When I think of spring, I think of spring cleaning which makes me think of detoxing.
This brings green juice to mind, and I have the perfect go-to green drink for you.
Cilantro Detox Juice Recipe
This Cilantro Detox Juice is packed with incredible phytonutrients that have healing properties.
What is Cilantro Good For?
Cilantro chelates heavy metals from the body, which is important since I have the MTHFR genetic mutation which can impair detoxification.
Is Cilantro Good for Cleansing?
Since cilantro is so great for cleansing, I drank a quart of this green juice every day when I was diagnosed with heavy metal toxicity in 2004.
Rather than doing medical chelation, which I thought would be too hard on my body, my doctor suggested that I eat A LOT of cilantro.
Can You Drink Cilantro Juice?
Since I wasn’t sure how to consume an entire bunch of cilantro each day, I juiced it. I love cilantro juice, and yes, you can drink it!
Cilantro Detox Juice
Ingredients
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 2 fingers ginger
- 1 lemon
- 1 lime
- 3 large cucumbers
Instructions
- Push cilantro through juicer
- One at a time, push ginger, lemon, and lime through juicer
- Push cucumbers through juicer
- Serve
Equipment
What is Detox Juice Good For?
In addition to helping detox heavy metals, cilantro also helps build healthy skin and hair and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Further, it contains antimicrobial properties, which is likely why it’s been widely used in cooking for cultures in warmer climates, prior to the development of refrigeration.
Cilantro Health Benefits
The health benefits of cilantro are numerous. This superfood contains compounds that reduce the risk of:
- Heart Disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
Further, cilantro contains a substance called dodecenal. This antimicrobial compound is thought to protect the body against infections caused by food spoilage.
Healthy Green Detox Juice Recipe
For this healthy juice recipe, I use all of the cilantro, both leaves, and stems.
I also do this for cooking because it stretches my food dollars, and reduces prep work and food waste.
The stems of cilantro taste every bit as good as the leaves!
Is Cilantro Parsley?
I’m often asked if cilantro and parsley are the same thing. To this, I must reply with a resounding NO.
While both are very bright leafy greens that grow on long, thin stems, to me they taste nothing alike.
Many people confuse flat-leaf parsley with cilantro because they look so similar. Parsley is more of a Mediterranean herb while cilantro is often used in Mexican, Thai, and Indian food.
Both parsley and cilantro have numerous health benefits. Herbs in general are packed with micronutrients and healthy anti-inflammatory compounds.
Is Juicing Good for You?
When it comes to juicing some people worry about losing the fiber.
If that concerns you, blend your veggies in a high-speed blender such as a vitamix or blendtec.
I haven’t tried that, so I’m not sure if it will taste as good as my Cilantro Detox Juice.
I get plenty of fiber since I eat many servings of vegetables each day. For me, juicing is like taking a supplement.
Green Juice Detox Recipe
While juice is not a whole food, that doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely healthy.
Pushing superfoods through the juicer gives me extra micronutrients that my digestive system would not have space for.
Health Benefits of Juicing
Because our soil is depleted, even organic food has diminished nutritional value.
Juicing is my insurance, it may not be for everyone, but it’s perfect for me.
The Best Juicer
You’ll notice I reference my Breville Juicer not only in this recipe but quite often on the site. I find this is one of the best bang for your buck juicers.
Better yet? I’ve had mine for ten years now with no issues.
Easy Juicing Recipe
When I make my Cilantro Detox Juice I leave the skin on the produce.
When I spoke to the company (Breville) they advised me not to push unpeeled citrus through it as this may decrease the lifespan of the juicer.
Still, I leave the skins on, as I want all of the bioflavonoids found in the citrus skin.
Green Juice Recipes for Detoxing
As you can see, I love juicing and I adore my healing Cilantro Detox Juice! If you’re looking for more healthy green juice recipes try these too.
Mojito Green Juice
My Mojito Green Juice is a total winner. Mint, parsley, lime, ginger, cucumbers, and apple come together in this infusion for the ultimate refreshment.
My inspiration for this Mojito Green Juice was from a favorite website of mine, Dr. Frank Lipman. I hope you’re inspired to try this detoxifying delight.
Simple Green Juice
As the name suggests, my Simple Green Juice is just that, simple.
With only three healthy ingredients –parsley, cucumbers, and lemon you’ll be surprised by how flavorful it is!
Green Lemonade
My Green Lemonade contains similar ingredients to the above recipes, however, this one is supercharged with kale. Anytime I can sneak kale into my diet I’m in!
Pro tips for newbies to juicing?
- Serve your green juice in a wine glass to feel festive and fancy
- Sip slowly to enjoy and absorb all the benefits of your juice
Detox-Retox Recipes
If green juice recipes aren’t your jam I have something else for you –healthy electrolyte drinks.
