21 Best Fruit And Vegetable Juices For Healthy And Glowing Skin
Radiant skin is a drink away with replenishing ingredients like tomatoes, carrots, etc.
By , Certified Skin Care Coach
The skin needs proper nutrition to stay healthy, radiant, and youthful. And drinking juices is the quickest way to get all the nutrients. Here, we have discussed everything you need to know about juices for glowing skin. While consuming whole food is crucial, juices are especially beneficial when you are in a hurry.
Fresh fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and antioxidants that help maintain the skin’s structural integrity and neutralize the free radicals to slow down signs of aging, wrinkles, thin skin, pigmentation, and other issues.
This article explores 21 beneficial juices for your skin, how they work, the recommended daily intake, and more. Read on.
Best Juices For Glowing Skin
How Do Juices Benefit Your Skin And Overall Health?
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants that keep your body healthy. They strengthen your immunity and help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. When your body receives all the vital nutrients, it shows up on your skin.
However, it is always recommended to eat whole fruits and vegetables. As per experts, during the juicing process, the fruits and vegetables lose dietary fiber, which is important for your body. While studies comparing the benefits of whole foods and juices are inconclusive, researchers recommend consuming whole fruits and vegetables over juices (1).
Considering the busy lifestyles of the modern day, if you are unable to consume enough vegetables and fruits, drinking juices is the best way to stay healthy and make your skin glow.
Note: As per the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the daily calorie intake for a person should be 2000 calories. It should include 2 cups of fruits and 2.5 cups of vegetables. Unless recommended otherwise by your doctor, you can consume 2 cups of fruits (whole or juiced, without peels and pits) and 2.5 cups of vegetables (whole or juiced) (2).
The USDA has a chart of the daily recommendations of fruits (3). According to the chart, the recommended daily intake for average adults is:
| Daily Recommendation | Age Group | Measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 19-30 years | 2 cups |
| 31-50 years | 1 ½ cups | |
| 51+ years | 1 ½ cups | |
| Men | 19-30 years | 2 cups |
| 31-50 years | 2 cups | |
| 51+ years | 2 cups |
The same measurement is applicable for 100% fruit juices (1 cup of whole fruit = 1 cup of 100% fruit juice). The standard measurement of 1 cup (in the US) is 8 fluid ounces (roughly 237 ml).
1. Carrot Juice
Carrot is considered one of the healthiest foods. It is a storehouse of carotenoids (beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A that is good for skin), flavonoids, and antioxidants and also improves your immune response. It has wound-healing abilities and helps to reduce inflammation and the damage caused by harmful free radicals (4).
Recommended Daily Intake
A cup (100 grams) of raw carrot contains 41 kcal, 5.9 mg vitamin C, 0.983 mg niacin, 1 microgram lycopene, and 0.66 mg vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) (5). It also contains other essential nutrients beneficial for your skin. You may consume 2.5 cups of raw or juiced carrots every day. Consult a dietitian for a better understanding of the recommended intake value as per the needs of your body.
2. Tomato Juice
Tomato is rich in beta-carotene and lycopene, another bright red carotene found in red fruits and vegetables. Lycopene can protect your skin from damage caused by UV rays (also called photodamage) (6). It can protect your skin from sunburn, signs of photoaging, and pigmentation caused by UV exposure.
Recommended Daily Intake
A glass of tomato juice (200-250 ml) contains enough lycopene to meet your daily recommended intake (7).
3. Lemon Juice
Citrus fruits, especially lemons and limes, are rich in vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis. This is an important component of your muscles, tissues, and skin. Moreover, the intake of vitamin C regenerates alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) in your body, which is another important antioxidant that helps to maintain your overall health and keeps your skin healthy and glowing (8).
Recommended Daily Intake
The recommended daily intake of vitamin C for men is 90 mg, and women are 75 mg (8).
4. Beetroot Juice
Eating (or drinking) beetroot strengthens the antioxidant defense of your body and protects the cells from oxidative damage. Betalains (red pigments found in beetroot) are anti-inflammatory agents. Test-tube and animal studies found that beetroot helped reduce blood pressure and manage cardiovascular issues (9).
