Superfood Skin Smoothie: Get Glowing Skin from the Inside

You could spend all the money in the world on skincare products, but did you know that is only half the battle?  In order to get clear, glowing skin, it’s so important to have a healthy diet so you can radiate from within!   So to make it easier, here’s a quick recipe for a yummy superfood smoothie that is packed with ingredients to help your skin glow. The taste? Tart, creamy, a little coconut-ty and mostly like berries!

Superfood Skin Smoothie (vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free)

Makes: 1 serving

INGREDIENTS*:

• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (may be omitted if you are leery of vinegar,  but gives a "zing" of tartness)
• ½ avocado, pitted
• ½ cup blueberries
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 6 oz. coconut water ( you could substitute coconut milk)
• 1 Tbsp flax seeds
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon or lemon juice
• ½ cup spinach, loosely packed
• ½ tsp spirulina
• 1 cup strawberries
• ½ tsp turmeric
• Optional toppings: a few raw walnuts and coconut shreds

*use organic when possible

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend for about a minute or until smooth.
2. Top with walnuts and coconut shreds, and enjoy your radiant skin!

Smoothies made with pure fruit can be too sugary, so this recipe has a great balance of fruits, veggies, herbs, and seeds, while still tasting great.   Don’t let the reddish-brown color fool you!   Not only are these ingredients tasty, they are also super beneficial for your skin:

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar provides a nice crisp tartness to the smoothie, but it’s also amazing for skin because it helps improve digestion and the flora of your gut. Many skin conditions like some forms of acne can be traced back to an unhealthy gut! ACV also detoxes your liver and helps balance the pH of your skin.

Avocado

Not only are avocados filled with healthy fats and fatty acids to help keep you full, they are also packed with biotin (or vitamin B7) which helps skin cells regenerate and turn over quicker. Avocados also have vitamin E and antioxidants. They keep your skin hydrated and protect against signs of aging, too! Plus, they make the smoothie thick and creamy.

Blueberries

Antioxidant powerhouses!  Blueberries neutralize free radicals, which cause aging, wrinkles, sun damage, etc. Plus they contain vitamin A which balances oil levels on your skin.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are tasteless in this smoothie, but they add so many benefits to it! They are loaded with omega-3s (they contain more than salmon!), zinc, magnesium, and protein.  These properties help boost collagen, regulate blood sugar, fight acne, and balance hormones: all which promote smooth and radiant skin!

Coconut Water

Not only does coconut water provide a little flavor boost to the smoothie, it provides intense hydration. Hydration is KEY to healthy skin!  Coconut water is high in vitamin C, potassium, calcium, electrolytes, and magnesium.  I like to call it nature’s Gatorade!

Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are loaded with antioxidants and omega-3s.  They also contain lignan which scavenges for free radicals in the body and provides anti-inflammatory benefits. Flax is known to improve the appearance of skin because it monitors levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in your body.  There are so many other benefits of flax too, including controlling sebum production, providing moisture, and healing skin.

Lemon

Lemon provides great flavor to this smoothie, but it also brings vitamin C to help produce collagen and elastin. Lemon is known as “Nature’s Bleach” because of its skin-lightening properties. It helps cleanse and brighten skin, reduce blemishes and dark circles, and balance pH levels.  When levels are unbalanced, skin can become dry, sensitive, and irritated.

Spinach

Don’t worry, this smoothie doesn’t taste like spinach!  But there’s just no way this could be left out: spinach contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and water.  These help skin by repairing, slowing signs of aging, fighting free radicals, reducing inflammation, hydrating, diminishing dark circles, and giving you a rosy glow.  And because the spinach is paired with lemon in this smoothie,  your body is better able to absorb the iron.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a superfood with sooooo many health benefits. It’s great for skin because it helps remove toxins and heavy metals from the body, promotes cell turnover and healing, and prevents overgrowth of bacteria (which can lead to acne). Spirulina contains a lot of vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, and vital amino acids.

Strawberries

Strawberries help make this smoothie sweeter! But they are also high in vitamin C and contain a natural form of salicylic acid which is an alpha hydroxy acid. That acid helps penetrate the skin and keep pores unclogged. The ellagic acid in strawberries also has been proven to keep collagen alive and guard against UV damage.

Turmeric

Turmeric has incredible anti-inflammatory properties which makes it a skin-loving ingredient that keeps skin looking fresh and calm. It’s also great for serious skin problems like eczema and rosacea.

References:

• https://caloriebee.com/nutrition/Top-10-Fruits-for-Glowing-Skin
• https://goop.com/beauty/skin/superfoods-for-glowing-skin/
• https://www.curejoy.com/content/benefits-of-avocado-for-skin/
• https://theindianspot.com/chia-seeds-for-perfect-skin/
• https://www.healthambition.com/apple-cider-vinegar-drink-daily-better-health/
• https://www.livestrong.com/article/465098-what-are-the-benefits-of-coconut-water-for-the-skin/
• https://www.livestrong.com/article/517233-what-does-eating-a-lot-of-spinach-do-for-my-skin/
• https://www.livestrong.com/article/453979-the-benefits-of-spirulina-for-the-skin/
• https://www.healthbeckon.com/flax-seeds-benefits/

Written by: Organically Becca

Becca is a blogger, wife, and dog mom from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She’s on a mission to get the word out about chemicals found in our everyday items like makeup, food, and personal care products.  She provides education on ways you can live a more holistic life and easy swaps you can make in your routine to naturally safer products.  Check out Becca’s blog organicallybecca.com and catch her on Instagram @organicallybecca.