Anti-ageing Green Smoothie

Sure, pineapples are great in a pina colada, but did you know that your favourite tropical fruit works wonders for your skin too? This Green Beauty Smoothie is packed with anti-ageing nutrients that help to protect skin against premature ageing and also help to rejuvenate your complexion.

With just 5 simple ingredients, this smoothie is super easy to incorporate within your regular routine and is a delicious way to 'eat your skincare' and boost your beauty from the inside-out. As we come into winter, it also helps boost your immune system with high amounts of vitamin C.

Your skin cells and extracellular matrix (think supportive collagen and elastin fibres) require nutrients from your diet to stay healthy, supple and youthful. Consuming a diet rich in beauty phytonutrients can help not only keep premature ageing at bay but also help to transform your skin, making it smoother, more elastic and glowier.

This smoothie is rich in vitamin C, which helps contribute towards collagen production. It also contains a number of powerful anti-ageing compounds found in plants with some pretty incredible benefits for both skin and overall wellness.

Our favourite beauty phytonutrients are Omega-3s from chia seeds, bromelain from pineapple and lutein from spinach.

Chia seeds are high in fatty acids like omega-3s. These little beauties are considered the building blocks of healthy skin cells and are particularly important to get from your diet, as your body can't manufacture this fatty acid. Chia seeds help to protect your skin's barrier by locking in moisture and preventing something known as trans-epidermal water loss. They help keep skin hydrated, plump, and supple, to keep skin looking young.

Our second beauty nutrient is bromelain. If you're starting to see fine lines or other signs of ageing, pineapple can help you regain your youthful appearance. Pineapple is the only known source of an enzyme called bromelain, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and an excellent source of vitamin C.

Health experts recognize that the aging process occurs because the tissues in your body break down, and the main cause behind this tissue breakdown is inflammation. When antioxidants remove free radicals from your body, they reduce the levels of inflammation in your skin, which allows your skin cells to resume their natural process of division and healing. One of the main reasons why your skin starts to look older is that the natural breakdown of body tissues caused by oxidation and inflammation reduces the levels of collagen in your skin, which is an abundant protein that contributes to skin plumpness in your face.

Elastin is another protein that you need to look young, and this substance helps your skin remain firm. When you remove sources of inflammation in your skin, your body starts producing these vital proteins in adequate quantities again, which means that it starts to look firmer and plumper. If you start to notice your skin looking younger after eating a bunch of pineapple, you'll know that you have this fruit's anti-inflammatory qualities to thank.

Similar to pineapples, spinach contains a powerful antioxidant known as lutein. Lutein supports skin health in a similar way and in part by providing antioxidant support for healthy skin cells to fight oxidative damage, which is a key contributor to many skin health concerns, including signs of skin aging. Lutein can also provide other benefits for the skin. A double-blind and placebo-controlled trial published by the Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology measured the impact of lutein and zeaxanthin in protecting skin tone over time. Overall, participants who took a lutein supplement showed a lighter and less damaged skin score. The study also showed that the group taking the supplements had a higher level of skin elasticity.

We prefer to seek wholefood sources of lutein which have the added benefit of nutrients from the wholefood matrix and spinach definitely tops our list!

2 1/2 cups almond milk

2 cups spinach

1/2 avocado

1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Blend the ingredients together in a blender until smooth

Enjoy! (Can be stored for up to 24 hours in the fridge)

Calories: 330

Carbohydrates: 53g 

Protein: 5g

Fat: 13g