7 Kidney Detox Smoothie Recipes

Your kidneys act as filters for removing waste and detoxing your body. They’re vital to a healthy and happy life.

Our diet can greatly impact the way our kidneys function. A clean diet rich in kidney-friendly foods may support your health.

That’s why I have gathered the top tips on how to make kidney detox smoothies, as well as seven kidney cleanse smoothie recipes. These smoothies are delicious and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

If you’re suffering from kidney disease and interested in natural approaches to support your kidneys, talk to your doctor first. A suitable diet can vary depending on the health of your kidneys. 

How to Make Kidney Detox Smoothies

A kidney-friendly smoothie usually involves foods low in sodium and potassium. Bananas and avocados, two popular smoothie ingredients, should be avoided because they’re rich in potassium.

Dairy products should also be limited, because of their high potassium and phosphorus content. Too much phosphorus can make your bones weaker, when kidneys are damaged.

Unenriched plant-based milk can be lower in potassium and could be a good substitute for milk in kidney detox smoothies. 

Oranges, orange juice, apricots are also on the list of foods to avoid in kidney-friendly smoothies.

Leafy greens like spinach, beet greens, and Swiss chard are nutrient-dense and healthy, but they’re also high in potassium. It might be best to moderate your intake of these foods. 

Best Ingredients for Kidney-Friendly Smoothies

• Blueberries – are rich in antioxidants which may reduce your risk of developing serious chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. They also make a fantastic addition to a kidney detox smoothie, as they’re relatively low in potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. 
• Arugula – most healthy leafy greens like kale, spinach, and Swiss chard should be avoided in kidney-friendly smoothies, as they’re high in potassium. Arugula is a nutrient-dense green that is lower in potassium, making it a good substitute for spinach in kidney detox smoothies. Arugula is rich in vitamin K, calcium and manganese all which are essential for healthy bones. I’ve written a whole article about bone health, check out these smoothie recipes for strong bones. Arugula is also rich in nitrates, which are linked to lower blood pressure. For more potentially blood pressure-lowering smoothies, check out these arugula smoothie recipes. 
• Raspberries – are relatively low in potassium, but high in vitamins, mineral and antioxidants. They provide a healthy dose of vitamin C. Just 1 cup of raspberries provides more than half your recommended daily intake. Vitamin C is essential for a healthy immune system and maintaining strong bones and teeth. 
• Red Grapes – can be considered a kidney-friendly food, as they’re relatively low in potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. Red grapes are high in an antioxidant called resveratrol that is believed to benefit heart health and lower cholesterol levels.
• Apples – may be suitable for a low-potassium diet, as one medium-sized apple only contains 158 mg of potassium. Apples are high in fiber, which may help you feel full for longer and promote weight loss. 
• Pineapple – may be suitable for those with kidney problems. Pineapples are relatively low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. They’re high in vitamin C, manganese, fiber, all which are essential for good health. Pineapples also contain the enzyme bromelain, which is believed to benefit digestive health. 
• Strawberries – are an excellent addition to a healthy diet. They’re packed with antioxidants and come with impressive health benefits. Strawberries may help reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and fight oxidative stress. Furthermore, strawberries may help prevent spikes in both blood sugar, as they’re low in sugar and high in fiber. 
• Cranberries – can be great for detoxing your kidneys. They’re believed to help fight bacteria and support the urinary tract. Cranberries are also low in potassium, 1 cup contains only 90 mg of this mineral.

Kidney Detox Smoothie Recipes

Now that we know the best ingredients for kidney-friendly smoothies, why not try one of these kidney detox smoothie recipes?

Kidney Cleanse Smoothie

Strawberries and blueberries are among the healthiest foods for kidney detox smoothies. Berries are rich in antioxidants, but relatively low in potassium, phosphorus, and sodium. 

Blueberries are often labeled a superfood, and that’s for a good reason! They’re low in calories but high in nutrients. Just one cup of blueberries provides you with 4 grams of fiber and 24% of your recommend daily vitamin C intake.

Blueberries are among the foods with the highest amount of antioxidants. Antioxidants may protect your from harmful free radicals and reduce the risk of developing serious chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

Strawberries are an almost sodium-free, healthy treat. The antioxidants in strawberries are believed to help prevent cataracts, which are responsible for blurry vision and could even lead to blindness in older age. 

