Good old watercress for
example, can give a branded wrinkle cream a run for its money. A study
conducted by the Watercress Alliance
found consuming two cups of watercress daily can show a significant reduction
in wrinkles in just two weeks.
Who ever said beauty comes
from within definitely got it right. We are what we eat, and the better fuel
you put in the better the results you can expect out of your body. Being
inspired by the likes of Oprah and other health-promoting sites online, I’ve
put together a list of ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner to create a more
beautiful you. Let’s call it the ‘Beauty Diet’ shall we!
Breakfast
Green Tea – wake up your senses and kick off your metabolism for the day
with a cup of green tea goodness. Green tea has been proven to have twice the
antioxidant power of vitamin C, and regular consumption will make your skin
glow.
Boiled egg – eating an egg on a daily basis is great for your hair. Eggs
contain biotin which promotes cell growth, is rich in vitamin B12 to keep your
locks nice and strong, and has a high level of protein to keep you energized throughout
the day. Notice I say boiled eggs,
not scrambled in dollops of butter :-)
Orange juice – wash it all down with the goodness of oranges. Vitamin C
promotes collagen production (the good stuff all the expensive creams claim to
have). Collagen keeps your skin looking fresh and youthful.
Lunch
Green Veges – you can literally eat yourself into a facelift with green veges
like spinach, kale and swiss chard. Stir fry them, toss them into a salad, or
make a juice. These powerhouses of beauty are full of beta-carotene (an
excellent skin oxidant) and lutein. Lutein scavenges free radicals that come
about from daily stress and pollution and cause aging.
Avocado – often given bad reviews for being ‘fatty’, avocado really is a ‘good
guy’ when it comes to looking great. Packed with vitamins A, D, E and K, an
avocado is nature’s own sunscreen, and hydrates and protects the skin from
within. It is also full of heart-friendly fats to keep your pump running
smoothly.
Sweet Potato – delicious, filling and full of vitamin E. Need I say more?
Virgin Organic Coconut Oil – For dessert, skip the sugar
and have a spoonful of this instead. Coconut oil has long been known to be a
wonderful skin and hair moisturizer, but consuming a little everyday will keep
you hydrated from within. Jenifer Aniston swears by this routine.
Dinner
Oily Fish – salmon, mackerel, sardines. High in good fats, oily fish makes your
skin glow with goodness.
Turkey – if you are not a fish fan, go for turkey instead. Low in fat,
turkey meat is rich in zinc and selenium which act as antioxidants to increase
immunity. 11 grams of turkey also has 75% of the daily recommended protein
intake for an adult.
Carrots – carrots are rich in both alpha and beta carotenes. These easily
convert to vitamin A which aids in new skin cell production. No wonder Bugs
Bunny has managed to stay looking young all these decades!
Dark Chocolate – great news for you chocoholics! Dark chocolate is actually good for
you (in moderation of course). When choosing chocolate the darker the better as
dark chocolate has higher cacao content. Cacao is rich in phytochemicals called
flavonols that protect the skin from free-radical damage that causes aging.
Snacks
Nuts – nuts keep you full and are packed with goodness. A handful of
almonds and hazelnuts with cover your recommended daily intake of Vitamin E.
Fruits – grab a handful of berries such as blueberries and strawberries, or
reach out for good old kiwi fruit. These fruits are packed with Vitamin C which
aid in collagen production and keep capillaries healthy. Eat a few dried
apricots, these are high in iron and improve skin tone. Reach out for tangerines;
they are loaded with lutein, and excellent skin oxidant.
So stop splurging on the
beauty shelves and invest in stocking your kitchen with the right ingredients
instead.
-
Big Sis.
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