Lifestyle

Smoothies, Juices and Blended Drinks Paired with Organic Plant Protein for Glowing Skin

Shakes for Beautiful Skin

Smoothies and blended drinks are a great option for achieving glowing skin, from the inside out. Basically, any fruit or vegetable you drink is going to be packed with vitamins and minerals that have a profound effect on the skin. Since this is part two of a series, I hope you have checked out part one, The ABC's of Glowing Skin, which is all about nutrients. Before I get into recipes for glowing skin, I wanted to explain the three main appliances you would use for smoothies and blended drinks and explain the difference. I often get asked the question, “Should I use a blender or juicer”? Here is some basic information to help you make your choice.

Blenders/ Bullets: If your goal is to include fiber in your drinks, you always want to go with a blender. Blenders are great because the drinks that are very filling because you are keeping the natural fiber of the fruits and vegetables intact. It's also possible to add ingredients such as nuts, avocados, flax seeds, chia seeds, and protein or other powders to your blended drinks giving them a healthy boost. My favorite blender is The Vitamix, and my favorite bullet is The Nutri- Ninja.

Juicers are also great, but can be a bit more time consuming. There are two types of juicers on the market, the centrifugal and the masticating juicer.

Centrifugal Juicer: These juicers are usually the ones you see more often. You can purchase one for as low as $40 (I would not recommend a cheap version of this juicer). The centrifugal juicer uses a fast speed metal blade that separates the juice from the flesh. Some feel that because the fast spinning blades generate heat, it destroys some of the enzymes in the juice. My favorite Juicer in this category is the Omega9000 juicer.

Masticating Juicers- This kind of juicer produces cold pressed juices. These kinds of juices are available at companies like Organic Avenue and Love Grace (both of which I recommend if you plan on juicing for a long period, but don't have the time or juicer to make them yourself). The method used by a masticating juicer, is to first crush and then to press. The nutrients and enzymes are maintained at a higher quantity because there is no heat. I love the NC900HDC Nutrition System.

When making smoothies and blended drinks, always use organic fruits and vegetables when possible. Be creative! Blend and mix to your liking. On a low carb, low sugar diet? Try all greens with a bit of Garden of Life Organic Plant Protein Smooth Energy. Trying to get the kids to stop drinking soda? Try blending several fruits that they like (and sneak in some greens). Do you prefer spicy? Try adding a piece of ginger or fresh jalapenos. The goal is to make great drinks that taste good.

Here are a few of my favorite blended drinks to glowing skin. Please feel free to tweet me yours @karimorange or leave a comment.

Karim Orange, aka That Girl Orange, is a nationally known natural cosmetics expert, celebrity personal care products artist, and two-time Emmy Award nominee. Karim’s work has graced the faces of countless stars in television, music, movies, and theater.  However what makes Karim Orange a unique force in the cosmetics arena is her role as a make-up activist. Hailed by ELLE magazine as a “Green Star,” she is currently a video host for About.com. She has also earned a substantial following for her Huffington Post lifestyle blog, her work for Organic Spa Magazine and Your Beauty Advisor. For more information please visit www.thatgirlorange.com.

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