Keeping it Smooth: 5 Smoothies for your Skin
A few weeks ago, we talked about what you can put in your aroma diffusers to pamper your skin. Well, did you know that what you eat – or in this case, drink – can also help keep your skin looking beautiful? We’ve scoured the internet for the best smoothie recipes to help keep your skin smooth and looking young. Try a few, experiment with the ingredients and enjoy!
But first, a scientific note:
Wrinkles, dry skin and those other bad skin symptoms are largely caused by free radicals, which damage cells, eat away at collagen and cause fine lines. All of the smoothies listed below are chalk full of vitamins, like vitamin C, and properties, like antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which combat free radicals and reduce their effects on your skin (and body)! Oh, and if you’re worried about sun damage, look for vitamin E-rich ingredients, like avocado.
#1 Pumpkin Smoothie
Source: prevention.com Makes 1 ServingIngredients
½ cup canned pumpkin, frozen in ice cube tray
7 oz (little over ¾ cups) 2% Greek-style yogurt
½ cup water
¼ avocado
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
Directions
Blend everything together until smooth.
Why it works Pumpkin pulp is rich in antioxidants while the meat has carotenoids, vitamins C, A and E, and powerful free radical-fighting enzymes.
#2 Green Tea & Berry Smoothie
Source: doctoroz.com Makes 2 ServingsIngredients
1 cup non-fat or low-fat chocolate milk
¼ cup unsweetened green tea
1 ½ cups of frozen berries; we suggest the following mix: raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries
Directions
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Why it works Green tea is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties while the berries pack in antioxidants, throwing the wrinkle-fighting power of this smoothie into overdrive.
#3 Berry Smoothie
Source: aseasyasapplepie.com Makes 2 ServingsIngredients
¼ cup water
½ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
¼ cup raspberries, fresh or frozen
¼ cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
¼ cup kale, center stem removed
¾ cup Greek yoghurt 0% fat
1 tbsp honey
2 tsp flaxseeds
Note: if you’re using fresh berries, add a few ice cubes to the mix.
Directions
Blend it all together until smooth.
Why it works Berries have the antioxidants, flaxseeds contribute omega-3 fatty acids (which minimize irritation, redness and inflammation), the yoghurt is high in fibre and protein to firm up your skin and kale is basically mother nature’s nutrient-rich powerhouse.
#4 Green Smoothie
Source: simplegreensmoothies.com Makes 2 ServingsIngredients
2 cups spinach, fresh
2 cups coconut water
2 cups pineapple
1 avocado
Directions
Blend spinach and coconut water until smooth. Add pineapple and avocado, and blend again.
Note: use at least one frozen fruit or add ice to make the green smoothie cold.
Why it works Spinach is kale’s close cousin, so it’s mother nature’s other nutrient-rich powerhouse, coconut water hydrates and regenerates tissue, pineapples are full of vitamin C and avocado, as we’ve already learned, is rich in vitamin E.
#5 Banana & Strawberry Smoothie
Source: youbeauty.com Makes 1 ServingIngredients
¼ cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
½ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 orange, peeled and pits removed
1 ripe banana
½ cup fat-free plain yogurt
½ cup extra firm Silken tofu
2 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp agave nectar
Directions
Put all ingredients into blender and whip until smooth.
Why it Works Strawberries are one of the best fruits for vitamin C and blueberries at high in antioxidants. Oranges and bananas help boost those levels. Chia seeds plug in some omega-3 while tofu adds selenium and iron (it works like powdered protein, so it doesn’t affect the flavor).