Glowing skin begins long before your skincare routine—it starts in the kitchen. This crisp carrot, fennel, and daikon radish salad is a celebration of raw, living foods that gently detoxify, nourish digestion, and illuminate the skin from within.
Carrots bring beta-carotene to support cell renewal and a natural radiance. Cooling fennel soothes inflammation and supports collagen production, while daikon radish works quietly as a purifier—supporting liver function and clearing internal congestion that often shows up on the skin. Together, these simple ingredients create a salad that feels light, cleansing, and deeply restorative.
This is everyday food as medicine: humble vegetables doing powerful work—leaving your skin clearer, brighter, and visibly alive.
In traditional food wisdom, the skin is a mirror of digestion, circulation, and internal balance. When the body is nourished with cooling, cleansing, and antioxidant-rich foods, the skin responds with clarity and radiance.
- Carrots support skin cell renewal through beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A—essential for repair, tone, and natural glow.
- Fennel cools internal heat, eases inflammation, and supports collagen formation, helping calm redness and maintain elasticity.
- Daikon radish aids gentle detoxification and digestion, reducing internal congestion that often manifests as dull or troubled skin.
This raw salad works as a daily ritual of nourishment—light yet deeply therapeutic. By supporting digestion and elimination, it allows the body to do what it does best: restore balance and reveal healthy, luminous skin.
True beauty is not applied. It is cultivated.
Glow up Salad
This crisp carrot, fennel, and daikon radish salad is a celebration of raw, living foods that gently detoxify, nourish digestion, and illuminate the skin from within.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of orange and lemon juice
- 1 tsp orange and lemon zest
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 2 carrots grated
- 1/2 head of fennel grated or finely shredded
- 1 4 inch daikon radish peeled and grated
- 1/4 cup capers ( juice drained)
- 1 cup cannellini beans ( canned)
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
The dressing
The salad
Directions
1. Air fry the capers: Put the capers in the air fryer at 400 degress for 7-10 mins until crispy. Set aside
2. Prepare the salad: In a bowl, combine the shredded veggies and the beans
3. Dress it up: Add the dressing and capers. Adjust any seasoning
4. Serve with love: Perfect as a side salad or as a main course.
Food as Medicine | The Science of Skin Radiance
Skin health is closely linked to nutrient status, digestive efficiency, and systemic inflammation. This carrot, fennel, and daikon salad delivers bioactive compounds that support skin function at the cellular level.
- Carrots (beta-carotene, lutein):
Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A (retinol), which regulates keratinocyte turnover, supports epidermal barrier function, and protects against photo-induced oxidative damage. Higher dietary carotenoid intake has been associated with improved skin tone and perceived radiance. - Fennel (vitamin C, flavonoids, anethole):
Vitamin C is a required cofactor for collagen synthesis and plays a critical role in dermal structure and elasticity. Fennel’s polyphenols exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, helping mitigate low-grade inflammation linked to acne and premature aging. - Daikon radish (vitamin C, digestive enzymes, glucosinolates):
Glucosinolates support phase II liver detoxification pathways, aiding clearance of metabolic waste that can contribute to inflammatory skin conditions. Natural enzymes support digestion and nutrient absorption—key upstream determinants of skin clarity. - Extra virgin olive oil (oleic acid, polyphenols):
Enhances absorption of fat-soluble carotenoids and contributes anti-inflammatory compounds that support the skin’s lipid barrier.
With love and light –
Food For The Soul 