Recipes: Smoothies and Other Healthy Drinks for Sunny Days
Not only will these healthy drinks hydrate your body during summer months, they also deliver nutrients that help protect your skin against the effects of the sun's UV rays. However, before you get down to the skin-protecting drink recipes in this section, you may want to check out the diet section (Diet Tips for Protecting Skin From Sun Damage) and the food section (10 Skin-Protecting Foods) of this online Guide to Protecting the Skin Through Diet.
Blackberry & Raspberry Smoothie with Chia Seeds
This smoothie recipe calls for blackberries and raspberries, both of which are famous for their potential anti-aging properties. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and protein, chia seeds are added to the mix to further boost its skin-protecting properties.
See the Recipe
Scandinavian Blueberry Soup
In Scandinavia, blueberry soup is a popular treat that can be served warm as an appetizer or chilled as a dessert. But the benefits of blueberry soup extend far beyond its culinary use. In a laboratory test conducted by USDA researchers, wild blueberries were ranked number one in terms of antioxidant capacity over 40 other tested fruits, berries, and vegetables. The antioxidant properties of wild blueberries were shown to be even stronger than those of cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, or cultivated blueberries. See the RecipeHot Chocolate with Almond Milk
Research suggests that dark, unsweetened cocoa powder can provide generous amounts of flavonoids such as catechins and procyanidins. These flavonoids are known to possess significant antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. However, cocoa flavonoids tend to lose much of their antioxidant capacity if they are ingested together with dairy. In order to boost the antioxidant power of this drink, this hot chocolate recipe uses almond milk instead of cow's milk. See the RecipeCantaloupe Smoothie with Probiotics
The delicious combination of cantaloupe — loaded with beta-carotene and vitamin C — and natural yoghurt — an excellent source of zinc — provides your skin with extraordinary antioxidant protection. Also vanillin, contained in the seeds of the vanilla bean, have been shown to possess antioxidant properties. See the Recipe
Catechin-Rich Ice Tea
Due to their strong antioxidant properties, catechins contained in green tea appear to be effective at inhibiting a number of processes known to cause premature skin aging from sun exposure. This skin-protecting drink recipe calls for loose tea leaves and a long brewing time, both of which improve the release of catechins from green tea leaves. Lemon juice, rich in vitamin C, further improves the availability of catechins. See the Recipe
Green Tea Mango Blast
This recipe pairs green tea with mango to create a mouth-watering smoothie that is sure to please everyone! In addition, this smoothie is loaded with skin-protecting nutrients and phytochemicals such as vitamin C, carotenoids, and green tea catechins. See the Recipe
Blueberry Banana Smoothie
This smoothie is literally bursting with flavor and antioxidants, making it an excellent drink for the skin. Wild blueberries have been shown to have the highest antioxidant capacity out of more than 20 fruits and berries. What's more, the ground flaxseed this recipe calls for adds valuable omega-3 fatty acids to this delectable smoothie. See the Recipe
Watermelon and Green Tea Smoothie
The watermelon lends its lycopene to this refreshing smoothie, making it an excellent drink for those who want to obtain extra protection against the sun through diet. Green tea catechins further strengthen the antioxidant potential of this smoothie. See the RecipeMelon and Green Tea Smoothie
This refreshing smoothie is perfect for sunny summer days but not only because it is great at quenching thirst; it is packed with antioxidants — including vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, and green tea catechins — which help protect the skin against the free radical damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet radiation. See the RecipeFor more recipes that can help protect your skin, visit the main recipe directory of HealWithFood.org's Guide to Protecting Skin from Sun Damage.
