Ever walked into a kitchen and seen someone pulsing a blender full of raw greens, tomatoes, and oranges? It looks... aggressive. But if you’ve spent any time in the chronic illness community, you know exactly what that is. It’s the spinach soup Medical Medium fans swear by. It isn't your grandma’s creamy, sautéed-in-butter spinach soup. It’s raw. It’s bright. Honestly, it’s kinda weird if you’re used to standard cooked meals.
Anthony William, the man behind the Medical Medium brand, has been pushing this specific recipe for years. He claims it’s a "biological goldmine" for the liver. People aren't just eating it because they like the taste—though some actually do—they’re eating it because they are desperate to feel better. We’re talking about people dealing with mystery fatigue, skin flares, and brain fog who have tried everything else.
But does it actually work? Or is it just another green juice derivative with a different name?
Why This Specific Spinach Soup Matters
Let’s get into the mechanics. Most people think of spinach as a salad base or something you wilt into pasta. In this framework, spinach is viewed as a high-mineral powerhouse that needs to be consumed raw to preserve certain enzymes. William argues that when you blend it with specific ingredients like tomato and celery, you’re creating a predigested form of nutrition that the body can absorb without any heavy lifting.
It's basically a liquid IV of minerals.
The core recipe is shockingly simple. You take about 1 to 2 bunches of spinach. You add some tomatoes—usually about 2 medium ones—and the juice of an orange. Maybe a stalk of celery. Some people throw in Atlantic dulse or garlic if they’re feeling brave. You don't add water. The tomato and orange juice provide all the liquid you need.
The result is a savory, slightly sweet, very green gazpacho.
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The Oxalate Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about spinach soup Medical Medium style without addressing the "O" word. Oxalates. If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, your doctor probably told you to stay far away from raw spinach. This is where the Medical Medium protocol deviates heavily from mainstream nutritional advice.
Mainstream science generally warns that high-oxalate foods can contribute to calcium oxalate stones in susceptible individuals. However, William counters this by claiming that the oxalates in raw spinach are not the villain. He suggests that the minerals bound to those oxalates are actually what the body needs to clear out "toxic" calcium deposits.
It’s a controversial take. Is it backed by peer-reviewed clinical trials? No. Most of William’s information comes from what he describes as a "Spirit" source rather than a laboratory. This is why doctors often roll their eyes at the protocol, while thousands of people on Instagram post photos of their clear skin and newfound energy.
There is a massive gap between clinical data and anecdotal evidence here. If you’re prone to kidney issues, you’ve gotta be careful. Nutrition isn't one-size-fits-all, and jumping into a high-spinach diet without consulting a practitioner who understands your specific history is a gamble.
How to Actually Make It Without Hating the Taste
Look, if you just throw spinach and water in a blender, it tastes like lawn clippings. It’s gross. To make the spinach soup Medical Medium recommends actually palatable, the orange is the secret weapon. The citric acid and natural sugars cut right through the earthy bitterness of the greens.
Here is the basic flow:
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- Start with the tomatoes and orange juice at the bottom. This ensures the blades have enough liquid to catch the greens.
- Pack the spinach in last.
- Blend on high for about 30 seconds. If you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix, it becomes incredibly smooth.
- Optional: Add a clove of garlic or a pinch of ginger. This gives it a "kick" that makes it feel more like a meal and less like a drink.
Many people serve this over "noodles" made of cucumber or zucchini. It turns the soup into a sauce. It’s actually pretty clever. It tricks your brain into thinking you’re eating a bowl of pasta when you’re really just consuming a massive pile of raw phytonutrients.
The Role of the Liver and Glucose
The theory behind the soup revolves around liver health. According to the Medical Medium books, like Liver Rescue, the liver gets sluggish from a lifetime of high-fat diets and environmental toxins. The soup is designed to be fat-free.
Why fat-free?
The idea is that fat slows down the blood. By keeping the soup fat-free, the glucose from the tomatoes and oranges can carry the minerals from the spinach directly into the cells. It’s about "clean" fuel. When you eat fat with your greens, your liver has to produce bile to break down that fat, which supposedly distracts it from the "deep cleaning" it could be doing.
Whether you believe the "sluggish liver" theory or not, there is one undeniable fact: most people do not eat enough leafy greens. Replacing a heavy, processed lunch with a bowl of raw spinach and tomatoes is going to provide a massive uptick in potassium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
Real World Results and Nuance
I've talked to people who started eating this soup daily. One woman, Sarah, had chronic eczema for a decade. She started the "Morning Cleanse"—lemon water, celery juice, then the spinach soup for lunch. Within three months, her skin was clear. Was it the soup? Or was it the fact that she stopped eating processed sugar and dairy at the same time?
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It’s probably both.
The soup acts as a displacement tool. If you’re full of spinach and tomatoes, you aren't eating a cheeseburger. That’s the "boring" scientific explanation for why people feel better on this protocol. You’re increasing fiber, hydration, and antioxidants while simultaneously decreasing inflammatory triggers.
However, some people experience "detox" symptoms. Bloating. Or even a temporary worsening of symptoms. The Medical Medium community calls this a "healing crisis." Critics call it a reaction to a sudden, massive increase in insoluble fiber that the gut microbiome isn't prepared for. If you go from zero greens to two bunches a day, your stomach is going to have thoughts about it. Loud ones.
The Practical Reality of the Protocol
It’s a lot of work. Seriously.
To do this right, you’re buying multiple containers of organic spinach every single week. You’re washing tomatoes. You’re cleaning the blender. It’s a commitment to your health that requires time and money. Organic spinach isn't cheap, especially in the quantities required for the spinach soup Medical Medium suggests.
But for those who have been "trapped" in their bodies by illness, the cost and the dishes are a small price to pay.
Actionable Steps for Success
If you’re curious about trying this, don't just dive into the deep end. Your gut might rebel.
- Start small. Try half a bunch of spinach instead of two. See how your digestion handles the fiber load.
- Use "Salty" Tomatoes. Roma or vine-ripened tomatoes usually have more flavor and provide a better base than beefsteak tomatoes.
- Don't skip the orange. The glucose is necessary for the "adrenal support" aspect of the protocol. Plus, it tastes way better.
- Pair it with noodles. Spiralize a cucumber. It gives the soup texture and makes it feel like a real lunch.
- Watch your fats. If you’re following the protocol strictly, try to keep your fats (nuts, seeds, avocado, oils) to the evening meal so the soup can do its thing during the day.
- Stay hydrated. All that fiber needs water to move through your system. Drink your lemon water in the morning.
The spinach soup Medical Medium recipe is more than just a meal; it’s a centerpiece of a much larger philosophy on chronic illness. Whether it's the "miracle cure" its proponents claim or just a very healthy way to get your veggies, it has clearly tapped into a massive need for alternative healing. Just remember to listen to your own body. If a raw soup makes you feel amazing, keep going. If it makes you feel worse, tweak it. The best protocol is the one that actually works for your specific biology.