Skin Food: Can you Eat your Way to a Dewy Glow?

Main Image – Live That Glow

I love skincare, I really do.  But despite spending approximately 99.9% of my earnings on products I know that it’s not just what I put on my face that makes a difference.

And aside from staying hydrated with plenty of water, I know that there are so many yummy foods which can also have a positive impact on skin (and are fun to eat at the same time).

Since my own cooking skills are actually worse than nil (I once exploded an egg), I asked Deborah Atkinson, head chef at the Finca El Cerrillo hotel in Andalusia, Spain (named number 10 in The Telegraph’s World Top 50 Luxury for Hotels for Less), to come up with some Mediterranean-inspired recipes packed full of skin-boosting goodies.

Creamy Chocolate and Avocado Mousse

Ingredients

2 large ripe avocados, peeled and stoned

3 or 4 tablespoons runny honey, depending on taste

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

50 g raw cacao powder

Fresh blueberries and strawberries to serve

Benefits

Avocados- a great source of Omega 3, Omega 6 and oleic acid, which support the building of healthy cell membranes, as well as helping to build the skin’s natural moisture barrier, avocados also contain vitamins E and C for antioxidant protection from the inside out.

Healthline backs this up, saying “Not only are avocados high in healthy fats, but they’re also an excellent source of vitamins E and C, both of which play a key role in the health and vitality of your skin.”

Honey- an antioxidant (the darker the colour, generally the higher the antioxidant level)

Raw cacao- a powerful antioxidant and a known anti-inflammatory

Blueberries- a powerful source of antioxidants and also a source of zinc and iron

Strawberries- a great source of vitamin C (containing 58.8mg per 100g compared to the 53.2mg found in oranges), which is a vital ingredient in the production of collagen.  Strawberries are also full of antioxidants

Method

1. Place avocados in a food processor and blend until smooth
2. Add 3 tablespoons honey, vanilla extract and cacao powder to the avocado and mix until smooth
3. Add more honey or cocoa powder depending on how sweet you want this
4. Spoon into bowls and chill for an hour in a fridge
5. To serve, chop the blueberries and strawberries and sprinkle on top

*Pro tip: for a smoother, glossier mousse, add a few drops of boiling water while blending