Did you know that healthy, glowing skin starts from the inside out?
Getting a healthy glow all starts with eating a healthy, balanced diet and drinking plenty of fresh, purified water. Plus, it’s the most important thing you can do to keep your immune system functioning well.
The nutrients found in foods like berries and some nuts can help you achieve flawless skin unlike the most expensive face cream.
Next time you’re at the supermarket, be sure to stock up on these power foods full of antioxidants and healing properties. Learn how to blend these foods together for even more powerful results.
OYSTERS
Who along the doesn’t love oysters?
Pair your oysters with spinach, the next power food on our list and you’ve got yourself some Oysters Rockefeller, a dish that’s sure to satisfy even the pickiest of palates. Oysters are high in protein, iron, calcium, zinc and Omega 3’s. So go on and feast until your heart’s content on this jewel of the sea.
OYSTERS ROCKAFELLER
Recipe by rampantcuisine.com
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon parsley
1/2 shallot, minced
12 oysters
2 ½ cup spinach, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Shuck and clean the oysters.
Pour a thin layer of kosher salt on a baking sheet.
Place oysters on salted baking sheet.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
Sauté garlic and shallot until tender.
Add the spinach, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Sauté until the spinach is wilted.
Remove spinach topping from heat and allow to cool.
Top each oyster with the spinach mixture.
Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
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FIGS
Figs are delightful when eaten fresh and are a wonderful alternative to candy when you’re craving something sweet. Eat a bowl full of fresh figs and dates, and you’ll definitely curb the craving for a candy bar, if you have one.
In addition, figs are high in fiber, potassium and manganese. All that is good news for your skin, especially during the summer months when skin needs an added boost.
BLUEBERRIES
Blueberries are especially high in antioxidants and just like figs, they are high in fiber and potassium. As an added bonus, they’re high in vitamins C and K.
Blueberries go great with figs as well and can be eaten for a high-energy breakfast instead of processed cereals, which can be very high in added sugars or High Fructose Corn Syrup.
So ditch the food that comes in a box for nature’s sweet bounty instead.
Blueberry Feta Salad With Walnuts. (Photo: Photo courtesy of thefigtreeblog)
BLUEBERRY FETA SALAD WITH WALNUTS & SHRIMP
Courtesy of thefigtreeblog.com
1 bag of spring mix
1 cup of fresh blueberries
1/2 cup of feta cheese
1 cup of walnuts
1 pound of freshly cooked shrimp (optional)
MAPLE BALSAMIC DRESSING FOR FETA SALAD
1 small shallot, finely diced
1 teaspoon of spicy brown mustard
2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons of raw, local honey
1 teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt
In a small saucepan on low-medium heat, toast the walnuts for about 5 minutes.
Whisk together all dressing ingredients, set aside for 15 minutes.
In a large salad bowl, combine the spring mix, blueberries, toasted walnuts, and feta cheese.
WALNUTS
Often overlooked in favor of foods like salmon as a source for Omega 3’s, walnuts boast just more than 113 percent of the daily recommended value. They’re also a good source of copper, manganese and biotin. These little guys have quite a unique nutritional profile.
According to the California Walnut Board, walnuts contain the highest amount of alpha-linolenic acid of any type of nut. It is an essential fatty acid, an important aspect of the cell membranes found throughout our bodies. They help the body’s cells stay hydrated and flexible, which then allows nutrients to enter the cells, while toxic waste is able to leave the body in a timely and efficient manner.
SPINACH
Who doesn’t remember those cartoons in which Popeye declares how he gets his strength from eating a whole can of spinach? That’s because the list of vital nutrients in this power house food is quite extensive.
Spinach boasts an enormous amount of vitamins K and A, as well as manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, copper, calcium potassium, fiber, zine and even some Omega 3’s.
DARK CHOCOLATE
It turns out you have a few reasons to chocolate even more, because not only does chocolate contain powerful antioxidants, it can also aid in the prevention of heart disease as well as improve your mood.
As for its benefits with regards to skin, it contains flavonoids that help absorb UV light and assist with hydration, which in turn can improve your complexion. When our skin is dry, it doesn’t look it’s best.
DARK CHOCOLATE SWEET POTATO CRISPS
Recipe adapted from The Minimalist Baker
2 large organic sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon of pink Himalayan sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup dark chocolate (70 percent cacao) chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Rinse sweet potatoes clean, then slice evenly.
- In a slightly greased baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes in 1 tablespoon coconut oil, and then add in sea salt and ground cinnamon.
- Bake sweet potatoes for 45 minutes. Turn halfway through.
- When you’re halfway through the baking process, melt chocolate to drizzle the final product on the sweet potatoes.
- Once chips are crisp, remove from oven and immediately dip into chocolate. Set on a parchment-lined surface or a cooled baking sheet to cool.
- To store, let cool completely, and then place in a bag or container slightly sealed. Putting them in the fridge will cause them to get soggy.
Further reading: https://thepaleodiet.com/give-your-immune-system-paleo-boost/
NEXT WEEK: Happy, healthy kratom smoothies!
