Want to get more citrus into your diet? In this post I share a quick and easy way to make a citrus smoothie with grapefruit and lemon. Keep reading to get the recipe and recommended meal prep equipment.
YouTube video
Watch the video of how to make this citrus smoothie, as well as how to use the citrus peels to make a limonene-rich tonic:
What is a citrus smoothie?
A smoothie is a beverage made in a blender. Often times we think of juicing citrus to drink it’s juice. However, did you know you can blend the entire citrus into a smoothie? This is a for getting the beneficial essential oils into your diet which are concentrated in the peels and pith of the citrus fruit.
If you’re looking for another way to get citrus into your diet, try it as a smoothie! Enjoy a simple blend of citrus and water as a smoothie. Or, add this mixture to other smoothies, such as the Green Apple Smoothie.
Health benefits of citrus fruits
Here’s what the National Institute of Health says about the health benefits of citrus:
The general benefits provided by the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables are proposed to be conferred by their nutritional compounds, including vitamins, and non-flavonoid and flavonoid polyphenols [4]. Important components of functional foods include citrus fruits produced by the flowering plants from the genus Citrus L. (Rutaceae family) [5,6]. Fruits in this group include oranges, mandarin, tangerine, clementine, grapefruit, pomelo, lemons, and lime.
Citrus fruits are rich in sugars, vitamins, organic acids (such as hydroxycinnamic, hydroxybenzoic, citric, and succinic acids), coumarins, terpenoids, and flavonoids (including flavanones, flavones, flavonols, and anthocyanins). The biological properties of citrus fruit phytochemicals range from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory to antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects, among others [6,7,8].
Best blender for smoothies
I recommend investing in a Vitamix blender for smoothies. The one I use in the video above (and in the photo to the right) I have been using for 20 years and it still works great.
- Shop for Vitamix blenders on Amazon.
Cleaning citrus fruit
I like to use some drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract in filtered water to clean the citrus peels. Make sure to clean off any dirt and residue from the peels because you will be consuming whatever is on the peels for this recipe.
- Shop for Grapefruit Seed Extract on Amazon.
Citrus smoothie
- Makes about 8 cups citrus smoothie recipe
- Prep time: 10 minutes
Equipment
- Vitamix blender
- Wusthof serrated knife
- Ball glass jars with lid
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 10 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract, for washing citrus fruit
- 4 organic grapefruit, peeled, quartered
- 1 organic lemon, peeled, quartered
- 4-6 cups filtered water
Directions
- Peel or cut off peels from grapefruits and lemon. Reserve the citrus peels for Citrus peel (limonene) tonic recipe.
- Place citrus innards into a blender canister.
- Cover with filtered water, about 4-6 cups.
- Place lid onto blender tightly. Blend on high for 1 minute, or until well blended.
- Pour into glass jars and cover with lid. Store in the refrigerator for about 1 week.
Serving
- Enjoy this Citrus Smoothie as is.
- Enjoy 1 cup smoothie with 1 cup water for a Lemonade beverage. Add stevia extract as a sweetener, if desired.
- Add 2 cups Citrus Smoothie into the Green Apple Smoothie in place of the citrus in the recipe.
Variations
Substitute any citrus fruit, such as oranges, tangerines, and limes.
Further reading:
