Feed Your Skin From The Inside Out

I don’t know about you but the British summer plays havoc with my skin. What with the weather being hot and humid one minute and cold and wet the next, my skin can really suffer.  You would have thought I’d have found the answer in a pot by now, but having tried my fair share of skincare brands over the years, I’ve found it hard to find the right product that’s suits my sensitive skin and modest budget!  

So a few years ago I started experimenting with the idea of feeding my skin from the inside, to see if it made a difference. Using the saying ‘we are what we eat’ as a starting point, I looked into fruits, vegetables and supplements that help support collagen production, maintain balanced hormone levels, and aid digestion, all areas of the body which will affect how your skin looks if they are not functioning properly. I wanted to find and maintain a healthy glowing skin, and I finally found the answer in food!

The key components of my ‘skin friendly’ eating plan are keeping well hydrated, eating fruit and vegetables that contain powerful antioxidants, and making sure I have a healthy dose of essential fatty acids. In particular, eating foods that contain omega 3’s, as they encourage the body to produce anti-inflammatory compounds, which are particularly helpful for inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Having been a lifelong eczema sufferer my skin has never been as clear, as healthy, and as fresh and plump looking as it is today. I put this all down to eating well and, eating the right types of food to feed my skin.

On that basis here is a recipe I’ve been tinkering away with in my Chiswick kitchen. It’s a delicious smoothie pudding recipe, which contains all the key ingredients to feed your skin, from the inside out.  I must confess to liking my smoothies so thick you can spoon them out of the glass! So these ingredients and measures give you the consistency of a greek yoghurt. You can make it as a pudding, and serve in small glasses with a spoon. Or alternatively, you can have it as a straight smoothie, adding more coconut water to thin it out and drink straight from the glass. As always, don’t forget to share your healthy living treat with friends, family or partner, and enjoy!

Feed your skin smoothie pudding

250ml coconut water

Half a ripe avocado

3 frozen broccoli florets

Handful of spinach

1 apple -chopped

2 dsp ground flaxseed

Pour the coconut water into your processor and add the frozen broccoli and ripe avocado, blend until the broccoli is fully broken down which may take a while depending on the power of your blender. Then add all the other ingredients and whizz away until fully blended. If you’re having as a pudding decant into 4 small glasses and serve with a teaspoon. Or, add more coconut water to your desired consistency and you’ll get two good size glasses to drink. Be sure to consume as soon as possible after making, it’ll be cold, fresh and very, very tasty!

Do let me know what you think of it by adding a comment below, or responding via facebook or twitter. I’d love to hear from you!

© Rachel Lawrence. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. 

Sugar Free Chocolate Mousse

I have a confession to make....I absolutely love chocolate. Being a pilates teacher and eating copious amounts of the stuff aren't compatible so I'm always looking at ways I can satisfy my chocolate craving whilst keeping my sugar intake low and being as healthy as possible.

So here is my version of a healthy chocolate mousse - it has no cream and no sugar- just a few simple ingredients and if I say so myself it's not bad for a healthy treat! 

Ingredients 

1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana 
1 400ml can of coconut milk
2 tbsp Cocoa powder ( I use Green & Blacks Organic as it's very rich and chocolatey!) 

Put into your blender the flesh of an avocado and the banana - you can just tear into chunks. Then add the coconut milk and cocoa powder. If you're using a hand blender, stir the cocoa in before you blend as the cocoa will go everywhere if you're not careful. Switch on and whizz for a good 5 minutes until it is thoroughly mixed, you need to make sure there aren't any stray pieces of avocado floating around as it'll spoil the flavour. Spoon the mixture into four ramekins and put in the fridge for three hours so the mixture firms up. Then it's ready to eat whilst smiling saintly knowing it's actually good for you!

If you're making it for a dinner party you could serve in vintage tea cups for an extra bit of glamour! Enjoy! 

