Wednesdays are always great for a mid week facial and a green smoothie. Now, you can compliment that facial internally with my Strawberry Papaya Green Smoothie!
Green smoothies have several benefits. For starters, they are a great way to get your daily servings of fruits and vegetables. They are also wonderful for cleansing, detoxing and getting your daily nutrients and antioxidants. Okay guys, I literally cannot go a day without drinking a green smoothie. It’s my daily ritual usually around dinner time because I’m not a huge fan of eating salads. So it’s quite convenient throwing fruits and vegetables into a blender and gulping away!
Apart from green smoothies being a good source of antioxidants and vitamins, they are also a good way to clear or heal your skin! I can definitely account for this because I have struggled with acne, oily skin and melasma my entire life. However, with laser treatments, a clean diet and green smoothies, my skin has made a 180 improvement. For those of you who are looking for an additional method to heal your skin from acne, black heads or blemishes, I would strongly recommend this strawberry papaya green smoothie. After all, it all starts from the inside! My recommendation is only based on research and personal experience. I’m not a licensed dermatologist so kindly view this as an option or something to add to your to-do list.
All the ingredients in this strawberry papaya green smoothie play a role. Since I drink a green smoothie everyday, I always mix up the ingredients to make it more fun. Although my veggie base is usually kale and spinach, I mix up the fruit and always add a superfood! Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients used in this green smoothie:
Strawberries: Strawberries are acidic in nature and this is effective to remove the excess oily secretion on skin. Strawberries are also very efficient in lightening blemishes and acne scars! You could either blend them in a smoothie or mash them up and use them as a face mask. This green smoothie contains ½ cup sliced strawberries.
Papaya: One of my favourite fruits of all time! Papaya not only cleanses your skin but also make your skin glow. It contains rejuvenating enzymes that exfoliate your skin to provide you with a glowing complexion. It’s loaded with papain and vitamin A. The enzyme papain breaks down inactive proteins and eliminates dead skin cells. The vitamin A works as an anti-oxidant. This green smoothie contains 1 cup chopped papaya.
Kale: Kale is low in calories, high in fiber and has zero fat. It is also great for aiding in digestion with its great fiber content. Kale is filled with so many nutrients, vitamins, folate and magnesium. This green smoothie contains 2 cups kale leaves.
Spinach: Low in fat and even lower in cholesterol, spinach is high in niacin and zinc, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese. Basically, spinach is a perfect vegetable and the flavor blends in well with smoothies and other savory foods! This green smoothie contains 1 cup baby spinach leaves.
Flaxseeds: Very high in fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids which are good fats. I used 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal.
Coconut water: An amazing beverage which is low in calories and contains electrolytes. It’s basically natures Gatorade. Coconut water is packed with antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C. this green smoothie contains 2 cups coconut water.
Excuse the lengthy article, but I want you guys to enjoy all the wonderful benefits of green smoothies as much as I do! Cheers to a green week!
Yield: 2 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup chopped papaya
2 cups kale leaves
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
2 cups coconut water.
Directions:
Puree all ingredients in a blender until smooth and pour into two glasses. This smoothie can also be stored overnight in the refrigerator.
That strawberry papaya green smoothie sure looks like it packs a healthy punch!
It sure does!
I love smoothies! I will try this over the weekend and put it on my to do list.
Enjoy!