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Improve Your Skincare With These 5 Smoothies
Words Whitney Bello-Williams
Food has always been synonymous with health. If you eat better, you'll feel better and you'll look better says Food Editor Whitney Bello-Williams
Our bodies are built to take in nourishment from the things we eat hence the popular saying "you are what you eat". The skin is no different. The skin is the body's largest organ. As you age, your skin inevitably begins to show the effects over time. However, we can stave off some of the more negative effects by taking in what the skin needs to feel vibrant and healthy.
There are many skincare products you can use to improve your skin but what happens inside your body is just as important as what you do on the outside. You'll also benefit from the speed and ease of using food to improve your skin, as the results can show almost immediately!
The quickest way to seeing some of these benefits is the use of smoothies! Smoothies already break down the food so it makes digestion simpler and in turn, helps your body take in the nutrients faster resulting in healthy, glowing skin.
Here are some of my favourite smoothies to promote skin health and improve your natural glow. They are filled with everyday ingredients that you can find in your local grocery stores or health stores and even online. You probably have these ingredients lying in your fridge or pantry so put them to good use and start improving your skin today!
Summer Grapefruit Peach and Raspberry Smoothie
This smoothie is filled with enough vitamins and antioxidants to improve your skin health. Vitamin C helps to repair the skin and stimulate natural collagen production which is necessary for youthful-looking skin. Grapefruits are also known to even out skin tones for a much smoother complexion. It contains Lycopene which helps to reduce inflammation of the skin, promoting a radiant glow.
Servings: 1
Calories: 131kcal
Ingredients
1 Grapefruit
1 Peach
1 Cup Frozen Raspberries
½ cup of Coconut Milk or any milk you like
Instructions
Process the ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Segmenting your grapefruit will help remove most of the bitterness of this fruit! Takes a little longer but if you're not a fan of bitterness, I suggest it!
Pistachio Mint Ice Cream Smoothie
The oils found in pistachios are said to help to clear the skin of acne due to its ability to increase blood circulation, which promotes the rejuvenation of skin cells and promotes healing. It also contains an adequate amount of Vitamin E which improves skin elasticity i.e. the ability of your skin to snap back, reducing wrinkles.
Whilst regular ice cream isn't what you want for better skin, this ice cream smoothie gives you that delicious creaminess and thickness - the perfect blend between a smoothie and ice cream.
Servings: 2
Calories: 222kcal
Ingredients
1/4 cup pistachio nuts
leaves Handful of mint leaves
2 frozen bananas
1/4 cup of coconut or unsweetened almond milk
To top:
Organic dark chocolate shavings
Chopped pistachio nuts
Instructions
Using a high powered blender or food processor, process all your ingredients until creamy and smooth.
Serve topped with the chocolate shavings and chopped nuts.
Recipe Notes
For more of an ice cream texture: add your milk in a tablespoon at a time, just enough to allow your machine to process effectively. This depends on the machine you use.
Berry Cherry Green Detox Smoothie
A detox is a perfect way of ridding your body of toxins and waste. Your liver and kidneys are your body's tools to clean out the system but you can also promote this with a healthy smoothie. Ingredients in this smoothie such as avocados are filled with healthy fats and studies suggest that this promotes supple, springier skin. This smoothie contains a good mix of Vitamins C and E which work well together in order to reduce inflammation and keep the skin structure strong.
Servings: 1
Calories: 137kcal
Ingredients
1 cup frozen berries mix (Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries)
1/2 cup frozen cherries
4 leaves mint
1 frozen banana
1 1/2 cups spinach leaves (fresh or frozen)
1/3 avocado
Juice of half a lemon
Enough water to cover , about 1 litre
Instructions
Add all ingredients to your blender with the spinach leaves first.
Process until smooth and enjoy
Recipe Notes
To make a thicker smoothie, just reduce the amount of water you add. You can use fresh or frozen but I use frozen fruits because they're cheaper and I feel they make a creamier consistency.
Neapolitan Ice Cream Smoothie
Another ice cream smoothie, this smoothie is inspired by the favourite Neapolitan mix of Strawberry, Vanilla and Chocolate ice-cream. This version is a much healthier dairy free mix using ingredients like cacao powder which you can find in your local health stores.
Cacao powder is filled with nutrients like magnesium, zinc and iron, three powerhouse nutrients that help your skin look it's best. This smoothie will help your skin look plump, dewy and most of all, hydrated!
Servings: 2
Calories: 214kcal
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Layer
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp honey (or a couple dates if vegan)
1 slice of frozen banana (already cut)
1/4 cup milk*
For the Banana Layer
1 frozen banana
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
For the Strawberry Layer
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 cup + 2tbsp milk
Instructions
Add your layers to a blender**.
Blend each layer separately. Once a layer has been processed, place it in a container in the freezer to ensure it doesn't melt.
Once your strawberry layer is done, construct your neapolitan ice cream smoothie
Serve and enjoy immediately.
Recipe Notes
*You can use any kind of milk you want! Preferable unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk or a good hemp milk!
**If using a high powered blender or food processor, you may not need as much milk to process the fruit. Start off with a splash of milk and process. Add more milk as needed but 1/4 cup is adequate.
Strawberry Acai Smoothie Bowl
Acai is known as a super food because it contains many vital nutrients that improve health and vitality. The fatty acids in Acai berry help to promote collagen production which makes it an ingredient perfect for that natural skin glow and radiance. It is commonly known for its anti-aging properties, helping you fight off free radicals that cause aging and disease. Acai powder can be found in your local health stores or purchased online via Amazon.
A smoothie bowl is a popular spin on your regular smoothie where it's eaten from a bowl rather than drunk and toppings are a world of their own.
Servings: 1
Calories: 276kcal
Ingredients
1 cup of frozen strawberries
1 frozen banana
250 ml /1 cup of coconut milk
Optional: 1/2 cup of spinach
To Top:
1 - 2 tsps acai powder
Paleo granola of your choice
Fruit of your choice
Instructions
Simply pop in your blender and process. You can opt to blend the acai in the smoothie or top!
Visit WhittyPaleo.com for more skin-enhancing recipes!