Awesome Vegan Pesto For Glowing Skin

This recipe elicits murmurs of "Mmmms" and "Ahhhs" whenever I've served it. Not only is it supremely delicious, it has powerful ingredients that enhance beautiful skin and overall good health.

For optimum skin, a balanced acid-alkaline internal climate eliminates blemishes, rashes, and other signs of imbalance.  Disease breeds and thrives in a body that is either overly acidic or overly alkaline, so achieving equilibrium is not only desirable—it's absolutely essential.

With the body's natural pH at 7.365 (in blood), eating foods with higher pH levels helps bring the acid-alkaline levels into balance—particularly if you're overly acidic. Each of the ingredients in this recipe neutralize acidity to restore the body's pH to its ideal state.

Parsley (pH 9.0)
Herbs make a welcome component in any beauty regimen both inside and out as they assist in alkalizing the body. The two herbs used in this recipe are particularly beneficial.
Parsley contains vitamin C, manganese, calcium, and potassium. "The vitamin C in this herb speeds collagen production, and its other qualities can help regulate oil production, cleanse pores, and soothe tired eyes," said the WiseGEEK website.
Since these are the ALKALIZING MINERALS, parsley is a winner!

• Calcium: pH 12
• Cesium: pH 14
• Magnesium: pH 9
• Potassium: pH 14
• Sodium: pH 14

Basil (pH 9.0)
Basil neutralizes acne and blemishes of all kinds. It's anti-bacterial, anti-spasmodic, and anti-inflammatory, making it an ideal herb to incorporate into a diet to support good skin.

Lemon Juice (pH 2.0 but becomes alkaline in the body)
"Lemon provides a huge dose of the free radical fighting antioxidant vitamin C, which helps keep skin even-toned and wrinkle-free," said Dana Oliver, senior beauty editor at The Huffington Post, in this post. It also detoxifies the liver, allowing toxins to flush out of the system.

Pine Nuts (Neutral pH 7.0)
Rich in vitamin E and zinc, pine nuts protect skin from oxidative (cell) damage and support healthy skin and hair growth.

Garlic (pH 9.0)
Garlic's list of benefits could extend for miles! It contains Allicin, Sulphur, Zinc, and Calcium, compounds that promote multiple health benefits, beauty benefits, as well as carrying antibiotic and antifungal properties. Garlic provides a rich source of selenium, known to fight cancer and boost antioxidant power when combined with vitamin E.

Sea Salt
Salt meets the body's requirement for sodium, a mineral essential for the bioelectrical system to function effectively. However, most salts found in supermarkets are refined, processed, and heated. The best option is to use high quality sea salt like Celtic Sea Salt, RealSalt, or Himalayan Crystal sea salt. These natural salts leave essential minerals and trace elements intact.

Black Pepper
Often overlooked, black pepper aids digestion, acts as a diuretic, and some studies show it burns fat. It promotes healing in cuts due to its antibacterial properties. The freshest way to incorporate black pepper is to buy peppercorns and grind them.

Olive Oil
The base for this recipe is olive oil. Olive oil and other oils are not water soluble so their acidity cannot be measured in terms of pH. Oils that are cold-pressed or raw have a low acidity while lower quality oils will be more acidic.

Olive oil's numerous benefits have been extolled many times. Among other advantages, the high content of polyphenols (antioxidants), vitamins E and K, and fatty acids dose the body with skin and health loving properties.

Vegan Pesto Recipe

• 3 cups basil leaves, loosely packed
• 1 cup parsley leaves, loosely packed
• 2/3 cup organic extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh garlic (4 - 6 cloves)
• 1 cup toasted pine nuts (or walnuts if you'd rather)
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (2 or 3 lemons)
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper or to taste
• 1 tsp salt or to taste

Blend all ingredients in a blender or Vitamix. I like to keep it a bit chunky and not too creamy by pulsing slowly and then one or two high speed mixes. Serve with crudités or as a companion to gluten-free pasta, fish, or salad. It's great layered over sliced tomatoes and avocados too.

Enjoy!
[Original recipe found on Savvy Vegetarian and slightly modified.]
Photo credits: draghicich/photos.com, Kaitlin Gruss/photos.com, manu10319/photos.com, Maksym Khytra/photos.com, YekoPhotoStudio/photos.com, joanna wnuk/photos.com, TatjanaBaibakova/photos.com, AndreyGorulko/photos.com, Svetl/photos.com

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• 4 Steps to Achieving Beautiful Skin (ediblefacial.com)
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• 3 Easy Meals That Make Your Skin Glow (beautyhigh.com)