Smoothies for a Gorgeous, Glowing Complexion

Getting a gorgeous, glowing complexion doesn't only mean slathering on sunblock or the latest antioxidant serum (though that helps, too). It also means paying attention to your diet.

By tossing nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and other goodies into your blender, you can nab more beautifying foods that will nourish your skin from the inside, out.

We're talking ingredients that can help repair damage from nasty UV rays, give your skin a healthy glow, and reduce inflammation and puffiness (too many margaritas last night, perhaps?).

Put your best face forward with these powerhouse ingredients and smoothie recipes.

Chia Seeds for Younger Looking Skin

"This smoothie delivers a bonanza of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients," says YouBeauty Culinary Expert and chef Jim Perko, C.E.C. It contains chia seeds, as well as yogurt and tofu, which provide calcium, iron and protein to protect and maintain cell membranes, reduce inflammation and possibly protect against sun damage.

Chia seeds also contain a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids (just 1 1/2 tablespoons has the same amount found in five ounces of salmon), which boosts hydration by absorbing up to 10 times their weight in liquid. What's more, the fruits in the smoothie help build skin-firming collagen, rebuild skin cells and fight oxidative damage. So drink up to help plump up your skin and smooth out fine lines.

Kale For a Healthy Skintone

"This smoothie has more 'gorgeous goods' than any other smoothie I know," says YouBeauty Nutrition Advisor, Kristin Kirkpatrick, R.D. That's because it's chock-full of carotenoids thanks to an abundance of kale. A recent study in the journal PLos ONE found that ingesting carotenoids (like the ones found in kale) was associated with healthy looking skin color that study participants deemed attractivein the opposite sex.

Beauty Bonanza Smoothie

Recipe by Jim Perko, C.E.C.

Ingredients:
� cup fresh or frozen strawberries
� cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 orange, peeled and pits removed
1 ripe banana
� cup fat-free plain yogurt
� cup extra firm Silken tofu
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon agave nectar

Directions:
Put all ingredients into blender and whip until smooth.
Sip and think youthful thoughts.

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Green and Glowing Smoothie

Recipe by Jim Perko, C.E.C., for the Cleveland Clinic Lifestyle 180 program

Ingredients:
1 cup cleaned spinach leaves, firm packed
1 cup cleaned kale, rough chop, firm packed
1 cup green seedless grapes
1 Bartlett pear, core, stem and seeds removed
1 orange, peeled and quartered
1 banana, peeled
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1?2 cup water
2 cups ice

Directions:
Place all ingredients in blender and process on a low speed for 15 seconds, increase to medium, then high until well blended.

Going green never tasted so good.

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Smoothie recipes courtesy of YouBeauty.com