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup almond milk, unfortified
• 1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
• ¾ cup frozen blueberries

Instructions:

1. Wash the strawberries, if you’re using fresh produce
2. Add everything to your blender jar
3. Blend for 30-45 seconds until smooth

Arugula Green Smoothie

Arugula might not be as popular as other cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and kale, but it’s just as tasty and packed with nutrition. It adds a unique flavor that tastes delicious in smoothies.

You can use arugula in smoothies, salads, pasta, soups, sauces, or just instead of lettuce in sandwiches. 

Just like other leafy greens, arugula contains plenty of nitrates. A high intake of nitrates may help lower blood pressure and enhance athletic performance. 

Arugula is also rich in nutrients that are linked to bone health, like vitamin K and calcium. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup arugula
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• ½ cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 apple 

Instructions:

1. Wash the arugula leaves
2. Wash the strawberries, if you’re using fresh ones
3. Wash, core, and cut the apple
4. Place everything into your blender jar
5. Blend for 60-90 seconds depending on the strength of your blender

Kidney Detox Smoothie

This kidney detox smoothie is a green smoothie that doesn’t taste too green. The fruits give it a pleasant sweet taste. 

If you’re adding almond milk to your kidney-friendly smoothies, it’s best to choose an unfortified variety. If you can’t find it at your local grocery store, why not try making your own homemade almond milk? 

Making almond milk with a blender isn’t rocket science. It just takes two ingredients and a high-speed blender like a Vitamix. Here’s a great almond milk recipe to get you started.

To make your homemade almond milk more kidney friendly, just leave the salt out. We want to keep sodium levels as low as possible in our smoothies. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk, unfortified
• 1 cup arugula
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 green apple

Instructions:

1. Wash the arugula leaves thoroughly
2. Wash, core, and cut the apple
3. Add everything to your blender jar
4. Blend for 60-90 seconds until smooth

Simple Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie

This smoothie is easy to make, it only contains strawberries, pineapples, and some water.

Pineapple is a sweet tropical fruit that’s relatively low in potassium, making it a good choice for the kidney diet. The fiber and vitamin C content may benefit your heart health and immune system.

Pineapples also contain bromelain. This enzyme is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and improve digestion. 

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup plain filtered water
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

Instructions: 

1. Wash the strawberries
2. Add everything to your blender jar
3. Blend for 30-45 seconds until smooth

Kidney-Friendly Smoothie

You’ve probably heard that red wine in moderation could potentially benefit health. The reason is resveratrol, a compound that is present in red grapes.

Resveratrol is believed to reduce cholesterol levels and benefit heart health. You won’t need to drink alcohol to get your healthy dose of resveratrol though.

Simply eating red grapes, having a red grape smoothie, or drinking purple grape juice will get the job done without the detrimental long-term effects of alcohol on your body and mind. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain filtered water
• ¾ cup strawberries
• ¾ cup frozen pineapple chunks 
• ¾ cup red grapes, seedless

Instructions:

1. Wash the strawberries and grapes
2. Place everything into your blender jar
3. Blend for roughly 1 minute until well combined

Easy Cranberry Pineapple Smoothie 

Here’s another simple smoothie recipe that’s easy to make. 

Cranberries may benefit your kidneys in many ways. There’s growing evidence that cranberries can help support your urinary tract and fight bacteria.

Cranberry juice can be a good liquid base for kidney-friendly smoothies, as it is usually lower in potassium than most other fruit juices.

It’s important to read the label though.

Cranberry juice can range from <50 mg to >200 mg per 8 oz serving. Try to choose brands with lower potassium content for this smoothie. 

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup cranberry juice 
• ½ cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• ½ apple 

Instructions:

1. Wash the cranberries if you’re using fresh produce
2. Wash, core, and cut the apple
3. Add everything to your blender jar
4. Blend for 30-45 seconds until smooth

Blueberry Cranberry Smoothie

This smoothie combines kidney-friendly fruits into a delicious and refreshing smoothie. 

Cranberries, blueberries, and red grapes are all among the list of nutrient-rich superfoods. They’re rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Have this detox smoothie to boost your intake of key nutrients that can benefit your kidneys and body.  

Ingredients:

• ½ cup plain filtered water
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• ½ cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 cup red grapes

Instructions:

1. Wash the grapes
2. Wash the cranberries, if you’re using fresh ones
3. Add everything to your blender jar
4. Blend for 45-60 seconds until smooth