Tagged green smoothie
5 Foods For Glowing Skin
Want health, glowing, youthful skin? Yes – me too! I’ve noticed that what I eat plays a huge role in the health of my hair, nails and skin. When I’m eating loads of fruits, veggies and healthy fats I find my skin is dewy and I feel like I even look younger. The opposite is also true -when I’m dehydrated and not eating as I normally would my skin pays the price. It’s dry, dull and not at all youthful.
That’s no coincidence. Enjoying fresh, whole foods offers the nutrients needed for clearer, more youthful looking and glowing skin. With that in mind here are my top 5 faves for glowing skin:
1. Spinach
Leafy greens like my fave, spinach, are an excellent source of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A. These vitamins are beneficial for cellular repair and regeneration which can show in the look and feel of your skin. Smoothies are a great way to get more greens into your day. One of my faves is this glowing skin green smoothie!
2. Pineapple
Pineapple is a great source of an enzyme, called bromelain, which can help reduce inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by a number of things from what we eat to stress to not getting enough sleep. Inflammation isn’t a bad thing, in fact it is a wonderful thing for helping the body heal, short term. What we want want to stay away from is chronic inflammation which can show in the skin as acne and wrinkles. The skin is offers us clues as to how we are doing on the inside. When we see signs of inflammation in the skin that could be a sign that not only or skin but our whole body could use a bit more love. Good news though – the foods that can help beautify the skin are working from the inside out and can help support overall health!
As we age skin loses some of its elasticity and firmness which is partly due to loss of collagen. This loss can lead to fine lines and wrinkles! You can boost your collagen production with nutrients such as vitamin C, found in pineapple. Try adding pineapple to your fave smoothies, salads and salsas.
3. Coconut Oil
The healthy fats in coconut oil are important for youthful, soft and dewy (aka glowing) looking skin. Coconut also has antioxidant vitamin E, which is important for healthy skin. Find ways to incorporate coconut oil into your routine here.
4. Nuts
My fave nuts for skin health are Brazil nuts and walnuts. Brazil nuts contain antioxidant mineral selenium which is beneficial for healthy skin because selenium can aid in supporting skin that has been exposed to sun damage. Walnuts are another fave because of their healthy fats. I keep these nuts around for snacks and for adding to smoothies and salads.
5. Chia Seeds
These little seeds are full of healthy Omega-3 fats that help keep your skin soft and dewy; giving you a glow from the inside out. I add chia seeds to overnight oats, smoothies and more. Try making a chia seed pudding like this one!
Bonus: Water
While water isn’t a food we can’t talk about beauty without talking about water. When you are dehydrated it shows in your skin. Stay hydrated with leafy green veggies such as spinach and chard and fruits such as pineapple and watermelon and by drinking water all throughout the day.
What are your fave foods for beautiful, glowing skin? Let me know!
Coconut photo cred here
Make Ahead Smoothies
What’s easier than making a smoothie every morning? Making them once a week and freezing them of course! Try the combinations below or use them as inspiration to make your favorite combination of frozen fruits and greens that you can store in freezer for easy smoothies on-the-go. All you have to do is prep the ingredients, freeze in a Mason jar, freezer bag, or even ice cube trays. When you’re ready to enjoy, just add liquid and your favorite Vega One flavor to the pre-packaged ingredients, blend and enjoy! As originally posted on MyVega.com.
Each recipes serves 1
Berry Darling Smoothie
- 1/2 banana, peeled (Tip: never let a banana go to waste again; this is a great way to use those almost too ripe bananas!)
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 serving Vega One Natural or French Vanilla
Tropical Mint Smoothie
- 1/4 cup mint leaves
- 1 cup spinach
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 serving Vega One Natural or French Vanilla
- 1/2 banana (optional)
All the Green Things Smoothie
- I cup pineapple
- 1/2 cucumber
- 2 cups spinach
- 1/2 cup parsley
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 serving Vega One Natural or French Vanilla
Preparation
- Measure out all ingredients (except Vega One and liquid)
- Package pre-measured ingredients in a freezer bag or glass Mason jar
- Freeze
- When you’re ready to enjoy, add to blender with Vega One and liquid
Up too early to turn the blender on?
You can blend any of these smoothies ahead of time, divided into ice cube trays and freeze for a blender-free smoothie. When you’re ready to enjoy, just thaw a cup full or smoothie cubes and enjoy. I like to pop some into a Mason jar, seal it and take it with me to work. By the time I arrive all it needs is a straw to be ready to enjoy.
Matcha Smoothie
I’m going to let you in on a little secret – matcha powder. It’s your secret weapon for energy in 2015. Not only does matcha contain caffeine it’s also a rich source of an amino acid called L-Theanine. L-Theanine promotes a state of relaxation as well as offers mental focus and clarity without any jitters or crash that you may get with caffeine from other sources, such as coffee. Bonus – you’re going to love the taste of this smoothie. I recommend trying it a few different ways so you’ll find 3 of my fave options below.
