Smoothies For Clearer Skin
When I sat down to write this article, I had just gone camping in the Florida Keys and had an adverse reaction to the massive amounts of sunscreen and bug spray that I'd slathered onto my face and body. I had never had a breakout so bad in my life — not even during my most hormone-laden teenage years. And so I turned to the most trusted source of goodness and health in the world: food. And food did not fail me; within a week of my adventures in smoothies for clearer skin, my breakout had vanished and my skin had begun to glow again.
10 Smoothies for Clearer Skin (Slideshow)
It's recommended that you avoid sugar when battling bad acne, because it feeds the bacteria that cause breakouts and tip the body's pH levels to the acidic side, which can make you more prone to infection. It may help to abstain from gluten as well, but talk to your doctor about any dietary experiments you want to try. Some people also have skin reactions to soy, which is estrogen-heavy, so you might want to take a break from that, too. The goal is to make the body's pH slightly alkaline, and the best way to do that is by eating your way to clear skin with fresh, raw fruits (including citrus), dark leafy greens, vegetables, plus some raw nuts and healthy cold-pressed oils. This is why smoothies are so ideal; they're easy, alkalizing, and delicious.
The bee pollen lends an earthy, slightly sweet crunch in the Bee Pollen Raspberry Orange Smoothie recipe. The Red Grape Nectarine Brazil Nut Smoothie Recipe tastes like summertime, and the Brazil nuts make it just creamy enough to feel like a treat.
The fun thing about skin-clearing smoothies is that you can make masques and elixirs for your skin out of the leftover smoothie ingredients. You don't have to wake up extra-early to do it either; you can keep your masque on while you're doing your morning routine, like picking out clothes, making tea, and if you're brave, walking the dog. We won't judge.
Cilantro Grapefruit Cucumber Smoothie
Pink grapefruit is full of vitamins A and C and is loaded with minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. Cucumbers are famously good for your skin, because they're rich in vitamins and antioxidants, as well as several compounds that fight aging and inflammation from breakouts, including cucurbitacins and cucumerin. Cilantro is the star of this shake; it's been shown to remove heavy metals, like lead, mercury, and aluminum from the body when ingested.
Banana Kale Green Tea Walnut Smoothie
Kale, like other dark leafy greens, is rich in antioxidants and vitamins that keep your skin clear, your immune system healthy, and inflammation in check. Bananas contain vitamins A, C, and E, as well as potassium, the antioxidant lutein, and dietary fiber, all of which are essential to clear, healthy skin. Green tea is bursting with antioxidants and is great for detoxing, reducing inflammation, regulating blood sugar, and taming acne-causing hormones; plus, it's a natural antibacterial. Walnuts contain fatty acids that reduce swelling and inflammation, and B vitamins that prevent skin disorders and help with stress management and regulation of mood (which can also encourage acne).