As scientists learn more about diet and the body, it’s increasingly clear that what you eat can significantly affect the health and aging of a very important organ, your skin.
Healthy glowing skin reflects how healthy you are on the inside and starts with nourishment from within. This easy to make summer salad is not only delicious but is packed with nutrients to help keep your skin healthy, strong, and attractive.
Enjoy!
Glowing Skin Salad
Serves 4
Ingredients
• 150g young spinach
• 500g butternut squash, unpeeled, deseeded and cut in thin wedges
• 1 avocado, halved, stone removed, cut into wedges and peeled
• 1 orange, peeled and cut into wedges
• 30g flaked almonds
• 2 tsp pomegranate seeds
• olive oil, flaked sea salt and pepper for dressing
Method
- Preheat the oven to 185˚C fan.
- Place the squash in a flat metal tray, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and baked for approximately 25 mins or until golden-brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
- Place the almonds in a small pan and roast them on low heat for 5, set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
- Ensemble the salad. Place all the ingredients in a bowl, staring with the spinach, then add the squash, avocado, orange, almonds and pomegranate.
- Season it with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Tip: Add salmon for high quality protein, vitamins, Zinc and an extra omega-3 punch!
Why your skin needs these foods:
- Spinach – my favourite green! Thanks to its antioxidant abilities, namely Vitamins C, E, and A, it is especially great at helping your skin enhance its radiance, heal from scars, or sun damage, and fortify its natural barrier.
- Butternut Squash is loaded with Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin and powerful antioxidant that acts as an anti-inflammatory, helping to keep your skin youthful and glowing. The natural orange hue is due to beta-carotene, which gives skin the appearance of a summer glow when eaten in large quantities.
- Avocados are full of healthy fats and offer nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, it’s no secret that they are a key ingredient in making healthy dishes!
- Oranges are known for their high content in Vitamin C which is essential for collagen synthesis. While you’re at it, the orange peel itself has a higher content of Vitamin C so keep the peel and go make yourself an orange peel face mask or a body scrub!
- Almonds are rich in antioxidants which help hydrate the skin and contain biotin, which is essential for keratin production, aiding healthy skin.
- Pomegranate seeds are known to be incredibly hydrating as well as stimulating the production of collagen and elastin which improves the texture of the skin. The crushed seeds itself are also perfect for exfoliation!