Ingredients:
1 cup cold, unsweetened almond milk
1/2 teaspoon matcha powder (I like Organic Traditions ceremonial Matcha)
1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
1 scoop Vanilla protein powder (I like either Vega One or Vega Sport Performance Protein)
Ice
Sprinkle cinnamon
Sprinkle vanilla
Optional: Honey or maple syrup to taste
Optional topping: Top with chia seeds, cacao nibs and bee pollen
Directions:
Blend & enjoy
Option 1: Blend with ice
Option 2: Blend with ice and less milk (start with 1/4 cup) to make it thick then top with optional toppings
Option 3: Blend everything except ice. Serve on the rocks.
I Woke Up Like This
If you’re looking to wake up energized I have three easy tips for you to incorporate, today. As in right now. Adding these into your routine will have people asking you what you’re doing to look so good and with so much energy (without coffee) in the morning. You’ll have to take a cue from Queen Bey and say, “I woke up like this.” As originally posted on MyVega.com
1. Its 11:30 and You Should Be Sleepin’ Sleepin’
Getting enough quality sleep plays a huge role in your overall health and wellness, and is key to waking up energized. How much you need will vary depending on your own body–you’ll know you’ve had enough when you wake up naturally energized. If you aren’t waking up feeling like Beyoncé then your first step is to get more sleep. A new tip that I’ve just started incorporating into my nighttime routine, in addition to sleeping in a cool, dark room and going to sleep at the same time every night, is turning my phone to airplane mode about 20 minutes before I go to sleep. I use my phone as my alarm clock so I need to have in my bedroom, but that doesn’t mean I need to have it on. I was inspired to put my phone on airplane mode after chatting with my fellow Vegatopian, Sami, who sets aside time each day to have her phone on airplane mode so she isn’t tempted to check it all the time. Putting my phone in this mode allows me to go to sleep earlier because I don’t get sidetracked on Instagram when I’m setting my alarm at night. If that isn’t available to you, try to go tech-free 20 to 30 minutes before you go to sleep. This will allow your body time to relax and ready for a good night’s sleep. If you want more tips on how to get a better sleep check out this post.
2. Who Run the World? You! (And You Need Fuel To Do It).
I like to start my day with a nutrient-dense smoothie for long-lasting energy and to start my day off on the right foot. Having a nutrient dense breakfast versus a processed, high-in-sugar breakfast fuels my day and also prevents craving short-term energy pick-me-ups like sweets or caffeine later in the day. One of my go-to green smoothies is this Greena Colada smoothie with energy-promoting, iron-rich spinach and enzyme-rich pineapple. I enjoy pineapple for energy because it contains enzymes that aid in efficient digestion. Efficient digestion means I can spend less energy digesting my food and have more energy to get on with my day. For more green smoothie options check out this post! Another fave of mine is an acai bowl (think of a really thick smoothie you eat with a spoon) with super energizing, antioxidant-rich açai berries.
3. Wake Up. Flawless. Start the Day. Flawless
I set the stage for the day by creating a pleasant morning routine. If I start my day off calm and relaxed, I find it easy to keep me energy high all day. If I wake up and have a frantic morning, I’ll exhaust my energy before I even start the day. My morning routine includes a short meditation (I mean short—I focus on 10 deep breaths before I get out of bed; that’s it) and a warm glass of lemon water. Lemon water has been used in Ayurvedic Medicine for generations to help eliminate any toxins that may have built up overnight and wake-up the digestive system. I find that combination sets up my day and my energy levels for success.
If I was going to pick just one tip for you to takeaway, it would be to try going to sleep 30 minutes earlier than you normally would every day for a week and see how you feel. It’s all cumulative, so you may not feel a change overnight, but stick to your routine and you’ll be up, energized and ready to take on the day in no time.
What do you do to wake up energized and ready to take on the day?
Image cred here
Top 5 Recipes For When It’s Too Hot Too Cook
If you’re anything like me, as soon as the sun’s out all I want to do is be outside. The last thing I want to do it spend time inside cooking. Turning the oven on? Forget about it. With that in mind here are my top 5 no bake recipes to make when it’s too hot to cook. As originally posted on MyVega.com.
1. Summer Rolls with Mango and Mint Dipping Sauce These rolls are refreshing, light and can be made in less than 30 minutes
2. Collard Green Wraps I love to take these wraps on picnics at the beach. I prep all the ingredients at home and leave the assembly for the beach. Bonus – if you are enjoying these with a group everyone can assemble their own so everyone gets what they want.
3. Overnight Oats Yes, you can eat oatmeal in the summer. Overnight oats are a quick and easy breakfast option you can enjoy when it’s scorching by 9AM. I like to make mine with seasonal fruits such as berries, cherries and apples.
4. Vegan Protein Balls Perfect for an on-the-go post-workout recovery snack or afternoon at the park snack. I’ll prep a batch and store them in the freeze r until I’m ready to take them on the road with me.
5. Greena Colada Smoothie If you’re in the mood for something that will keep you cool while packing a nutrient-dense punch I recommend trying this smoothie.
Mainly Bridgette 