Smoothies for glowing skin

Want a healthy golden glow to your skin? You can put the bronzer down, because as it happens, the food we eat is just as important as those beauty products lining your shelves. It’s important to have a nutritious diet as most skin-related problems are caused by allergies and the toxic lifestyle we live. Want an easy solution? Smoothies are easy to make, deliciously satisfying and one of the best ways to detoxify your body – not to mention they’re a great way to up your daily fruit and veggie intake!

Store-bought smoothies tend to be loaded with sugar and excess calories, so here are two of my favourite smoothies that are simple to make, good for your skin, flowing with goodness and super tasty! Just remember, although they’ll leave you feeling beautiful inside and out, they are not magic! A healthy diet and regular exercise play a major role in attaining beautiful, glowing skin.

Blueberry super smoothie

*One cup unsweetened almond milk
* One cup fresh squeezed orange juice
* 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
* 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
* 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
* 1/2 cup fresh apple, chopped
* One ounce packet of unsweetened frozen acai
* Handful of fresh baby spinach
* One tablespoon flax seed

This smoothie has a sweet and slightly tart flavour from the berries and combats free radicals with powerful antioxidants that help prevent cell damage. You can also throw in some frozen acai berries to add a rich berry-cocoa flavour – yummy!

Pumpkin pie smoothie

* 1/2 frozen banana
* 1/2 cup frozen mango
* 1/3 cup pumpkin
* Two dates, or 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup
* A dash of cinnamon
* A dash of nutmeg

This smoothie is creamy and smooth and sings of the holiday season! Add a dash of cinnamon too – herbs and spices aren’t only great for enhancing the flavour but for offering great benefits to your health too. Cinnamon is an excellent spice for its anti-inflammation properties. Other health benefits of herbs and spices include fighting antioxidants, antibacterial properties, and weight loss!

These two smoothies are divine but we all have different tastes – literally, so here’s a quick guide on how to create your own healthy green smoothie!

Get your greens

From bitter to peppery, there are loads to choose from! If you’re just starting out it’s safer to start with something less “green” such as spinach and chard, but you shouldn’t be afraid to use other dark, leafy greens. Add two cups of greens!

Liquids

I rotate between my favourites for variety: almond milk, coconut milk, coconut water and soy. You can also try alternative plant-based milk. Add two cups of your liquid!

Sweet fruits

Add sweet fruits to contrast the bitterness of the greens. Bananas, mangoes, strawberries, peaches – the choices are endless! Frozen bananas are best, but if you don’t have any frozen, you can always add ice cubes!

Boosters

Add some oomph into your diet by adding a booster. You can choose between chia seeds, flax seeds, protein powder and acai powder. Once you’ve added your booster, blend everything together and you’ve made your very own green smoothie! Enjoy!