Beauty comes from the inside out and no, I'm not talking about personality (though, if you're an ass hole, no amount of makeup is going to make you attractive.) What you put in your body has an impact on the outside of your body. Your body is a temple, not a dumpster. So, if you're eating fast food, processed meat, smoking cigarettes, drinking soda, eating dairy, getting drunk every night, you might as well stop reading now because you clearly do not care about your appearance! Nothing will age you faster than these things. Everything I just listed severely dehydrates your body & most of those items are proven to cause cancer! It is not worth it. You are going to be puffy, swollen, have dark circles under your eyes, dry skin, a bloated stomach, swollen ankles, dull hair, brittle nails, etc. That being said, life is about moderation. A little of each, here and there is better than making those foods weekly, or even daily habits as so many Americans have done. You deserve better than that for your incredible body!
So, now that we've gone over some nasties that you want to avoid, let's talk about what you need to put in your spectacular body this summer!
Cucumber
Cucumbers are exceptionally hydrating. I try to eat some slices every chance I get. They hydrate your skin, are good for your brain, fight bad breath, are good for your heart, protect your skin against aging, and the list goes on! I don't care if you don't like them. Find a way to shove some in your body at least twice a week. You will thank me.
Strawberries
Strawberries have folic acid which is great for hair and nails. They're also packed with fiber which is good for keeping you, eh, regular. This means that your body is expelling toxins and clearing your skin from pimples! Yes! Strawberries fight acne. Plus, they're low carb, low calorie (47 calories for a whole cup!) & fat free!
Grapefruit
Grapefruit (my personal favorite) is an appetite suppressant (though, I eat non-stop so I've never experience this effect), fights gum disease, boosts metabolism, strengthens your immune system, reduces stress (the smell, not eating it), and even contains naringenin, which has been proven to break down kidney stones!
Pineapple
Pineapple is great for your tummy. The enzymes (bromelain) help break down proteins in your stomach. They're also linked to bone health, reduction of macular degeneration (They're good for your eye balls.), reduce blood clots, and inflammation. Plus, you look tropical AF eating one. All of these are packed with vitamin C, which is instrumental in collagen production in your body and keeps your skin from getting saggy! Yes, please!
Spinach
Spinach contains wrinkle-fighting antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. These work together to protect your skin from the sun’s aging UV rays (but, you should still wear sunscreen.) Plus, spinach is easy to sneak into dishes without changing the flavor. Throw a handful into your salad, your smoothie, marinara sauce, pesto... You get the picture.
Cha-cha-cha-chia!
These little seeds are great for your skin & hair! They're packed with protein, fiber, & omega-3s. They also have iron which is so important to get if you're a woman. They are super easy to sneak into foods as well. Personally, I don't like them in their gelatinous state, so I just sprinkle them on top of my foods. However, if you put them in drinks, smoothies, puddings, and they do become tiny gel blobs, they aren't terrible either. Since chia seeds absorb up to 12 times their weight in water, they also keep you feeling fuller longer!
Carrots
Carrots are great for your skin! I usually juice mine or eat them with hummus. Carrots contain cartenoids, which make your skin less vulnerable to UV rays and they make your skin less-red. Get your glow on!
Tomatoes
My husband has a tomato obsession. He can eat them like apples. I'm not that tomato-crazy, but I can eat them. A few years ago, I read that tomatoes were full of antioxidants and not only helped slow cellular damage, but were shown to help prevent sun burns. As a sun worshipper who doesn't want to look like a handbag in my 50's, I am all about that! Tomatoes contain lycopene which have been shown to prevent cancer, heart disease, atherosclerosis, and is even used to treat the human papilloma virus (HPV.) It is actually more easily absorbed into your body if you heat the tomato up a bit. Think, a traditional English breakfast with lightly grilled tomatoes. However, they are effective raw as well. If you're using tomatoes to make a sauce, always be sure to add a pinch of sugar to counteract the acidity. Trust me.
Legumes AKA Beans.
Beans are full of protein! If you're a vegan, you already know this. If you aren't vegan, quit asking other vegans where they get their protein from because now you know (along with broccoli, spinach, kale, etc.) Legumes help repair cells with free radical damage. Protein turns into amino acids during digestion. Amino acids are the foundation of cells. They help to speed up collagen & cell regeneration and even repair them! Read the label on your beans because there are so many varieties and each one has different nutritional info. Some are higher in protein (like garbanzo and black beans) than others.
Avocado
You've probably noticed that avocados are prominently diplayed on many products in the beauty aisle. There's a reason for that! Avocados are packed with mono saturated fat (The good kind!), which is necessary for shiny hair, supple skin, and strong nails. Avocados also have antioxidants, fiber, potassium, magnesium, & folate! In addition, they help lower bad cholesterol & reduce the appearance of aging in skin. Can you say miracle snack?! Make fried avocado tacos, guacamole (even strawberry, cucumber guacamole & knock out a few of these in one bite!), avocado toast, etc. The flavor of avocado is so mild that it can really go on almost anything!
Water
Last, but most assuredly not least, water is the single most important thing you can put in your body to be more beautiful. You want glowing skin? A flat stomach? Radiant eyes? Reduced cellulite? Healthy nails? Thick hair? Look younger? Water is your answer! It flushes toxins from your body, adds elasticity back to your skin, promotes nail growth, clears acne, reduces bloating, makes you feel full; It is a miracle solution!
Did you know that your hair is one-quarter water? When you don't drink enough water, your body begins to conserve water for other vital organs, leaving your hair dry, brittle, and susceptible to breakage. If you hate the taste of water, stop everything and work on this. You are predominately made of water. It is vital for your survival! You absolutely must train yourself to drink water. Many, many years ago, I gave up soda for Lent. I went 40 days and 40 nights with no soda and in turn, had to drink water. After those 40 days, I bought myself a soda, took one sip, and spit it out. It now tasted disgusting to me. You can retrain your taste buds and you need to start with water. You need at least 8 glasses a day. Sometimes, I add cucumber pieces to mine for flavor and extra hydration. If I am feeling severely dehydrated (aka hungover), I will drink coconut water because it has electrolytes which help your body absorb the water faster, but you should never consume sugary sports drinks (like Gatorade.) Sugar does the opposite of everything we've gone over here. It is bad for your liver which is in turn bad for your skin, is highly addictive, has zero nutritional value, promotes obesity... You get the gist. Sugar, bad! Water, good! You've got this! And if you need help, just send me a message and I will offer any advice that I can.
Take care of yourself! Nothing is sexier than someone who cares about their health. If you eat healthy foods, you will feel better and in turn, look better! Let's build your confidence by focusing on taking care of yourself from the inside out. It's little choices like eating a pack of strawberries instead of stopping for fast food that, in the long run, will transform your life completely! I want to see you shine this year! Comment and let me know what foods you've been able to add and if you've noticed a difference. Sometimes, the answers to your problems are not expensive, or elusive, or trendy. Sometimes, they are right in front of your face, just waiting for you to finally pay them some attention.
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