This Glowing Skin Smoothie recipe is not only easy and delicious, but nourishes your body to help you achieve clear, healthy skin. The flavour is reminiscent of a strawberry milkshake, but the mango gives it a yummy tropical twist.
A healthy diet is only one component of a well-rounded approach to skincare. Safe sun practices, reduced stress, natural and effective skincare products, and a balanced lifestyle all contribute to maintaining healthy and vibrant skin.
This smoothie is loaded with skin boosting properties and is the perfect addition to a healthy diet. It would make a delicious and filling breakfast smoothie. I recommend drinking it regularly, 3-4 times per week, for best results.
Glowing Skin Smoothie Ingredients
Bananas
Bananas are rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, dopamine and catechin. These can help reduce inflammation, fine lines and pigmentation.
They also contain trace minerals like manganese which helps the body form collagen. Collagen formation is responsible for skin elasticity, helping it look youthful.
Please ensure you only ever use bananas with black spots on their skin. This represents a truly ripe banana with the highest nutritional content.
Strawberries
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants such as polyphenols and Vitamin C. These can help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that contribute to premature aging and skin damage. Their production is accelerated by lifestyle factors like environmental pollutants, processed food, smoking or overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.
The Vitamin C in strawberries also helps immune cells to attack pathogens, helps to clear old immune cells from the site of infection, and helps the skin to remain fresh and vibrant to avoid infection.
The flavonoids in strawberries exert anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation can contribute to various skin conditions, including acne and eczema. Therefore, consuming strawberries may help reduce inflammation and promote healthier skin.
Note: It’s best to always choose organic strawberries over conventional ones. As proven in the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 list, strawberries are the highest sprayed crop. This means they are laiden with toxic chemicals and pesticides you don’t want to be consuming.
Mangoes
Mangoes are a rich source of beta-carotene, which gives them their lovely orange-yellow hue. This antioxidant can help boost the skin’s defences against UV radiation, helping it look young and healthy.
They are a rich source of anti-inflammatory compounds which can help to calm and soothe sensitive and inflamed skin. This makes them a great food for conditions like acne and irritated skin.
Dates
Did you know eating a few dates per day will meet your daily iron levels? Dates are rich in iron which is known to be essential for healthy hair, skin and nails. Low iron levels cause a low red blood count. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin which carries oxygen, and without enough oxygen, the skin can turn pale. Therefore, eating foods rich in iron supports healthy glowing skin.
Lemons
Lemons possess natural properties which help maintain a healthy functioning liver. An article published the effects of citrus flavonoids on the body. It found that flavonoids, as found in lemons, reduce inflammation, scavenge free radicals and help prevent fatty liver disease. Lemons contain bioactive compounds and antioxidants which help protect the liver from damage. They are also used therapeutically in tribal medicine for a variety of liver ailments.
All of this is important because the liver is the body’s main detoxification organ, eliminating excess waste and toxins. When the liver becomes sluggish, toxins begin to accumulate and the body must use other detoxification pathways to remove excess waste e.g. the skin. This can show up as brown liver spots, redness, inflammation and more. A clean and well-functioning liver is critical for beautiful skin.
Psst: you can also add two cups of baby spinach leaves for extra skin boosting properties. This is what I love to do, and the flavour is exactly the same. Honestly, I didn’t add them in to this photo as the colour didn’t turn out as beautiful and bright – hehe.
How to Make the Glowing Skin Smoothie
Step 1: Add liquid to the blender
Adding liquid into the blender first, helps everything blend more effectively, resulting in a smoother consistency. This is especially important when using any frozen fruit.
Step 2: Use frozen bananas
I usually always opt for using frozen bananas over fresh ones. I find it gives the smoothie a much creamier texture. Make sure your bananas are properly ripe before freezing: yellow with brown spots. Otherwise, the smoothie won’t taste as sweet as it should (or have the optimal nutrient content).
Step 3: Use fresh strawberries if possible
Fresh strawberries will blend easier and seems to give a much fresher and stronger strawberry flavour. Strawberries are seasonal though, so if you can’t get your hands on them, then frozen strawberries will work just fine. You can hopefully find them in your local organic health food store.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Glowing Skin Smoothie: Best Recipe for Clear Skin
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 cup mango
- 2 bananas
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.
