Become a Beauty Foodie

Jolene Hart’s tips on greening your beauty

By Jolene Hart, Beauty Is Wellness

Remember the old saying “you are what you eat?” Turns out, the key to attaining the highly desired youthful appearance and healthy, radiant skin begins from within. Simply stated, what you put into your body has just as much, if not more direct impact on your looks than topical products.

In addition to being the largest organ in your body, your skin is last to receive nutrients and is the first to lose them. Therefore, one should approach food selection process just in the way as choosing a beauty product—paying close attention to desired ingredients, actives, and quality over quantity. 

8 Ways to Become a Beauty Foodie

  1. Beige is bad,” is the famous quote of Dr. Jeannette Graf, a leading skin science expert and board-certified dermatologist. Very much like beige can be a no-no in fashion, “beige” foods, such as processed breads and grains, have unwelcome health effects as they are virtually stripped of their nutrients and are handled with difficulty by our digestive system. Instead, turn to colorful fruits and vegetables.
  2. Get your greens. Often discarded and overlooked, greens (kale, spinach, beet greens, swiss chard) are great for balancing the pH of your body, not to mention their high mineral content. A great way to incorporate your daily dose of greens is to go for an all natural green juice or smoothie.
  3. Bring on the berries. Not only are they sweet and delicious, but berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, which supports collagen.
  4. Lean (not so mean) protein. Protein-rich fish, chicken, walnuts, and almonds are loaded with collagen-boosting nutrients and keratin, which supports strong, healthy hair and nails.
  5. Make time for (green) tea. Long honored for its health benefits in the eastern cultures, green tea is also a powerful wrinkle blocker.
  6. Detox. Instead of loading up on coffee, try a glass of warm water with lemon to start your day. It will kick-start your digestive enzymes, detox your system and brighten your skin from within.
  7. Beat the stress. Stress causes premature aging and unwanted weight retention. If you want to relax, opt for some foods that release stress-busting nutrients into your body: dark chocolate (between 60%-70% cacao), oatmeal, and chamomile tea.
  8. Shield your skin from within. Red and orange colored beta-carotene-rich foods are packed with vitamin A, which helps protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. If you are planning to spend some serious time in the sun, try to load up on tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, etc. at least two weeks before hitting the beach. Don’t forget your sunblock, either!

Credit: beautypress.com

Image: Some rights reserved by dermatology.com

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