Recommended Daily Intake
A cup (100 grams) of beetroot contains 4.9 mg vitamin C, 1.61 g protein, 9.56 g carbohydrates, 23 mg magnesium, 33 IU vitamin A, 40 mg phosphorus, and 325 mg potassium (10). You may consume 2.5 cups of raw or juiced beetroot every day or consult a dietitian to know the recommended intake value as per the needs of your body.
5. Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate has therapeutic and medicinal benefits. Pomegranate juice is a rich source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid, and small amounts of all amino acids. The juice, extracts, and oil of this fruit were found to reduce UVB induced damage and prevent photoaging (11).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may eat 2 cups of pomegranate (fruit or juice) each day as recommended by the USDA or consult a dietitian for the right dosage.
6. Orange Juice
Orange juice, like any other citrus juice, is rich in vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is a potent antioxidant that keeps your skin healthy. It is rich in flavonoids that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Orange juice is found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular conditions (due to its anti-inflammatory effects) (12).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may have 1 ½-2 cups of the fruit every day, depending on your age, or follow the daily recommendations suggested by your dietitian.
7. Cucumber Juice
The cells in your body need hydration from within. Otherwise, your skin will look dull and lifeless. Consuming cucumber or cucumber juice is the best way to replenish water levels in your body and keep your skin glowing. Cucumber contains 95% water and is rich in beta-carotene, flavonoids, vitamin K, and lignans that provide vital nutrients to your body and improve cell functioning (13).
Recommended Daily Intake
A cup of cucumber contains only 15 kcal calories and 95% water (14). You can consume 1 ½ cup – 2 cups of cucumber (whole or juiced) every day.
8. Apple Juice
An apple a day can improve your mean and maximum lifespan. Animal studies showed that it had stress resistance properties. Apart from lifespan, apple was also found to improve overall healthspan, damage caused by UV exposure, and functions of the immune system (15).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may drink a cup or two of apple juice in a day or as directed by your dietitian.
9. Papaya Juice
Papaya contains beta-carotene, which can keep your skin healthy. This carotenoid is a photoprotector. In other words, it protects your skin from damage caused by UV rays and UV-induced erythema (skin redness and irritation) (6).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may have 1 or 2 cups of papaya (whole fruit or juice) or consume it as directed by your dietitian.
10. Spinach Juice
Spinach, whether raw or cooked, is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids and other anti-inflammatory compounds that can help maintain overall health and skin health (16).
Recommended Daily Intake
You can eat or drink the juice of 2-2 ½ cups of spinach every day. However, if you have joint issues, consult your nutritionist or the doctor about your spinach intake. Spinach contains high levels of purine, and excessive purines can increase your uric acid levels.
11. Grape Juice
Grapes contain polyphenols and flavonoids (that are mainly contained in the seeds and the skin) that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidants effects. It can improve neurocognitive function and was found to improve memory decline in older adults. The antioxidants in the grape seed extracts can bond with collagen and prevent premature aging (17), (18).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may drink or eat 1 ½-2 cups of grape juice or the berries. However, if you have a pre-existing health condition, do not forget to consult your doctor and dietitian.
12. Broccoli Juice
Broccoli is rich in vitamins C and E, flavonoids, carotenoids, and polyphenols (19). These can protect your skin from photoaging, oxidative stress, and inflammation (6).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may have 2-2 ½ cups of broccoli (juiced or blanched or microwaved) every day.
13. Ginger Juice
Ginger contains gingerol and other antioxidants that can help prevent UVB-induced oxidative stress and decrease inflammation (20). This can help prevent inflammatory health issues and also keep the skin healthy.
Recommended Daily Intake
Daily intake of 2-4 grams of ginger can help prevent chronic diseases (21). However, it is recommended to consult a dietitian or a doctor to know the right amount of ginger you should consume, depending on your body’s needs and condition. Pregnant women and lactating mothers avoid taking ginger without consulting the doctor.
14. Aloe Vera Juice
The topical application of aloe vera juice can help manage skin issues (such as psoriasis and dermatitis) and aid wound healing. Drinking aloe vera juice may help reduce inflammation and have beneficial effects on diabetes mellitus and ulcers (22). You may try drinking and applying aloe vera juice or pulp to enjoy its benefits.
Recommended Daily Intake
Aloe vera may interact with certain drugs. Unregulated consumption of aloe vera juice may have toxicological effects, especially during pregnancy (22). It is strictly recommended not to consume aloe vera juice without consulting a doctor.
