Salads are the ultimate beauty food because they make our gut happy. All the fiber from raw vegetables plus a load of hydrating leafy greens full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals is what makes our microbiome thrive and our skin glow. Add some health fats and plantbased protein and you have a perfect lunch that will leave you radiant from the inside out.
Leafy greens. The deeper the green the higher the antioxidants. Spinach and arugula are super high in iron and calcium. Greens are what bugs in our gut thrive on and we should make sure to include at least 3-4 cups daily. I like to vary my greens depending on what I feel like. There are so many out there, experiment and keep it fun!
Beets. Beets are a great source of folate and iron. They are delicious raw and cooked, not to mention beautiful with that deep red color and delicate patterns on the inside.
Carrots. The beta-carotene and vitamin C in carrots are a great skin booster as they help with cell regeneration. Plus, they are such an easy and delicious staple to have on hand for any snack or meal.
Radishes. Radishes contain zinc which is an essential mineral for skin health. Plus they are full of vitamins and make our salads look so pretty.
Cucumbers. Cucumbers are 96% water, so it’s a great source of hydration which our skin loves. They can also help to reduce swelling and puffiness so it’s definitely worth including them into our salads or smoothies as often as possible.
Avocado. Avocados are high in unsaturated fats necessary to keep our skin flexible and moisturized. They also provide us with plenty of vitamin C & E and are a great staple for a nourishing and satisfying salad.
Hemp seeds. Hemp seeds are also a great source of unsaturated fats which fight inflammation. They are also high in plantbased protein and contain zinc to keep our skin rejuvenated.
Sunflower seeds. After Brazil nuts sunflower seeds are one of the best plantbased sources of selenium which makes the biggest difference in skin repair. They also contain zinc and healthy fats which makes the glow dressing the ultimate beauty salad dressing.
Serves one.
Ingredients: (preferably organic)
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup arugula
- ½ avocado
- ½ cup raw beet, peeled
- 1 carrot, peeled
- 4 mini radishes
- 2 Persian mini cucumbers
- hemp seeds
For the glow dressing:
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1/8 cup olive oil
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ½ cup cold water
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- salt, to taste
Directions:
01. Soak the sunflower seeds in cold water for at least ten minutes.
02. With a mandolin, slice the beet, carrot and cucumbers into thin rounds.
03. Pour some hemp seeds in a bowl and dip the avocado half in it until it’s covered with the seeds.
04. In a large bowl, combine the spinach & arugula, add the sliced veggies and top with the avocado.
05. Drain the sunflower seeds. In a high speed blender, combine all the dressing ingredients and blend until you get a creamy dressing.
06. Add dressing to the salad, mix & enjoy! I love having some gluten-free seed bread with this salad.
