe seafood allergies, iodine allergies, Phenylketonuria, autoimmune disorders, allergies towards spirulina, or bleeding disorders and medication should check with your doctor.
Spirulina is also high in bio-available iron, so if you have an iron problem, skip this until your iron levels are safe. It's always safe to consult your healthcare provider before adding spirulina to your diet.
Spirulina is good news for people with histamine intolerance and MCAS. I was concerned about consuming spirulina after being diagnosed with MCAS and histamine intolerance, but it's now back in my diet for its tremendous detox support.
According to this study, "spirulina has the ability to modulate immune functions and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the release of histamine by mast cells". If you have seasonal allergies, it could be good for you too.
Smoothies are good for you because the are almost infinitely variable in terms of ingredients to fit everyone's dietary needs and taste preferences. They are easy to make with a blender, can be quickly made, make a great breakfast or post-workout refuel. For idea on making healthy smoothies check out this guide for making healthy smoothies.
More Great Smoothie Recipes
There's so many ways to make delicious and healthy smoothies! For help, read my Ultimate Guide to Making Healthy Smoothies packed with ideas for you, with a printable cheatsheet!
⭐️Did you Make This?
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Originally published August 3, 2015, since updated and refined.
📖 Recipe
Green Detox Smoothie
Ingredients
- 8 ounces unsweetened almond milk or oat milk recipe here
- 2 ounces canned light coconut milk see note below.
- ½ cup frozen mango or pineapple
- 2 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves a big handful
- 1 teaspoon spirulina powder
- 1-2 scoops protein powder of choice
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Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Notes
Options:
- A little fresh grated ginger.
- A ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract (or more).
- For other milks try cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, pumpkin seed milk, hemp seed milk. Flavor will vary with milk chosen.
Coconut Milk Note
I use canned coconut milk in this recipe for the rich creaminess, either lite or full fat. If you are looking to reduce fat, use regular coconut milk. You can make it to whatever dilution you prefer with this 1-minute coconut milk recipeNutrition
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Organic Spirulina Capsules says
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