This vibrant heavy metal detox smoothie is full of fresh bright flavors. It's only slightly sweet, perfectly tart, and gingery. The texture is smooth, quite thick, but not overly creamy. If you're looking for a way to detoxify heavy metals while alkalizing your body, this smoothie is it!

Metals are all around us.

Some are good for us, including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc are good for us. Others, like aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, uranium, and thallium, are all considered toxic and very dangerous even in low concentrations. (1) 

Chronic diseases related to heavy metal toxicity are now a problem that millions of people deal with. (2) Considering the prevalence of heavy metals in the air, drinking water, food, and countless human-made chemicals and products; researchers are raising questions about their impact on human health. If heavy metals enter and accumulate in body tissues faster than the body's detoxification pathways can dispose of them, they gradually build up.  

The growing scientific literature on heavy metals suggests these toxic compounds may be implicated in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. (3, 4, 5) 

There is virtually no way to avoid heavy metal exposure since metals are natural elements everywhere. But fortunately, there are ways to dislodge them.

The primary route of heavy metal detoxification is via chelation therapies like disodium or calcium EDTA. Chelation is a process where one compound (usually ingested) binds to the heavy metals you want out of your body. Then, you excrete the "chelated" metal + chelating compound combo. While this process is often successful, it must be done under a doctor's supervision because chelation can pull healthy metals (such as copper, iron, and zinc) from the body at the same time, resulting in a deficiency.

Another option is to use food chelators, which act as binding agents without pulling any good metals out of the body. This dietary approach has been shown to reduce or block heavy metal-induced toxicity and is entirely safe done at home.

Note: Diet-based heavy metal detox isn't a substitute if you have heavy mercury poisoning or exposure to other toxic metals, nor is it a cure for any disease. As with any diet change or toxin detox regimen, it's essential to consult your doctor before implementation. However, foods and nutrients that detoxify heavy metals can be a part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutrient-dense diet.

Tips for Making Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie

Ingredients

The star ingredients in this smoothie are leafy greens and parsley. The "green" taste is subtle though, and blends wonderfully with the other ingredients.

• Leafy greens blend: leafy greens are some of the most powerful heavy metal-cleansing foods, mainly due to their chlorophyll - a pigment that binds to heavy metals). Dark leafy greens also contain antioxidants and phytonutrients. Romaine lettuce and spinach are one of the mildest leafy greens and are great for introductory green smoothies. Kale and collars, on the other hand, have a more robust, slightly bitter flavor. You can use one kind of leafy greens or mix a few. 
• Parsley: one of the best ways to get rid of heavy metals is to consume parsley or cilantro regularly. Both herbs have chelating properties, meaning they attract and bind heavy metal molecules, which are then naturally excreted from the body. The flavor of fresh parsley can be quite strong, but just a handful of the leaves - which are milder than the stem - will give the detox smoothie a fresh taste and a bright green color. When shopping for parsley, you may encounter a couple of varieties - Italian parsley with flat leaves and curly parsley with spiky leaves. You can use either or.
• Cucumber: I don't think I have to emphasize how vital water is in any detoxification regimen. Cucumbers contain over 96% water, so they are excellent at flushing out toxins and cleansing the body.
• Avocado: you might not think of avocados in relation to detox, but they are important 
• Apple: to sweeten the heavy metal detox smoothie a little bit, I am using an apple. Golden Delicious is my favorite in this recipe because it has yellow/green skin (complimenting the color of the smoothie) and a sweet, mellow flavor. Apples are rich in phytochemicals and fiber pectin, which help detox. Many of the nutrients and fiber in apples are concentrated in the skin, so include the peels!
• Ginger: a fresh ginger root is one of the best and most readily available superfoods you can consume for daily detoxification support. It is also great for reducing inflammation within the body. Ginger is a bit spicy, so a small piece goes a long way.
• Lemon juice: citrus fruits are often mentioned when talking about detox. Lemons are powerful antioxidants - compounds that help protect the body's cells from damage - due to their high vitamin C levels and flavonoids. By reducing cell damage, antioxidants reduce the risk of many health conditions, including those caused by heavy metal toxicity.
• Coconut milk: you can use any plant-based milk you like for this recipe. I prefer light coconut milk because it's slightly sweet and creamy. On top of that, coconut milk also helps the digestive organs metabolize fat and remove waste from the body. I have tried using water in this smoothie, but the consistency is not right without the extra fat. 

Note: If you have access to superfood algae powders, such as chlorella or spirulina, add them. These green and blue-green algae effectively remove heavy metals from the body.

How to Make Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie

If you aspire to fill your diet with nutrient-dense green smoothies, having a powerful blender is critical. If you own a standard blender, you know that blending stringy parsley or fibrous ginger is not an easy task. Even worse, the smoothie often ends up chunky or stringy, and the drinking experience is no longer pleasurable. 

