Anti-Cancer Green Smoothie Recipe
This Anti-Cancer Green Smoothie recipe is full of health-promoting ingredients, including leafy greens and broccoli florets. This vegan and dairy-free blended drink can be served as a meal replacement or as a snack. It’s easy to make and tastes delicious.
This anti-cancer smoothie recipe is similar to my Collard Green Smoothie recipe, but with the addition of frozen broccoli florets.
Broccoli contains sulforaphane, the compound in broccoli that has been studied for its cancer-fighting properties.
Here’s a list from the MD Anderson Cancer Center of more cancer-fighting foods and here’s my list of the best greens for smoothies.
Why You Need This Recipe
- In this recipe, you actually can’t taste the frozen broccoli once it’s blended with all of the other great ingredients in this recipe. The carrot juice, fruit, citrus, cocoa powder, mint leaves all work together to magically cover up the “green” flavor of the veggies.
- Even if you don’t necessarily love the taste of green vegetables, I think that you will enjoy the flavor of this very healthy anti-cancer smoothie.
- Whether you’re recovering from a cancer diagnosis or you are just trying to prevent cancer in the first place, this smoothie is full of scientifically-backed ingredients. It’s also vegan and dairy-free so it can be enjoyed by almost everyone. See all of my Cancer Fighting Smoothies.
Disclaimer: although this recipe is titled “anti-cancer,” it is not intended as a replacement for medical treatment as advised by your healthcare professional. This recipe is intended to help with cancer prevention.
Benefits of Broccoli
Studies show that there are compounds in cruciferous vegetables known as isothiocyanates that fight cancer.
However, as far as we know, these compounds are only present in raw or very gently cooked cruciferous vegetables. So, that’s why this recipe uses gently blanched and frozen broccoli florets.
It’s also easier to hide the flavor of frozen broccoli as opposed to fresh broccoli. And, the frozen florets even help to thicken the smoothie.
If you’re a fan of broccoli, you might also like this easy step-by-step guide for how to sprout broccoli seeds on your countertop without dirt. Sprouting broccoli and eating a tablespoon or two a day is another way to help prevent and fight cancer.
Key Ingredients
- Carrot juice is the base of this healthy green smoothie. It adds natural sweetness with no added sugar. You can use bottled carrot juice or homemade carrot juice.
- Frozen broccoli adds cancer-fighting compounds and adds thickness to the smoothie. See how to freeze broccoli for smoothies.
- Frozen banana and frozen strawberries add thickness and more natural sweetness. See my guide on how to freeze bananas for smoothies.
- Cocoa powder and fresh mint leaves help add flavor and cover any “green” flavor from the veggies. If you don’t have cocoa powder, see my list of the best substitutes for cocoa powder.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Steps
Let me show you exactly how to make it!
Step One
Start by adding the carrot juice to the base of your blender, along with the water and hemp seeds.
This recipe is forgiving, so don’t worry if you don’t have every single one of the ingredients. For instance, if you don’t have carrot juice, you can use water (see my carrot juice recipe). If you don’t have fresh mint, you can just leave it out.
See the recipe card below for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Add the frozen fruit.
Also, be sure to check out my tutorial on the best way to freeze bananas!
Step Three
Add the rest of the ingredients and blend on high for just about 45 seconds, or until the smoothie is thick and creamy.
Step Four
Divide the smoothie between two glasses and serve immediately. You can store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Recipe Tips
- You can store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- If you don’t have carrot juice, you can just use water.
- You can substitute frozen cauliflower florets for the frozen broccoli, if you prefer. See how to freeze cauliflower for smoothies.
- You could also add a handful of broccoli microgreens or broccoli sprouts to add even more cancer-fighting sulphoraphane.
Recipe FAQs
Most frozen vegetables you buy at the store are meant to be cooked before being consumed. So, it’s better to buy fresh broccoli, blanch it, and then freeze it yourself. See how to freeze broccoli.
Yes, but the smoothie will not be as creamy. If you don’t want to use banana or you don’t have it on hand, I would recommend substituting frozen mango for the banana.