15. Kale Juice
Kale is rich in vitamins, carotenoids (beta-carotene), and polyphenols. A study found that oral intake of kale improved collagen content and elasticity of the skin. It also reduces oxidative stress, which, in turn, could prevent premature skin aging (23).
Recommended Daily Intake
There are no recommendations on kale intake. It is better to consult a dietitian for the right recommendations.
16. Parsley Juice
Parsley contains proteins, vitamins A, B12, C, E, and K, carotene, and essential fatty acids (24). These nutrients keep your skin healthy and contribute to maintaining your overall health.
Recommended Daily Intake
There are no standard recommendations on the daily parsley intake. You can simply add a few sprigs of parsley to any juice or smoothie. This also adds a unique flavor to your juice or smoothie.
17. Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit contains high levels of vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, and carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, along with several other phytonutrients (25). They are extremely beneficial to reduce inflammation, lower triglyceride levels, and keep the skin healthy.
Recommended Daily Intake
Half a grapefruit (about 154 grams) offers 100% of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C, 8% of the DV of fiber, and 35% of the DV of vitamin A (25). Hence, you may drink the juice of half a grapefruit every day.
18. Banana Juice
A single banana can provide your body with 23% of the total potassium needed on a daily basis. It is also rich in vitamins A, B6, C, and D (26). A study found that women who had a low daily intake of proteins, potassium, and vitamins A and C had wrinkled skin (27).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may have a smoothie made with 1-2 bananas every day.
19. Pineapple Juice
Pineapple is rich in essential enzymes and nutrients, such as vitamins B1, B2 B3, B6, and C, along with magnesium, potassium, bromelain, and dietary fiber. All these have anti-inflammatory effects on your body, prevent cardiovascular risks, and keep the skin glowing (28).
Recommended Daily Intake
Eating 3 or more servings of fruits may help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (29). You can eat or drink the juice of 1-2 cups of the fruit.
20. Mint Juice
Mint contains essential nutrients, such as vitamins A, B6, and C. It also contains dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, protein, thiamin, and several other nutrients (30).
Recommended Daily Intake
There is no specific recommendation for mint intake. However, you can add a few mint leaves to any juice or smoothie. It has a distinct flavor and aroma that can help enhance the taste of your drink.
21. Sweet Lime Juice
Sweet lime (also called mosambi) is a tropical fruit that is rich in vitamin C, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, calcium, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. It not only keeps your skin healthy but also improves blood circulation and liver function, and helps in weight loss (31).
Recommended Daily Intake
You may drink the juice of one lime every day or as recommended by your nutritionist.
Before you make juices a part of your daily diet, here are a few important pointers you should keep in mind.
Points To Remember While Drinking Juices For Glowing Skin
- Never start your day with juices. Fruit juices contain fructose, which may overload the liver if taken on an empty stomach. The best time to drink juices is either during breakfast or at any time between breakfast and lunch.
- Avoid adding sugar or artificial sweeteners to the juice. If you want a hint of sweetness, you may add a teaspoon of raw honey to the juice.
- Always have the juice immediately after you have prepared it. The juice starts to oxidize right after it comes in contact with the oxygen in the air. Use a slow juicer to make juices as it will slow down the oxidation process.
- Try blending instead of juicing. This will help you get the maximum nutritional benefits.
- Try not to strain the juice. This ensures that you don’t miss out on the essential fibers.
- Avoid having packaged or canned juices. They contain added sugars and are not as beneficial as freshly made juice.
Drinking juices of fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to ensure you receive all the essential vitamins, nutrients, micronutrients, and antioxidants to maintain your skin health. There are several juices for glowing skin that are easy to prepare and taste delicious. In addition, juices benefit our overall health by strengthening our immunity and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Carrot, tomato, grapefruit, banana, orange, spinach, parsley, aloe vera, cucumber, apple, and broccoli contain essential nutrients that help improve the skin and maintain its glow. Also, it is best to prepare them at home than drink packaged juices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is better – a juice made with a single ingredient or one with a mix of different ingredients?
Some green veggies, such as kale, parsley, and broccoli, may not taste great alone. Hence, in such cases, you can mix them up with other ingredients.
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