I have owned several blenders over the years, and the Vitamix is by far the best blender I have ever had. It consistently produces the silkiest smoothies regardless of the ingredients I use. 

However, if all you have is a standard blender (300-700 watts) and upgrading is not likely right now, you can still make this smoothie. Just follow the instructions below to help make a smoother detox green smoothie:

1. Chop the produce. The less powerful your blender is, the finer you will need to chop your ingredients, ideally to a minimum of 1 inch/2.5-cm pieces. You may even consider chopping the greens and finely grating the ginger.
2. Layer the ingredients in the right order. Add liquid first to help the blender get going and pull other ingredients into the blade. Next, add the apple, cucumber, and avocado, and blend again. Leafy greens, parsley, and ginger are tough ingredients to blend, so they should come in last.
3. Start the blender on low, then ramp up the speed to high. The vortex in standard blenders is not as powerful as in high-speed blenders. So, it's best to blend on low for at least 20 seconds first and then increase the speed. If you start the blender on high right away, an air pocket around the blade will form, and you will need to stop the blender, push the ingredients down, and start again.

Detox Smoothie Variations

While there are only a few ingredients that have detoxifying properties, you can still customize this smoothie with a few simple swaps:

• Greens: if you have the choice, go for baby greens rather than mature greens. Although there is no conclusive evidence that baby greens are better for you than their mature counterparts, some research does suggest that they outperform on certain nutrient scores. Baby spinach and baby kale are perhaps the easiest to find.
• Parsley: I am not fond of cilantro in smoothies, so I always stick with parsley. However, the cilantro plant leaves have potent anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial, and significant chelating properties. So, if you like cilantro, go for it!
• Fruit: swap the green apple for a pear. Wild blueberries would be another great substitute in terms of heavy metal detoxification, but they will change the color of the smoothie.
• Liquid: any plant-based milk will work in this smoothie - almond milk, cashew milk, etc.
• Add-ins: as I already mentioned, some of the best add-ins are green or blue-gree algae such as chlorella or spirulina because they effectively remove heavy metals from the body. Other excellent superfoods are Atlantic dulse or barley grass juice powder.

How to Store Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie

• Refrigerating: transfer the green smoothie into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
• Freezing: transfer the green smoothie into an airtight container and freeze for up to 1 month. 

MORE GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPES

• Apple spinach smoothie: if you're looking for a perfectly balanced green smoothie, this is it – slightly sweet, slightly tart, slightly creamy – vibrant, and great for any time of the day.
• Pineapple cucumber smoothie: this smoothie is tart-sweet, creamy, and refreshing. It's one of my favorite green smoothie combinations – not too sweet, not too thick, and super hydrating.
• Kale kiwi smoothie: kale can sometimes be overpowering in smoothies, but this smoothie is different. While it’s packed with dark leafy greens, it tastes fruity, slightly sweet, and perfectly tart. It’s a great morning pick-me-up.
• Detox Island Green smoothie: this is one of the most popular detox smoothies in the United States. It's served at the Tropical Smoothie Café and continues to be their best-selling smoothie. This smoothie is a perfect combination of greens and tropical fruit.
• Zucchini smoothie: it seems like almost all creamy smoothies contain a banana, right? Well, not this one! This green zucchini smoothie is creamy without any bananas thanks to avocado and frozen zucchini. 

If you'd like to learn more about smoothies – how to make a custom smoothie, how to fix a not-so-good smoothie, how to build a better (healthier) smoothie, etc. – you can refer to this smoothie guide.

If you try any of these recipes, please, leave a comment and rate the recipe below. It always means a lot when you do.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie

This vibrant heavy metal detox smoothie is full of fresh bright flavors. It's only slightly sweet, perfectly tart, and gingery. The texture is smooth, thick, but not overly creamy. If you're looking for a way to detoxify heavy metals while alkalizing your body, this smoothie is it!

Prep Time5 mins

Total Time5 mins

Servings: 1 smoothie

Ingredients

• ½ cup parsley
• 2 handfuls mixed greens
• 1 Golden Delicious apple
• ½ English cucumber
• ½ avocado
• 1 1-inch piece ginger
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 cup coconut milk *

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Blend. Add the parsley, leafy greens, apple, cucumber, avocado, ginger, lemon juice, and coconut milk into a high-speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth.
• Serve immediately.
• Store. Leftover smoothie keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day, though best when fresh. For longer-term storage, freeze in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Equipment

blender

Recipe Notes

*I used carton coconut milk.

**Nutrition information is approximate and may contain errors. Please, feel free to make your own calculations.

Nutrition Facts

Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie

Amount Per Serving (1 of 1)

Calories 364 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Carbohydrates 48g16%

Fiber 16g67%

Sugar 24g27%

Protein 6g12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.