More Superfood Smoothie Recipes You Might Like
- Broccoli Sprout Smoothie
- Constipation Smoothie
- Creamy Detox Smoothie
- Broccoli Smoothie
- Moringa Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Cauliflower Smoothie
- Kale Chocolate Weight Loss Green Smoothie
Don’t miss my round-up of the best Cancer Fighting Smoothies.
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Anti-Cancer Green Smoothie Recipe
This Anti-Cancer Green Smoothie recipe is full of health-promoting ingredients, including leafy greens and broccoli florets. This vegan and dairy-free blended drink can be served as a meal replacement or as a snack. Easy to make and delicious, too.
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- 2 cups carrot juice
- 1 cup water
- 1 ripe banana, frozen
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup frozen broccoli florets
- 2 cups fresh or lightly steamed baby kale or baby spinach
- 5 fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 lime or lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Combine the hemp seeds, carrot juice, and water in the base of a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec.
- Next, add the frozen banana, frozen strawberries, frozen broccoli florets, greens, mint, cocoa powder, and lemon or lime juice.
- Place the lid on the blender and blend until smooth, about 45 seconds.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- If you don’t have carrot juice, you can just use water.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 21.9 g
- Sodium: 185.3 mg
- Fat: 11.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 51.5 g
- Fiber: 9.2 g
- Protein: 12.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is studying to be a holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.
Note: this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations related to your individual situation.
My green smoothie is similar to yours, and with broccoli, also.
I also started to add in mushrooms at times, and I hate mushrooms – the texture.
When I use either broccoli and/or mushrooms, I have to do them in a food processor first – I have a small one cup food processor that works great for it.
Not sure how it works with them frozen, but with fresh it chops them both up small enough that I don’t even notice they’re in there.
I have an awesome smoothie recipe: the juice of about 4 oranges, 1 cup almond milk, about 2 cups frozen pineapple, 1 mango, 2 to 3 cups spinach or kale, * optional 1-2 TBS unsweetened shredded coconut, 1-2 TBS ground Flax/Chia
With so much left over, can the smoothie be consumed a day after it’s been prepared?
Danielle, yes, but best consumed within 24 hours. You can also freeze the leftovers and then defrost them when you’re ready to consume. 🙂
Hi what if I cannot get my hands on hemp seeds, cacao powder, pomegranate arils and flax meal?
Hi Sue. You can substitute any non-dairy milk for the hemp seeds. You can use regular cocoa powder instead of cacao, substitute any berry for the pomegranate, and just leave out the flax meal.
There are a lot of cruciferous veggies you could throw in there and get the same benefits. Look up a list. All cruciferous veggies originated from one wild mustard plant. Cool, random facts.
Just wondering…is this all you consume for breakfast? Does it last until lunch? Thanks.
Thanks for the question, Joan. Yes, my smoothies do fill me up for my morning workout until lunchtime. I sometimes add a scoop of protein powder to get more nutrition.
Oh, and is it a certain type of tofu? silken, firm, super firm?+
So do you just put the tofu in the blender straight from the package or do you cook it? I didn’t think you could eat tofu raw! Also, where did you find frozen pomegranite arils? Did you buy fresh and freeze yourself?
Hi Robin! Sorry for the delay in answering your questions. I don’t cook the pudding and, yes, the tofu can be eaten right out of the package. Some people have mentioned that there can be an aftertaste, but I haven’t noticed that. In regards to the pomegranates, I have found frozen seeds at the regular grocery store but I most often buy the whole pomegranate and seed it myself to throw in my morning smoothie. It takes more effort, but it is much more cost-effective than buying the seeds frozen. I hope that answers your questions! If not, please let me know. 🙂
Trader Joes has organic fresh pomegranates (already seeded and ready to use)
Hi Carrie! I just ran across this site while looking for vegan and raw recipes for myself. What a great informative and inspirational site! I want you to know I am grateful for you sharing this experience. And last but not least I am holding you will have a safe an swift healing. Be blessed Karen
Thanks, Karen!!!
1/2 Avocado is my favorite in a smoothie, it just seems to give a really creamy texture. Bananas no matter what, flax too. Everything else is up in the air!
Hi Charlie, I haven’t gotten into the habit of adding avocado to my smoothies, probably because I love eating them plain so much. I also love bananas and flax in my smoothies, plus a good scoop of cacao powder to make it chocolatey. 🙂