The health of our skin goes beyond skin issues like acne. We also all want our skin to look vibrant and youthful as we age. And we've seen just how much true vitality starts with what we put into our bodies. There are plenty of ways to look and feel younger, all through the power of delicious food medicines.
Here are some of my favorite recipes featuring some of the world’s most potent beauty foods. I recommend having one every day…minimum! Rotate these throughout the week for the greatest benefits!
1. Immortal mermaid latte
Ever wonder why mermaids always look so gorgeous? I’m pretty sure it’s the blue-green algae. The aquatic hues from aphanizomenon flos-aquae and spirulina are antioxidant rich, decrease inflammation, (10) and protect your cells to keep your skin and body looking younger every day.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups full fat coconut milk
1 teaspoon blue-green algae powder
1 teaspoon honey (or more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon organic vanilla
Method:
Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over low until warm. Stir gently until all the ingredients are dissolved. Pour into a mug and enjoy with additional cinnamon sprinkled on top.
2. Adaptogenic mushroom hot cocoa
Elevate your boring old hot cocoa with a super blend of adaptogenic mushrooms. You’ll not only be getting a rich chocolate experience, but you’ll be fighting inflammation and cellular damage with every sip. Both chaga and cordyceps contain powerful antioxidants and decrease pro-inflammatory lipid peroxidation, for an anti-aging one-two punch. Keep your brain healthy as well with lion’s mane, which has been shown to decrease cognitive decline.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups coconut or almond milk
1/2 teaspoon chaga powder
1/2 teaspoon cordyceps powder
1/2 teaspoon lion’s mane powder
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons medjool date paste
Method:
Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat until warm, stirring gently to dissolve the solids. Pour into mug and enjoy!
3. Dewy-skin smoothie
Stress and dryness are two of the worst things for your skin, but this smoothie will help you manage stress with adaptogens, which are great for balancing stress hormones, and healthy fats, which are also needed for a radiant complexion. Plus, the avocados and coconut milk in this recipe make this skin-saving green smoothie extra creamy.
Ingredients:
1 cup kale, chopped
1 avocado
1/2 teaspoon holy basil powder
1/2 teaspoon mucuna pruriens powder
1/2 teaspoon ashwagandha powder
1/2 organic apple
2 stalks celery
1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
Method:
Combine all ingredients in blender, blend, and enjoy.
4. Skin-brightening lavender tonic
In the kingdom of adaptogens, pearl is the monarch of beauty. It’s a powerhouse source of aminos that strengthen (11) your hair and nails and nourish your skin. Add lavender to calm the skin from the inside out and you have a tonic that will erase years.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon pearl powder
2 to 3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops of liquid stevia (optional)
Method:
Add lemon juice, pearl, lavender essential oil, and optional stevia in water and stir until combined.
5. Youthful glow bee-pollen iced tea
Bee pollen helps to reduce inflammation through its antioxidant activity, helping skin de-flame and rejuvenate. Plus, the B vitamins (no pun intended!) in bee pollen support healthy methylation pathways, which are essential for both your gut and skin health. The surprise addition of dandelion leaves also gives your liver a boost, promoting healthy detoxification, so your whole body will feel refreshed.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups hot water
1 to 2 teaspoons dried dandelion leaves
1 teaspoon manuka honey (or more to taste)
1 teaspoon bee pollen
Method:
Place dandelion leaves in tea ball and steep in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove tea ball and let sit to reach room temperature. Stir in the honey and bee pollen until they are completely dissolved, then refrigerate. Serve over ice.
6. Wrinkle-crushing well milk
Grass-fed collagen and marine collagen are good sources for protein, which helps skin retain its elasticity, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Combine this with papayas and blueberries for an extra boost of antioxidant phytonutrients for a double dose of anti-aging power.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup papaya, chopped
1/2 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon grass-fed collagen or marine collagen
Method:
Blend blueberries and papaya together in blender and then stir in fruit puree and collagen into almond milk.
7. Anti-inflammatory sipping broth
Bone broth is a super gut healer and inflammation buster, and both those qualities improve skin because to have healthy skin, you need to have a healthy gut. Turmeric and black pepper work synergistically to calm inflammation throughout your body, including your skin. Make a big pot of this to sip throughout the day or have as a calming, warm drink before bedtime.
Ingredients:
1 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 cup bone broth
2 teaspoons turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of black pepper
1 teaspoon raw honey
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
Method:
Blend ingredients well in a blender. Pour into a saucepan and heat for 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat until warm.
This is SO amazing! I want to make all of these! Do you have recommendations about where to purchase the specialty ingredients in these? Especially in Portland?