Healthy skin, and good health in general, requires a diet high in fresh vegetables, but nutritionists say we would need to consume 15 pounds of raw vegetables and fruits every day to fully nourish our bodies. Many health-conscious people solve this problem by juicing. It’s a convenient way to get the daily nutrients you need, and is a valuable addition to your basic natural skin care routine.



Juices with high silicon content are generally the most beneficial for the skin. These include broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach, turnip greens – greens of any sort – and watercress, to name a few. While any of these juices are good for you, there are certain combinations that address specific conditions.

Acne sufferers do best with a combination of carrots, green pepper and parsley. Adding a little apple and potato (just a slice or two) is also beneficial. A combination of carrots, spinach, turnip leaves and watercress, which is high in chlorine and sulfur, is good for those with eczema. Again, adding a little potato helps.

Haggard-looking skin is revived with carrots, bell pepper, kale, spinach, and turnip greens, and rough, aging skin responds well to apricot juice. Try combining it with apple and a little gingerroot. Carrots and sweet potato also work well.

If you would like to simply slow down the effects of aging, drink a wide variety of juices every day, and include plenty of celery juice, watermelon juice and carrot juice with parsley.

Some aficionados practically live on juices, but even it (if) you’re not willing to go that far, it’s a good idea to have vegetable juices with your meals to help digestion.

A word of caution about combining vegetables and fruits – vegetables are high in natural oils, and fruits tend to be acidic. As a rule, they don’t mix well and can cause bloating and discomfort. Two exceptions are apples and carrots. Apples can be used to sweeten vegetables juices, and the natural sweetness of carrots goes well with fruit.

If you’re just starting juicing, take it slowly at first. Start with about three glasses a day, two vegetable and one fruit, and work up to six glasses keeping the same vegetable/fruit ratio. The best juicers operate at a low temperature to avoid destroying the nutrients.

If you have severe skin problems, you should consult a dermatologist to determine the best treatment, but, otherwise, adding vegetable juices to your diet could have such dramatic results that within a couple of weeks you’ll look like you spend most of your day at the spa.

---

Author, Gloria MacTaggart, is a freelance writer who contributes articles on skin care for The National Skin Care Institute. For more information, visit www.skincarenet.org.