There is a Philips citrus juicer on the Casa Adora worktop that I bought in an electrical shop in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, in the Haute-Vienne, in 2002. It has been here since I arrived in Andalucía in 2012. Still going. The centrifugal juicer next to it is more recent.
Most days, around early afternoon, I make a juice. In high season I take it to the Andaluz patio — shade, stone, the sound of the village going quiet in the heat. Outside high season, the roof terrace: wider sky, cooler air, and the Peña de Martos on the horizon — the rocky crag above the town where I buy coriander when Marta's store doesn't have it.
This is the green one. A green juice for gut health built from kale, baby spinach, kiwi, green apple, pepino, lime, fresh ginger, and a handful of coriander. Everything goes through the centrifugal juicer. The lime goes through the Philips. They meet in the glass.
It is a genuinely good green juice for gut health — not engineered for it, just built from ingredients that happen to be excellent for the microbiome. Kale and spinach bring prebiotic fibre. Ginger is anti-inflammatory. Kiwi is one of the most fibre-dense fruits you can juice. The lime adds brightness and vitamin C. The coriander is there because I like it.
Why This Green Juice for Gut Health Works
The gut health case for green juicing is sometimes overstated. Juicing removes much of the insoluble fibre — the pulp — which is itself valuable for the gut. What remains is the soluble fibre, the phytonutrients, the vitamins, and the hydration. That is still significant, particularly with a line-up like this one.
Kale and spinach are among the richest plant sources of prebiotic compounds — they feed the beneficial bacteria in the large intestine. Kiwi contains actinidin, an enzyme that improves protein digestion, and has been specifically linked in research to improved gut motility. Ginger has well-documented anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. And the combination of green apple and lime keeps the whole thing bright and drinkable rather than worthy and grim.
This green juice for gut health works alongside the fermented foods, wholegrains and legumes in my Gut Health Recipes collection — not instead of them.
Green Juice for Gut Health — The Recipe
Makes 1 glass (approx. 250–300ml)
Ingredients
- 30g baby spinach
- 30g kale, stalks removed
- ½ medium pepino (cucumber), roughly chopped
- 1 medium green apple, cored and quartered
- 1 kiwi, peeled and halved
- ½ lime, juiced separately
- Small handful fresh coriander (stalks and leaves)
- 1cm piece fresh ginger, peeled
Method
Feed the spinach, kale, pepino, apple, kiwi, coriander and ginger through the centrifugal juicer in batches — alternate the leafy greens with the harder fruit and vegetables to help them through.
Juice the lime separately using a citrus juicer. Stir into the green juice.
Pour over ice if you prefer it cold. Drink immediately — green juice oxidises quickly and loses both colour and nutrients if left to sit.
Notes
Coriander from Marta's store in the village is hit and miss — the supermarket in Martos is the more reliable source. A small handful is enough; too much and it dominates.
The pepino keeps the juice hydrated and mild. Without it, the kale and spinach can make the whole thing taste more medicinal than it needs to.
Juicing removes most of the insoluble fibre. If you want the full gut health benefit of these ingredients, eat them whole as well — this juice is a supplement to a fibre-rich diet, not a substitute for one.
This green juice for gut health is part of my Gut Health Recipes collection — real food from a rural Andalucían kitchen, built around fermented foods, high-fibre pulses, wholegrains and prebiotic-rich ingredients.
Find more recipes and food adventures here.
Wonky photos, proper food, genuine adventures — The Flexible Chef
