You probably already know that eating dark, leafy greens is good for you. You know that they’re packed with nutrients and are great for getting vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. Did you know, though, that these benefits are especially great for your skin?
That’s right, greens help our bodies naturally regenerate CoQ10, an antioxidant that our bodies produce that helps with cell growth and regeneration. It does this by combatting free-radicals and minimizing the damage to our skin exposure.
As you might imagine, the natural production of CoQ10 slows as we age, so giving our bodies a little help in the form of munching on our greens is a great way to keep our youthful glow.
Kale is one of the greens that is especially antioxidant-rich and helpful in increasing skin-benefitting carotenoids. It’s not called a superfood for nothing!
You may take in this information and decide that you’ll just get your antioxidants through a supplement, but according to this study, that’s not going to work. You actually have to eat your greens to get these benefits.
How to Make a Smoothie for Glowing Skin
Let’s face it, eating greens isn’t always easy. On their own, they’re usually not particularly flavorful, and it can be difficult to come up with recipes that incorporate them in a satisfying way—especially if you’re pressed for time or preparing meals for a whole family.
That’s where this smoothie comes in. You can get a huge punch of nutrients with minimal prep and effort, and it’s delicious enough to please even picky eaters.
The sweetness of the banana in this recipe helps to balance out any potential bitterness from the kale, so you can really pack in the greens without worry. In fact, if you feel inclined to add more than the two cups of kale this recipe calls for, go for it!
Don’t skip the avocado, though. Avocado has a mild flavor, so it’s not going to overpower the sweetness of the banana or the refreshing zing of the ginger and lemon. What it will do is provide natural, healthy fats that help you absorb all those amazing nutrients.
You know that you should be eating your greens, so you might as well find a way to make it enjoyable and delicious. This is a great place to start, and your skin will thank you for it!
TIPS to make the perfect Green Smoothie for Glowing Skin
• Don’t like green smoothies? Consider adding 1/4 cup or more of cocoa powder. It will make the entire thing taste chocolatey (and look more like a chocolate shake), almost completely masking any “greeny” flavor and taste more like chocolate banana ice cream.
• You can also make the kale taste even more mild by steaming it and freezing it rather than using it raw.
• Also – if you notice chunks in the final product, you might need to get a blender that pulverizes rather than chops. They aren’t super expensive or hard to find – check out ThriveCuisine’s guide to learn more. Some people don’t mind the chunks, but some people who aren’t too keen on greens might find them unappetizing.
Green Smoothie for Glowing Skin
Ingredients
- 1 apple, sliced and cored
- ¼ avocado
- 2 frozen bananas, ripe
- 1 cup kale, 2 cups if you don’t mind the flavor
- ¼ lemon, juiced without skin
- 1 garlic sized ginger clove
- 2 cups water
- 2-3 ice cubes
Instructions
- Cut all ingredients as necessary and add to your blender.
- Blend on high for 30-60 seconds until all ingredients are completely pulverized and there are no chunks. Final product should have a smooth consistency.
- Enjoy with a straw or sip from a glass!
This guest article was written by Joey Bruno from Thrive Cuisine. Joey has a Masters in Food Science and Nutrition and is now a Nutrition Researcher for Thrive Cuisine. He also enjoys cooking vegan and plantbased recipes.
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