It’s All In How You Blend It

“You Are What You Eat”

Our relationship with skincare can easily be traced back to ancient civilizations across the globe. Once upon a time women would rub watermelon or saffron on their faces to ensure smooth and hydrated skin. These simple remedies have since exploded into the multi-million dollar, multi-national cosmetic empires that we are engulfed by today. On a daily basis. All the time. With a wider range of media than ever before. It’s easy to believe one must buy into this frenzied industry to keep up with beauty trends; especially those which will give you blemish-free skin forever, will eliminate wrinkles in one week and will invite you into the hallowed circle of eternal youth. But before you mortgage the house for the next miracle serum, be sure of one thing: what you eat is more important and effective than the gels and creams you apply on your skin. FACT.

Unhappy gut – unhappy skin, they say. Skin is your body’s largest organ and what you eat affects your hormone balance, creates or lessens bloating, causes acne – all issues associated with skin-aging. Enter any diet that feeds your skin with the vital vitamins and nutrients it needs to stay soft and supple. Essential fats, zinc and magnesium can be found in foods like fish, beets, lemon peel and pumpkin seeds among others. Vitamin E is essential, try almonds and avocados, as is the fab anti-oxidant selenium, evident in tuna, eggs, tomatoes and cashew nuts.  Anti-oxidants are a vital part of the anti-aging regime so adding berries, cacao, kale, spinach and most green leaves is a must.  Also proven to be great for glowing skin, are coconuts, cucumbers, macadamia nuts, strawberries, olives, radishes. And of course our best friend water…the ultimate champion of clear, dewy skin!

I have found the easiest way to throw as many of these ingredients together for the fullest effect is a smoothie. Everyone has the time to lob a few raw ingredients in a blender – the trick is to find the two or three recipes that you like and always ensure you have the ingredients readily available in your kitchen. I find that grinding a selection of nuts and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, chia seeds, any seed or nut or powder really) in advance and storing them in a jar helps that daily dose of willpower along!

Try these easy recipes to begin. Most smoothies should have greens in them for maximum effect. Start out with the less bitter greens like spinach and work your way up to kale. Add lemon juice, cinnamon or even cumin to mask any bitterness.

Blueberry Botox

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1/2 avocado
• 1 banana
• 1to 2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
• greens
• 1/2 to 1 cup water depending on how thick you prefer it

Fig-Tastic Skin Fix

• 1 Lebanese cucumber
• 1 cup strawberries
• 4 dried figs
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• greens
• 1/2 to 1 cup water depending on how thick you prefer it

A smoothie like this even three times a week, along side cutting out processed foods obviously, will change your skin within six weeks, so give it time to work!

Oh and lastly, one little-known secret worth bearing in mind –  add a dash of apple cider vinegar to your smoothie! Vinegar helps cleanse your kidneys, which are one of the most critical detoxification organs inside the body. Healthy kidneys, healthy skin! So get blending for the clearest face you’ve ever had!

Authored by: Anick Sinclair

Guest Contributor