Five Surprising Healthy Drinks for Skin

What is the secret to having beautiful skin? Well, there are dozens, but one of them is diet, which includes beverages. What are the best healthy drinks for skin? Aside from pure water and the obvious list of green tea and cleansing herbal teas, the following beverages may surprise you in their health perks for skin. They are absolutely packed with antioxidants to protect cells from damage, vitamin C to promote collagen production, and a few other benefits that you may not have thought of when it comes to creating a radiant complexion with hydrating, nourishing drinks.

Hot Cocoa

Not sugary hot chocolate mixes, but pure, minimally processed cocoa powder, is good for your skin. According to an article published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, the antioxidants in cocoa trump those found in red wine and green tea. These flavonoid compounds help to protect cells from breakdown, in other words aging — sagging, loose skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Treat yourself to a cup using pure, organic cocoa powder, raw honey or brown sugar, and soymilk. Soymilk is another great source of antioxidants and it is not as heavy on the digestive system as cow's milk (at least for me!). Or, try coconut or almond milk to make your skin healthy, antioxidant brimming cup of cocoa.
Carrot Juice

Not many people drink it. Everyone should. An 8-ounce glass of carrot juice has 700 percent of your daily requirement for vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. Just think what that can do for your skin! Vitamin A is known to help repair sun damaged skin. Could this mean less photoaging with a glass of carrot juice a day?

Banana Berry Smoothie

Make fresh fruit (and vegetable) smoothies for your skin. Not only do you get the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, but you also get the fiber. A high-fiber diet helps to keep waste out of your body, and out of your skin. Try increasing your fiber intake and see if you have less problems with acne! Blend one banana, four strawberries, a handful of ice cubes, and a generous splash of orange juice for a glowing skin breakfast drink.

Black Tea

Green tea is great for your skin, but so is black tea. It may not have quite as many antioxidants, or even the same ones, but it is a healthy, protective drink for skin that shouldn't be overlooked. Drink black tea, green tea, oolong, and white, even kukicha, it's all from the same life-giving tree. 

Grape Juice

Fresh grape juice is highly recommended for flavonoids and that amazing antioxidant that is used in anti-aging skin care products, resveratrol. It is excellent for your heart and your beautiful face, helping to keep skin cells healthy. A glass of juice may not have a super high dose of resveratrol, but drinking down a sweet, juicy cup of anti-aging compounds is definitely a positive step for your complexion.

Don't go overboard with grape juice, or anything in life for that matter. Ten glasses of grape juice and seven cups of cocoa does not mean more skin benefits, it means way too much sugar for your body to handle. Word for the wise, a high-sugar diet makes wrinkles worse. Drink these beverages in moderation to have plumper, more radiant skin. Drink lots of water too, and you still have to eat a healthy diet.