Gut to glow-ry!
Who amongst us hasn’t searched the web for answers to achieve that perfect, blemish-free skin? Or sought remedies to battle the occasional pimple popping? From “what’s my skin type?” to “which is the most suitable cleanser for sensitive skin?” We’ve all been there, and done that. Nowadays, we have the luxury to access infinite tips, tricks, products and hacks on social media with an instant click, but the real question lies in where should we look and what should we believe.
Much like skin care, the concept of cleansing and detoxing has plenty of varied connotations when it comes to health. I believe that the key to shine on the outside depends majorly on the sync and harmony of our organs on the inside. To simplify it for you all, we seldom try to drown our skin issues under multiple layers of products without paying attention to our eating habits. Did you know that excess consumption of dairy products is the main cause of acne for most adults and adolescents? Yes, dairy! Similarly, excess consumption of oily and spicy foods triggers breakouts and rashes.
Since time immemorial, having good gut health has been linked with having good skin. One of the easiest and most effective ways of achieving good gut health is by doing juice cleanses and detoxing regularly. Here are five tried and tested detox drinks for you to get that smooth and supple, glowing skin.
Green Juice
Ingredients: 1 bottle gourd, 2 gooseberries, a handful of coriander and mint leaves, a pinch of black salt
Procedure: Blend everything together in a mixer along with one cup of room temperature water, strain it and add a pinch of black salt. Consume within 10 minutes before the juice oxidizes.
Benefits: Bottle gourd, mint and coriander have an excellent cooling effect on the body. They naturally suppress any excess heat that is generated and as a result, there’s a reduction in acne and breakouts. It also hydrates the body which reduces the secretion of oil, resulting in softer and smoother skin. The gooseberries are an excellent source of vitamin C which helps in achieving an even skin tone and reducing dark spots as well as wrinkles. For best results, drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.
Red Juice
Ingredients: 2 tomatoes, 1 beetroot, 1 carrot, a pinch of black salt
Procedure: Blend everything together in a mixer along with one cup of room temperature water, strain it and add a pinch of black salt.
Benefits: Carrots, beetroots and tomatoes are known to be rich in antioxidants and thus, they help in purifying our blood and getting rid of toxins. This juice is great to reduce skin pigmentation, which results in giving an even skin tone and a radiating glow. It is also a great source of minerals which further helps in fixing any skin blemishes and breakage. For best results, drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.
Moon Milk
Ingredients: Milk, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, cold-pressed coconut oil, honey
Procedure: In a heavy-bottom pan, add a cup of milk, and half a teaspoon each of ground turmeric and cinnamon. Add a pinch of black pepper to the mixture. When it comes to a boil, transfer it to a cup and add a tablespoon of cold-pressed coconut oil and honey. Consume while it’s hot.
Benefits: Besides being the best immunity booster and natural healer, according to ancient Ayurveda, this drink also aids in improving skin and hair conditions. The turmeric and cinnamon act as natural skin illuminators and the coconut oil provides deep nourishment. To be consumed before bedtime.
Fennel + Cumin Water
Ingredients: Fennel seeds, cumin seeds
Procedure: Soak two cups of water along with one teaspoon each of fennel and cumin seeds in a pan overnight. In the morning, bring the water to a boil and reduce till only one glass of water remains. Transfer to a glass and let it cool down. Consume while it’s lukewarm.
Benefits: Curbs bloating caused due to fatty foods and excess sodium, resulting in cooling down the body which further reduces the chance of acne and breakouts. For best results, drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.
Good Old OJ
Freshly squeezed orange juice is a powerhouse of vitamin C and helps in boosting collagen which works against premature ageing. It is also an important source of antioxidants such as carotenoids which help in releasing the damage-causing free radicals from the skin. Overall, it provides excellent hydration to the skin, resulting in a naturally youthful glow.
