Image Courtesy: Microsoft
Beauty is pain, at least that’s according to the old adage. If you consider the number of people who go under the knife and nip, tuck, and suck themselves silly, it seems that many agree. People do all sorts of crazy things to hold onto their youthful good looks, including injecting fat from their buttocks into their cheeks and plastering their faces with snail slime. But it’s all so unnecessary.
All you have to do to be beautiful is eat well.
Food is the new beauty therapy
The thing is, it’s not that new, but it is certainly trendy. Kimberley Snyder is a nutritionist to the stars. Her list of clients includes Drew Barrymore and Dita Von Teese; arguably two of the most beautiful women in the world. Snyder has been advocating a healthy diet as beauty therapy for years. In April 2013, she released her second book in an effort to convert more people to her way of thinking. According to Snyder, some simple changes in diet can produce significant changes in looks in only three days. That alone should be motivation enough to reach for a banana instead of a bar of chocolate!
Eat yourself beautiful
So, what foods should you eat more of?
-
Bananas
Bananas are high in potassium, which, according to Snyder, regulates the fluid levels you’ve under your eyes, basically eliminating those unsightly bags. Add sliced banana to your cereal or oats in the morning, spread it on your toast, or use it in a smoothie.
-
Honey
Honey has a lot of health benefits, but Manuka honey (from the Manuka bush in New Zealand) has extra special beauty benefits. Eat it by all means, but you can also apply it directly to your skin to treat acne and eczema, and to reduce scars.
-
Spinach
Spinach boosts collagen production, and as we should know by now, collagen is essential when it comes to keeping our skin smooth, plump, and elastic. It’s also important for healthy hair and nails. Spinach doesn’t need to be boring to be good for you. You can add it to omelettes, stir-fries, curries, and smoothies.
In fact, green smoothies (with spinach, kale, celery, banana, apple, and pear) are an excellent way to get many of the beauty-boosting foods in one go. And they’re super good for you. Be warned, however, that kale and celery taste very strong and may take some getting used to.
-
Eggs
Eggs were cast out of healthy diets for years, but they’ve been vindicated and are now recognised as one of the best foods for you – in moderation, of course. They’ve been found to be particularly good for your complexion and strengthen your hair and nails.
-
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a panacea; there is virtually nothing that it isn’t good for, from preventing heart disease to hair and skin care and weight loss. It’s delicious and has an array of culinary applications. For example, you can use it to fry your veggies (like you would olive oil), you can add it to oats, you can spread it on toast, use it in curries and stews, and bake with it – your options are endless.
You can also use it as a hair conditioner (it keeps hair healthy and shiny, and repairs damage), and as a moisturiser (it prevents wrinkles and maintains elasticity, and can be used to treat eczema, dermatitis and a range of skin infections). You can even use it as toothpaste and mouth wash. And, it strengthens nails and reduces stretch marks.
A lot of research is being done on coconut oil’s myriad benefits, so expect to read a lot more about it in the coming months, as it crops up in health and beauty magazines, academic journals and textbooks for TAFE (technical and further education) and VET and university students around the world.
-
Whole grains
Whole grains like brown rice and oats are excellent for your hair and nails. They can prevent hair loss and treat dry and brittle hair and nails. What’s more, they are full of antioxidants and can help regulate your appetite.
What does all of this demonstrate?
It shows that you don’t need to visit a plastic surgeon or spend a fortune on snake oil (literally) to get healthy skin, hair and nails. All you need is a good grocer or organic market.
Jemima Winslow is a recent coconut oil convert, and, given her aversion to plastic surgeons, is seriously considering biting the bullet and incorporating green juice into her health and beauty regime.
