Summer detox smoothies are increasingly popular, especially for women, but there are some dos and don’ts to summer detoxes every person should know before trying them.
What is a detox smoothie?
The main difference between a detox smoothie and a “regular” smoothie is that detox smoothies are health focused.
Detox smoothies usually contain antioxidants which help cleanse your system of toxins. But the positive effects of detox smoothies come just as much from what they give your body as what they remove from your body.
With added nutrients and little to no added sugars, detox smoothies are a healthy snack option—they can even serve as meal replacements if you drink enough. The best part is that detox smoothies will leave you feeling rejuvenated and energetic!
When looking into detox smoothies, avoid dangerous products that can harm your health. Some products marketed as “detox” may encourage you to fast for multiple days or cause diarrhea with the intention of rapid weight loss. Rapid weight changes are not good for your health, and some detox products can cause dehydration—so beware.
How to get the most health benefits from smoothies
Whenever you drink a detox smoothie, the most important focus should be to improve your overall health. To make sure your detox smoothies are as healthy as possible, you should be sure to:
- include vegetables of various colors
- include fiber and avoid adding fruit juices
- add fruits that contain antioxidants
- don’t use added sugars, like honey or maple syrup
How you make your smoothie isn’t all that matters. How you drink your smoothie also impacts the health benefits. You should drink your detox smoothie slowly, over 20-40 minutes.
If you drink the smoothie quickly, your body has less time to absorb all the great nutrients you’ve taken the time to include.
Tips for making summer detox smoothies
When making a summer detox smoothie, you’ll want to follow these basic steps:
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
2. Add liquid, such as water, coconut water, or almond milk.
3. Blend. Add more water as needed.
Keep in mind that if you use ice or frozen ingredients, your smoothie will be thicker at first and then thin as it warms up. That means adding a splash of warm water can help quickly thin the smoothie without watering it down too much.
The Top 5 Summer Detox Smoothies for Women
Now, without further ado, here are the top 5 best summer detox smoothies for women. Each of these summer detox smoothies is delicious, nutritious, and cleansing!
Tropical Green Summer Detox Smoothie
This flavorful green smoothie is great for health and digestion. It is a naturally sweet, bright, and energetic detox smoothie, thanks to the tropical flavors of pineapple and passion fruit.
Ingredients for a Tropical Green Summer Detox Smoothie
- ¼ to ½ of a pineapple, about 1-2 cups
- 1 apple, about 1 cup
- 1 orange, about 1 cup
- 1 passion fruit, about ¼ cup
- 1 cup fresh spinach or kale, about ¼ to ½ cup frozen
- Water or ice, as needed
Apple Berry Summer Detox Smoothie
This smoothie is chock full of antioxidants from mixed berries. Although it is simple, it is powerful—and you only need three ingredients!
Ingredients for an Apple Berry Summer Detox Smoothie
- 1 cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries)
- 1 apple, about 1 cup
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, about ½ to 1 cup frozen
- ½ to 1 cup water
- ice as needed
Peaches and Cream Summer Detox Smoothie
Green smoothies are the traditional detox smoothies, but you can detox with sweet smoothies, too! This peaches and cream summer detox smoothie enjoys the health benefits of fruits such as strawberries, peaches, and bananas. Avocado and plain Greek yogurt add healthy fats and proteins to round out this dessert-like smoothie.
Ingredients for a Peaches and Cream Summer Detox Smoothie
- ½ cup avocado
- ½ cup strawberries
- 1 cup peaches
- 1 banana
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ cup ice
- ½ to 1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
Sunrise Carrot & Celery Summer Detox Smoothie
If you want something that incorporates more vegetables, then this sunrise summer detox smoothie is exactly what you need. Carrots, celery, mango, and apple combine to create a refreshing drink that detoxifies your body and energizes your mind.
Ingredients for a Sunrise Carrot & Celery Summer Detox Smoothie
- 2 apples, about 2 cups
- 1 carrot, about ½ to 1 cup
- 1 celery stalk, about ½ a cup
- 1 cup mango
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 cup coconut water, as needed
Classic Strawberry Banana Summer Detox Smoothie
When crafting a detox smoothie, you can always go back to the basics. This classic strawberry banana smoothie incorporates additional protein from rolled oats, and it doesn’t disappoint.
Ingredients for a Classic Strawberry Banana Summer Detox Smoothie
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 banana, about 1 cup
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 cup almond or oat milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup ice