Looking good and feeling good often go hand in hand. Though while we can't always control the way we feel, we can take a few simple daily steps to improve our well-being. It's been well established that dietary intake is a major contributor to our well-being, affecting everything from moods to the luminosity of skin. This year, our advice is to focus less on what NOT to eat and more on what we SHOULD put into our bodies. Sonya Dakar shares 4 smoothie recipes and tells us how they can improve skin complexion.
Coconut Kale Smoothie
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 banana, peeled
2 cups kale
2 tbs unsweetened shredded coconut
2 scoops Ultima Power Vanilla
1⁄2 cup ice
Kale is packed with skin‐friendly vitamin C and copper, which boosts collagen production, helps protect your skin from the sun and has many anti‐inflammatory benefits.
Coconuts contain healthy fats, which are crucial for healthy skin. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has antimicrobial properties. Coconut also contains vitamin E, which is essential for healthy skin growth and repair.
Avocado Basil Smoothie
1 cup almond milk
1 medium ripe pear
1⁄2 ripe Hass avocado
1⁄2 green apple
1⁄2 cup fresh basil
2 scoops Ultima Power vanilla
1/2 cup ice
Avocado is capable of a lot more than delicious guacamole. This creamy green fruit is loaded with vitamins C, E and K, which are essential for healthy skin. It may also help reduce dryness and irritation. “I love the avocado in this recipe because it’s loaded with antioxidant power, giving skin a beauty boost by helping your body cut down on inflammation and making your skin glow,” says Sonya.
Triple Ginger Berry Smoothie
1 cup almond milk
1/4 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
1/4 cup frozen or fresh raspberries
1/4 cup frozen or fresh strawberries
1‐2 tsp fresh ginger
2 scoops Ultima Power strawberry
1‐2 tsp fresh mint
1⁄2 cup ice
Berries may be little, but they really pack a punch! Berries are full of antioxidant compounds that neutralize damaging free radicals that lead to skin cell damage and premature skin aging.
Chocolate Blueberry Almond Smoothie
1 cup almond milk
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1-2 tbsp almond butter
1 tsp flax seeds
2 scoops Ultima Power chocolate
1/2 cup ice
Flax seeds and almond butter are both high in vitamin E and omega 6 fatty acid. Almonds have anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help protect skin from aging. Many of the vitamins in blueberries may neutralize or normalize oil levels in your skin, making it healthier and less likely to accumulate sebum.
