Photo Credit: Janie Osborne for The Wall Street Journal
7 Great Juicing Recipes for Healthy, Brighter Skin
Berry Berry Good Skin Beautifier
1 cup blackberries
1cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup strawberries
Juice all the ingredients. Berries are high in vitamins A, C & E. Remove the stems, juice the berries and save the pulp and eat it later for fiber.
Clear Up Cheer Up
2 large carrots (tops and tails removed)
1 cup of spinach (or kale)
½ apple (cored)
1 celery stalk
1 cup of broccoli florets
Juice all the ingredients. (Alternate soft ingredients with firmer ones). Carrots are high in A, a vitamin helpful in maintaining skin cells, as well as beta-carotene and antioxidants that help prevent skin damage. Spinach contains high levels of beta-carotene, which offers free radical protection and converts into vitamin A in the body. It also has vitamins C& E. Apples are great for smooth skin and are rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C. Celery is rich in magnesium, iron, chlorophyll, folic acid, C and also has B vitamins and vitamin E.
Skin Smoother
2 large carrots
l celery stalk
1 apple
l cucumber
Cucumbers are beneficial to the skin when consumed and when used topically. Cucumbers are rich in silica, important for the complexion and skin elasticity. Try to buy organic cucumbers for juicing, so that you can juice with the peel on. Most of the silica is in the peel. If you can’t buy organic, remove the peel before juicing.
Garden Greens
8 romaine leaves
4 celery stalks
2 green apples (you can use a sweeter apple variety)
1 small bunch of baby spinach
1 small bunch of kale
1 small bunch of parsley
1 lemon (peeled)
1-inch piece fresh ginger
Juice ingredients. Romaine and other dark leafy lettuces are rich in chlorophyll and a good source of silicon and B complex vitamins. Parsley stimulates the digestive enzymes and cleanses the kidneys, liver and urinary tract. Ginger is good for digestion, but also gives the juice a nice taste.
Ginger Orange & Berry Juice
1-inch piece of fresh ginger root
2 oranges
½ cup of berries (any kind)
Juice ingredients. Oranges are a source of vitamin C.
Anti-Aging Cabbage Juice
4 large or 8 small cabbage leaves
6 carrots
½ – 1–inch piece of ginger
Juice ingredients. Cabbage contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium (which slows the aging process and encourages healthy skin).
Skin Hydrator & Cleanser
6 stalks of celery
1 cucumber
A handful of spinach or other leafy green
1 apple
Juice ingredients.
The Top 7 Beauty Nutrients
Seven nutrients that are particularly great for skin health and found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, specifically in the 12 Foods for Healthy Skin.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps maintain skin development and health. It’s a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from free radicals, which are responsible for premature aging. Vitamin A also helps to reduce the production of sebum, which causes acne problems in some people. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to rough, dry skin and in extreme cases cracked skin, especially around the mouth.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that also helps protect cells from free radicals. It works along with vitamin A for numerous skin benefits. This vitamin combination is often found in facial creams and other skin care cosmetics.
Vitamin B Complex
B Complex consists of eight vitamins that are essential to cell reproduction. B vitamins that are especially important to skin health are B1 (thiamine) and B3 (niacin) promote blood circulation throughout the body and help deliver nutrients to skin cells. B2 (riboflavin) contributes to healthy growth of skin, hair and nails. A deficiency in this vitamin can lead to liver spots, oily skin and cracked skin around the mouth. B5 (pantothenic acid) regulates hormone production and combats stress, which can lead to skin flare-ups. A deficiency B6 (pyridoxine) can lead to dry cracked skin, eczema and pigmentation problems such as liver spots.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential compound of collagen, a protein found in the skin that gives it elasticity.
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene protects against free radical damage and is converted to vitamin A in the body.
Silica
Silica (silicon dioxide) is a trace mineral found in the connective tissues (like the hair and skin) and is required in the body to keep nails, hair and skin in good health. It is also needed by the body to make collagen.
Zinc
Zinc helps prevent inflammation and flare ups in the skin. It is needed in the body to help skin heal and also reduces the effects of scarring.
Via About.com Skin Care.
If you don’t currently own a juicer and are interested in purchasing one, in January, the Wall Street Journal analyzed the juicing trend and the new fancy juicers on the market, with the pros and cons of each.