Cocktails with Electrolytes
To say we LOVE LMNT is an understatement. The boys and I can’t get enough of it.
My favorite flavor is orange, the boys like lime, and Mr. Pantry is a fan of watermelon.
When the boys are home they make amazing detox-retox cocktail recipes.
Here are two detox-retox cocktails we created using LMNT:
Healing Green Juice Recipes
So there you have it! My favorite green juice recipes for detox, plus some fun healthy cocktails –if such a thing exists!
What’s your favorite juice? Any new combinations you can recommend? Leave a comment and let me know!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives, I first published this Cilantro Detox Juice in January 2015.
Shana Ebi says
Do you have to use organic cilantro?
Elana says
Shana, yes that is very important!
Alfonso says
How often does a body have to drink this concoction?
guillotdubois says
Hello, I’ve got what could be a substitution question, I suppose: I blend, so it seems less vegetables (meaning, the amount) would work here? Thanks!
Elana says
Hi there! I haven’t tried that so not sure. If you do please let us know how it goes :-)
meltow30 says
This looks delicious! I have a blend tec but sometimes I use a strainer so I just get the juice.
Christie says
From what I have read, cilantro mobilizes heavy metal in the body but does not help eliminate them, and it is important to also eat something that will bind the heavy metals and carry them out of the body. Chlorella is often recommended to take with cilantro for this reason. Bentonite clay is another supplement that is recommended for the same reason. Do you take either of these when you drink your cilantro? What do you recommend?
Janeta says
Elana thank you for this recipe. I am interested to learn your thoughts to this concern above. Thank you.
Elana says
Hi Christie and Janeta, I haven’t had any trouble with mobilizing heavy metals and not excreting them. My heavy metals are checked quarterly and my doctor said they are some of the lowest he’s seen. Everybody’s different though, so this may be a valid concern for some people.
Lisa says
Could I throw this all in a nutribullet? That’s what I have for blending at the moment. Maybe not the rinds though?
Elana says
Hi Lisa, I haven’t tried making this into a smoothie recipe, if you do please let us know how it goes :-)
Cindy Fraser says
Ok I did this in my nutri Ninja and I wish I had peeled the lemon and lime because it’s very bitter. Does the juicer retain back the skins so it’s not so bitter? I’ll have to get one. I also added celery, kelp, blueberries and honey and I’m forcing it down. Hopefully I won’t get heartburn. I too have heavy metals from silicone breast implants in for 9 years before I found out how toxic they are and and mercury amalgams which all have all been safely removed.
Elana says
Hi Cindy, I haven’t ever tried making this in a blender so not sure how that would affect the results. When I make it in my juicer it’s not bitter at all :-)
Lauren McGill says
Very interesting re: the chelating effects of cilantro. I will definitely be looking into that as a gentler approach to overcoming heavy metal toxicity. Amazing suggestion and great recipe to get started with. I too would be very stumped about how to pack my diet with cilantro!
Elana says
Thanks Lauren!
Mary Frances says
This looks like a great pick-me-up, I bet that combination of ginger and citrus gives it a great flavor too!
Elana says
Thanks Mary!
Beth says
Thank you so much for helping our family stay healthy, one delicous recipe at a time! My children are now away at college, hate the food, and love to come home to your chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and soups. My daughter will soon be moving in to her own apartment and will be using your blog and your recipe books I will be purchasing for her as her house warming present. SHE WILL BE THRILLED. I can’t begin to tell you as a mama how deeply grateful I am to you. Anyway, I do have a question..You said you drink a quart of this a day. Does this recipe make one quart? Thank you again so much! May God Richly Bless You Always!
Elana says
Beth, thanks for your warm words! I’m so happy your family is enjoying my recipes. Yes, this usually makes around a quart of juice, depending on the size of the veggies you use of course :-)
Jen says
I love juice, but have recently been enjoying green soup made in a vitamix. Very easy, satisfying and warm in winter. I use romaine, cilantro, celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes, some spirulina, kelp powder, hand full of hemp seeds and/or cashews, add some hot water, healthy salt and some herbs like oregano, garlic powder, etc, other seasoning you enjoy. And a splash of evoo. Blender up until its’ smoooth and steaming and you have a healthy healing detoxinfying soup! Love it so much I had to share.
Jen says
Also add a spring onion and some avocado. Maybe other people already do quick soups like this, but it’s new for me and has been a big discovery. Excuse the typos above. Just was happy to share this. Love the juice recipe and information. Thank you Elana, warm wishes…
Elana says
You’re welcome Jen!
Michelle says
Thanks for sharing this great idea!
Elana says
You’re welcome Michelle!
ali says
love the idea of green soup. i have a vitamix (and a breville juice). need good soup ideas that have no onions (allergic). i too have MS.
Elana says
Ali, here’s a green soup recipe for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/green-soup-with-ginger/
Enjoy!
Elana