To eat healthy for beauty and wellness does not mean starving yourself or eating unseasoned food. What it does represent is a way of having delicious and satisfying meals. Meals that will nourish and nurture your body into a healthy state of being.
You hear the term plant-based a lot these days. That’s because you can prepare a complete meal full of vitamins and minerals, from veggies and grains, that will benefit your beauty and wellness . Did you know that your kitchen, backyard, sun-porch or fire escape for that matter, can produce healthy food?
I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times that you are what you eat. Nourishing your skin from within enhances its outward appearance. This allows your beauty to shine through as you add your topical beauty products to the mix.
Over the past two decades, many of you have opted for a more healthy lifestyle which includes exercise and better food choices. With reports of mad cow disease and hormone induced meats, you’ve chosen to eat less meat, more fruits and vegetables.
By the way, this is not a new eating plan. In the Mediterranean meals are build around whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and healthy oils. Eggs and cheese are used sparingly as well as small amounts of meat.
A lot of you think that plant based means vegan or vegetarian. Not necessarily. It’s true that a lot of the plant based eaters prefer the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle, there are those of you that will add fish and poultry to your meals. A nutrition plan is the key.
1. Walnuts are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation in our skin and add structure to your skin cell membrane. This helps in keeping the moisture in and toxins out.
2. Bell Peppers are known to give you all the vitamin C you need in a day. One cup is said to do it. Hello gorgeous skin, good bye wrinkles!
3. Dark Chocolate as in cocoa powder for 6 – 12 weeks are high in antioxidants. This provides your skin with more hydration, less roughness and an increase in blood flow.
4. Broccoli florets contain sulforphane, which are said to have anti-aging properties.
5. Green tea is packed with antioxidants called catechizes. They are known to combat cell damage. You’ll find that green tea makes a great facial cleanser when combined with lactic acid.
6. Oates are high in antioxidants. They’re used in cleansers, mask and baths to calm inflamed and itchy skin.
Not every meal has to be vegan or vegetarian, although it works out much better for your system it the majority are. Trying to digest flesh can be challenging for a lot of us. Give your system a rest from flesh and see how much better you feel when you do.
Be patient with yourself. Tread waters lightly and watch as your skin gives you a beautiful reflection in the mirror. You’ll also notice that you’re not as sluggish as you used to be and actually have more energy. This means that your colon is cleansing and you’re finding a way to beauty and wellness based on the foods you eat.
That’s it for this week. As always …
Dedicated To Your Beauty,
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher