Smoothie recipes for glowing skin? Yes, please!
When it comes to skin health, there are a handful of nutrients that your body craves to keep things glowing.
First and foremost, antioxidant protection that shields your skin from UV rays is a must. Once you’ve got your sun protection dialed in, finding ways to mitigate inflammation and environmental toxins is your next task. And, of course, feeding your skin nutrients that promote collagen formation is a no-brainer.
Luckily, mother nature provides us with all that we need if we know where to look.
I’ve found that the best way to ensure I’m getting a wide range of nutrients from a variety of foods is to throw them into a smoothie. That’s why I pulled together my favorite smoothie recipes that target skin health so you can enjoy a year-round glow.
Nutrients That Make Your Skin Glow
Antioxidants
Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of skin damage and aging, and the best way to combat the effects of the sun is via antioxidant defense systems.
Anthocyanins found in berries such as blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are particularly helpful in fighting skin aging due to their mitigating impact on compounds called metalloproteinases (MMP). MMPs are necessary enzymes that carry out important functions in your body. However, when these proteins build up in excess, they can degrade skin collagen and elastin, resulting in wrinkles.
Sun exposure is one of the most prominent causes of elevated MMP levels, but research shows that anthocyanins can help combat their impact and reduce MMP production[1][2].
Another all-star antioxidant for skin health is lycopene. Lycopene, which can be found in red-pigmented fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and watermelon, acts as a natural sunscreen. Unfortunately, as we age, the lycopene content of our skin slowly degrades.
Luckily, eating foods high in lycopene and supplementing with this nutrient can increase skin concentrations and promote its photoprotective activities[3].
Vitamin C
Healthy skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C, as this nutrient not only acts as a potent antioxidant but it also plays a crucial role in the integrity of your skin. Specifically, vitamin C is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, which provides elasticity and structure to your skin – giving you that youthful appearance.
Vitamin C also helps to protect your skin against UV-induced photodamage[4].
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is well-known for its ability to protect cells from oxidative damage. Specifically, due to its fat-soluble nature, it helps to mitigate the oxidation of fatty acids that encircle your cells in the cell membrane[5].
This nutrient is also found in your skin’s sebum, which forms a protective layer on your skin that helps to keep moisture in.
Furthermore, vitamin E acts as a natural sunscreen by absorbing UVB rays and reducing your skin’s inflammatory response[6].
Some of the most potent sources of vitamin E include almonds, avocado, and sunflower seeds.
Turmeric
If you want gorgeous skin, controlling inflammation is vital. Many people don’t realize it, but inflammation is actually at the root of many skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, and rosacea[7][8][9].
Therefore, getting some anti-inflammatory nutrients into your diet is an important piece of the beautiful skin puzzle. Turmeric, which has been used medicinally for over 5000 years, is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory herbs out there[10].
Research shows that curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, can reduce wound-healing time, improve collagen deposition, and enhance the synthesis of your skin’s extracellular matrix[11].
Liver Support
Your liver is responsible for over 500 different functions in your body, making it arguably the hardest working organ in your entire system. Therefore, supporting your liver is a cornerstone of health, and there isn’t any bodily function that doesn’t depend on this organ doing its best.
When it comes to skin health, liver support is vital for the supporting removal of environmental toxins that lead to skin damage.
For instance, heavy metals, pollution, and cigarette smoke have all been shown to contribute to skin aging. These toxins enhance inflammation and oxidative stress and damage the extracellular matrix of your skin[12].
There are several nutrients in nature that can support your body’s detoxification systems, including broccoli sprouts, dandelion, burdock root, alfalfa grass, milk thistle, and chlorella – to name a few. That’s why I included all of these and more in my Daily Detox blend.
What’s more, Daily Detox also includes superstars that support a healthy inflammatory response like turmeric and antioxidant superfoods rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins such as moringa, acai, and pomegranate extract.*
In essence, you can think of it as your all-in-one skin health supplement.
3 Smoothie Recipes For Glowing Skin
Minty Fresh Watermelon Smoothie
This smoothie has a light and satisfying flavor, and packs a ton of nutrients into what could easily double as a dessert.
- 3 cups diced frozen watermelon cubes
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 scoop Daily Detox
- ¼ cup packed fresh mint leaves
Skin Glow Sunrise Smoothie
If you love fruit, this is the smoothie for you. You’ll get everything from the tropical varieties to the berries and even a hint of lemon for good measure.
- 1/2 kiwi (peeled)
- 1 scoop Daily Detox
- 1 small banana (roughly chopped, or half of a big one)
- 4 large frozen strawberries
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
Put all the ingredients in a blender, with the flaxseed last, and blend until smooth.
Avocado Green Smoothie
This smoothie is a real meal replacement. With both the avocado and almond butter, you’ll be satisfied for hours.
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 scoop Daily Detox
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- 2 cups frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
Add all ingredients to a blender and mix until smooth.
Takeaway
While no one is going to argue that sunscreen is essential and keeping your skin moisturized and supple from the outside-in can do wonders – you can’t forget about the role of nutrition in your skincare plan.
People are often shocked at how quickly the quality of their skin changes once they start incorporating more skin-loving foods like the ones mentioned above.
Smoothies are an excellent way to sneak nutrients into your diet, especially if you want to include a powerful powder like Daily Detox. But if you’re in a rush and just want to get some skin-enhancing nutrients in, you can simply mix Daily Detox in some water, drink it down, and be on your way. Admittedly, it won’t be as satisfying or delicious as a smoothie, but it’s certainly better than skipping it altogether.
*These statements have not been reviewed by the FDA. Daily Detox is a dietary supplement that is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please talk to your doctor before beginning any new supplement regimen.
