Thanksgiving Detox Smoothie

Update: This post originally ran on November 25, 2013, but we loved it so much, we just had to share again!

It was around this time last year that I went on a smoothie-making kick, and ever since, I’ve loved coming up with recipes for different seasons and holidays. Of all the smoothies that I’ve made, though, I have to say this is my favorite. I was skeptical of the ingredients at first — I just picked out a bunch of ingredients that I knew were great for detox, but wasn’t sure how they would taste together. I’m happy to say that they taste incredible — this is one healthy detox smoothie you will definitely enjoy drinking. And, after all the eating that inevitably takes place on Thanksgiving, this smoothie is an excellent way to detox following the holiday — your stomach will thank you for it! Read on for the recipe.

When I set out to make this smoothie, I knew the key ingredient had to be cranberries. Not only are cranberries a staple this time of year, but they’re one of the most beneficial superfoods out there. Cranberries are second only to blueberries when it comes to antioxidant powers, are rich in vitamin C and fiber, and help the body detox by flushing toxins out of the kidneys, lymphatic system, and intestines.

Cranberries are very tart, so I knew I wanted to include some other ingredients that would provide natural sweetness. I decided to use apple and banana. We all know how good apples are for us (read all about it in this post), and the sweetness of the apple was the perfect counterbalance to the tart cranberries. Bananas are rich in potassium, which gives the body energy (great if you’re feeling a bit sluggish post-holiday!) and also add a nice smooth texture to the drink.

The final additions were a tiny bit of chopped ginger root (ginger is known to help sooth the stomach) and a handful of spinach. I tend to throw a little bit of spinach in most smoothies because it’s incredibly nutritious (it is packed with vitamins and, yes, more antioxidants) and you can barely even taste it — a great way to get a little bit more greens in your diet.