© Rachel Lawrence. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Pineapple Post Easter Detox Smoothie

I love Easter for so many reasons, the break from work, the sunshine, the cherry blossoms that start to appear on the trees, and not least of all the possibility of some extra chocolate. I do love my chocolate! But after the Easter break, I can feel a bit lethargic and in need of something fresh, clean and healthy so here it is. My post Easter detox smoothie, a perfect antidote! 

It’s got a zing from the lime, and tastes exceptionally fresh and clean.  The pineapple is packed with Vitamin C, essential fibre, and potassium so great for heart health, digestion and clearer skin. There is also a little known fact that the enzyme it contains Bromelain has been found in studies to reduce swelling, bruising and pain associated with injury and surgery. So one to add to the recipe book for those occasions. 

Coconut oil is a 'must have' ingredient, it has too many benefits to list here but a key one to note in relation to Easter and chocolate is its weight loss properties! It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. Furthermore, it increases the body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas, thereby burning more energy which in turn helps to lose weight. 

So drink, enjoy, and feel a little bit smug that you're doing something incredibly healthy for yourself.

Ingredients
Half a small pineapple cut into chunks
1 banana
1 apple cut into chunks
Juice of half a lime
250 ml Coconut water
1 dessertspoon coconut oil
2 dessertspoons of Linwoods Milled flaxseed, almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts and co-enzyme Q10

I like to keep things simple so put it all in the blender and whizz until fully blended.  You can have this as a meal replacement (I had it for breakfast today) in which case drink it all. If you're having it with a meal then share with a friend/colleague or get the kids to drink it with you! You never know you may convert them into smoothie fans too!

© Rachel Lawrence. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. 

Got a cold? Try my cold busting smoothie

Broccoli and Apple Cold Busting Smoothie

I’ve just made this after tinkering around in my kitchen, and it’s not only absolutely delicious but packed full of the health giving green stuff.

Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse, it’s rich in Vitamin A, K, B-Complex, Iron and just 100g gives you 150% of your recommended daily Vitamin C intake so especially good if you are fighting off a cold. I've added apple for an extra cold busting kick as it also contains Vitamin C, along with minerals including Calcium and potassium. The coconut water is to keep your body naturally hydrated, the wheat germ gives you a fibre boost as well as a good source of vitamin E. And finally the flaxseed with almonds and walnuts adds a nutrient rich pick me up to keep you going until your next meal.

Ingredients

300 ml coconut water

4 Raw broccoli florets (I used straight from a freezer pack)

1 Apple (chopped)

2 Dessertspoon of Jordan’s natural wheatgerm

2 Dessertspoons of Linwood's milled flaxseed with almonds, brazil nuts and walnuts

Very easy this one, just pop the coconut water, broccoli and apple into your blender first and whizz up. Once mixed, add the wheatgerm and flaxseed and whizz until mixed in. If you like your smoothie a little bit more runny just add a little more coconut water to taste. You can have this as a meal replacement if you’re not feeling like eating a full meal, or you can share your healthy drink with a friend and treat them to a bit of green goodness too!

Enjoy! 

Fancy a Date? Smoothie that is....

Well, I had to get your attention somehow didn't I? I've been tinkering around my West London kitchen working on new healthy recipes for smoothies and absolutely love this one. 

It has to be one of the simplest recipes as well as the most delicious. Putting dates into a smoothie is a great way to get some fibre into your body, as well as satisfying a sweet tooth. Using only three ingredients you'll get a delicious drink packed full of essential, vitamins, minerals and nutrients. And if you've ever been partial to a bit of butterscotch then this is for you! It's really healthy and tastes just like it! 

Ingredients

15 Whole Dates

300 ml Coconut Milk

1 Ripe Banana

Make sure your dates are as squidgy as possible, de-stone them, chop in half then put into your  blender along with the coconut milk and ripe banana. Whizz away until you get that lovely butterscotch colour and you're good to go. As always don't keep it to yourself, be generous and share the love around by giving a glass to a friend, family member or work colleague. Enjoy!