If you know anything about me and my approach to beauty, you know that I believe in a holistic approach. Beauty from the inside and outside is how we do it. Logically speaking, the foods you eat have an enormous impact on the appearance and health of your skin, hair and nails.

It’s a known fact that the Africans, Europeans and the Japanese have long embraced the fact the real beauty comes from within. While many of you have embraced this belief and are getting great results, there are those that have not quite caught up to your and your knowledge.

Therefore we’ll talk a bit about nutrition and how it impacts your overall health and well being. You’ve got beauty products that have entered the market to enhance the foods that you eat. They come in the form of tinctures, beverages, powdered packs and pill forms. We see more and more of these products entering the market on a daily basis.

However, “real” foods, not chips, processed foods, soda or sugary drinks, are the best way to get your intake of vitamins and minerals that enhance the beauty of your hair, skin and nails.

Let’s Talk About Foods for Black Skin Care

Green Foods– There’s nothing like a pot of greens. Whether it’s collard, mustard, kale, spinach or turnips, greens are a wonderful way of cleansing the colon. By the way, I don’t see them laced with meat of any kind, I was thinking more of rosemary, sea salt and peanut or olive oil for seasoning. Add broccoli, asparagus and cabbage to the mix and you’ve got great blend of green veggies to enhance your beauty.

Then you’ve got your different lettuce that can give you the makings of a powerful salad. In this space you’ll find that romaine lettuce is at the top of the list, followed by green leaf, Boston bib and dandelion. You can add spinach and kale to this mixture and have a really hearty salad.

Yellow/Orange Foods – Have you ever had a bowl of Thai Coconut Curry Carrot Soup or Butternut Squash soup? What a great way to get a taste of the tropics without leaving your home. Between the sweetness of the coconut milk and the kick of the jalapeno chili,not to mention the zest of ginger and garlic, such a soup can be light and nutritious at the same time.

Here’s a recipe for Thai Coconut Curry Carrot Soup:

Ingredients:
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1medium red onion or shallot
1 lb of carrots, peeled and sliced
1 tbsp of garlic, chopped
1 heaping tbsp of ginger, minced
1 tsp of serrano or jalapeno chili, minced
1 tsp of ground coriander
3/4 tsp of Madras-style hot curry powder
3 cups of vegetable broth
1/2 cup of lite coconut milk
1 1/2 tbsps of fresh lime juice
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Garnish:
t tbsps of pine nuts, toasted
1 small onion or shallot, finely diced
2 tbsps of carrot, minced
2 heirloom oranged, diced
1 tbsp of olive oil
2 tbsps of Champagne vinegar
1 tbsp of chopped chives

Steps:

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, shallot, carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened. About 5 minutes, longer if you see fit.

2. Add garlic, ginger, chilies, coriander, and curry powder. Cook about a minute or until you smell the desired aroma.

3. Add vegetable broth, partially cover bringing to a boil over high heat, then reduce to simmer for 20 minutes or until carrots are tender to touch with a fork.

4. Puree soup in a blender, working in batches, add back into your pot. Stir in the coconut milk and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper or herbamare. Top it off with pine nut citrus garnish. Leave this step out if you have nut allergies.

Note: I found that you can substitute the carrots with a sweet potatoes and butternut squash combo. I use about half and half. Yummy! We all know that with any recipe, you’ll end up adding your own special twist to it, go for it.

Grains/Nuts

There’s nothing like a slice of spelt bread that’s been made with cranberries and pistachios. When I have a piece of bread this is my bread of choice. I get everything in one slice. The key is eating one slice at a time. You might find another way to get nuts and grain in your diet, black rice, quinoa or couches. You can add almonds, raisins/cranberries, walnuts or pecans and create an entirely new dish with these ingredients.

Fruits

Natural sweetness can only come from the fruits that are provided by nature it self. An orange can provide you with a natural source of Vitamin C. Apples, blueberries, blackberries, cherries and strawberries are all considered natural antioxidant for your skin care needs.  Have your fruits early in the day.  Although the sugar is a natural source, it is sugar.

Ok, writing this article has made me hungry, so I’m off to have a bowl of Lemon Curry soup. It’s more like a broth, however I’ve added kale to it to enhance it. It’s packed full of herbs and spices: turmeric, garlic, dandelion, parsley, thyme, cilantro, rosemary, cumin, kelp, licorice toot, green tea, fenugreek, mustard seed, cinnamon, paprika and ginger. Where’s the lemon? I add fresh lemongrass. I also use this blend to detox.

That’s it for this week, until next time …

Dedicated To Your Beauty

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care