Supercharging your diet with a diverse array of nutrients can be one of the best ways to enhance the wellbeing of your skin. While nutrients such as vitamin C can help the skin to appear much firmer, other components such as selenium and vitamin E can protect our skin cells and increase skin repair. The best part? Most foods contain these essential vitamins and minerals in amounts consistent with our body’s needs.
By enhancing the quality of food that we’re eating, we won’t only be improving the health of our skin, but our entire wellbeing. It’s a win-win! Here are 4 recipes to get you started on the path towards healthier skin.
Yoghurt With Berries
Berries are nature’s sweet treat, delivering plenty of nutrients that can enhance not only our wellbeing but also the health of our skin. Fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are valuable sources of vitamin C, vitamin A, and a variety of other antioxidants. They’re also effortless to incorporate into the diet. Simply add them to your breakfast cereal, snack directly from the punnet, or mix them into yoghurt. Try this easy yoghurt and berries recipe from Everyday Health.
Ingredients:
– 3/4 cup of yoghurt (try coconut yoghurt for a delicious dairy-free alternative)
– 1/2 cup of mixed berries – strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc.
– 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed.
– 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts
Method:
1. Scoop the yoghurt into a bowl.
2. Stir in the flaxseed and berries until the mixture is well combined.
3. Sprinkle the yoghurt with walnuts.
*Serving: 1
Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/beauty-pictures/recipes-for-healthy-skin.aspx#berries
Grilled Salmon With Tomato And Basil
Salmon is full of an array of skin-promoting nutrients, including omega 3, selenium, potassium, and more. To top it off, it can be enjoyed in a variety of styles, whether it’s smoked, grilled, roasted, pan-fried, poached, or anything in-between. Try this grilled salmon recipe with tomato and basil.
Ingredients:
– 1 x salmon fillet
– 1 teaspoon of salt
– 2 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
– 1/3 cup of sliced basil
– 1/4 cup of sliced basil
– 2 x tomatoes
Method:
1. Mash the garlic and salt until a paste is formed, and place this mixture into a bowl. Stir with oil.
2. Remove the bones from the salmon, if necessary.
3. Place the salmon, skin down, on a piece of foil coated with cooking spray. Spread the garlic paste over the salmon, with the 1/3 cup of basil on top. Overlap the tomatoes on top and sprinkle with salt.
4. Transfer the salmon to the grill and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily.
5. Place the salmon on a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining basil.
*Servings: 4
Iced Green Tea
Green tea is a skin-nourishing delight. It’s packed with natural antioxidants, protecting our skin cells by preventing the production of cell-damaging free radicals. Jessica Gavin’s Iced Green Tea recipe is a refreshing treat and is perfect for those looking for a healthy alternative to fruit juice and soft drinks.
Ingredients:
– 1/4 cup of lemon juice + 2 slices to decorate
– 1/4 cup of lime juice + 3 slices to decorate
– 2 cups of boiling water
– 3 cups of cold water
– 5 x green tea bags
– 1/4 cup of honey
– Mint leaves
Method:
1. Boil 2 cups of water.
2. Add the green tea bags to the hot water in a jug.
3. Steep the tea bags in accordance with the brand’s packaging. Generally the water shouldn’t be above 80 degrees celsius when you add the tea bags and don’t steep them for too long.
4. Remove the tea bags.
5. Pour the lime and lemon juice into a jug.
6. Add honey and stir.
7. Add the cups of cold water and mix well.
8. Serve with ice cubes, lime/lemon slices, and mint leaves.
*Servings: 6
Source: https://www.jessicagavin.com/jasmine-green-iced-tea-limeade/
Avocado Hummus
Similar to salmon, avocados are packed with omega 3 fatty acids, helping to protect our skin from sun-induced inflammation. To top it off, the fruit also contains vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, various B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. This avocado-hummus recipe via Taste is a simple way to not only add more avocado into your diet, but also a handful of veggies, including carrot, tomato, broccoli, and more.
Ingredients:
– 2 x avocados
– 2 x 400g cans of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
– 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
– 1/2 a cup of lemon juice
– 2 x tablespoons of tahini
– 2 x crushed garlic cloves
– A pinch of smoked paprika.
Method:
1. Heat the virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add 1/4 cup of the chickpeas and stir occasionally over the course of 3 to 4 minutes or until golden.
3. Remove the frying pan from the heat and leave to cool.
4. Process the left-over chickpeas in a food processor alongside the avocado, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic until the ingredients are combined. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
5. Place the hummus into a serving bowl, topped with chickpeas, the oil in the pan, and paprika.
6. Serve the hummus alongside an assortment of chopped vegetables, including carrots, red bell peppers, celery, tomato, etc. Wholegrain pita bread is also an ideal option.
*Makes 2 and 1/2 cups.
The skin on our bodies is often neglected as we tend to focus on our face and figure our bodies will just look after themselves. Big mistake!
Because our skin is our largest organ and most of what we put on it gets absorbed, choosing high-quality products for the body is so very important. They need to be 100% natural and as organic as possible, to avoid causing skin reactions, disrupting our hormones, and not adding to the toxin burden on our liver.
There are also some simple things you can do to look after your body that will reduce dryness, stop eczema from flaring up and keep it glowing.
The summer holidays are almost here and for many of us it's time to think about packing our bags for a little time away, if not a little time out. When I'm packing for our 2 week annual beach holiday it has to be simple and light-weight. I don’t have the space nor the time to spend hours on my skin and so I make sure to only include products which will keep my skin in top shape, quick smart.
