Beauty foods: powerful foods to support beauty from the inside
I talk a lot about whole foods and how they support our bodies and keep them running optimally. Yet it's easy to forget how important food can be to keeping our hormones balanced and in turn, promote glowing and healthy skin. When our bodies are functioning well and we are nourished and balanced, our bodies will be rewarded with both feeling and looking beautiful. When we know why specific foods can not only provide us necessary nutrients, but also boost our beauty, it helps us to make smarter choices while grocery shopping and ordering out.
Avocados. Ever since I was a kid, I've always been an advocate of "avocados with every meal!" My mom used to add them to salads because that's the only way I would eat a salad. Avocados are high in vitamins K, C, B5, and B6, as well as folate and potassium. It is also full of healthy, monounsaturated fat that helps fight inflammation in the body. The fiber in avocados helps to keep the levels of good gut bacteria strong to help our bodies also. I love to slice up half an avocado and sprinkle it with Himalayan Sea Salt or even better, Jacobsen Salt Co.'s Habanero Sea Salt. Or you could be like my mom and toss it into a salad mix it up in your dressing. I also love to cook with avocado oil, as it has a high smoke point, which is great for healthy cooking!
Support your gut with cultured foods. Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented veggies, and kombucha will provide healthy gut bacteria, probiotics, that will help to cleanse our digestive tracts. Glowing and healthy skin results when our bodies are running efficiently and smoothly and properly detoxified. I just recently started mixing up my own cultured foods with the Kraut Source fermentation kit and I've been having so much fun trying out new recipes from their cookbook.
Greens.
Leafy greens that are high in vitamin A are great for revitalizing hair and skin. They also provide cellular support and anti-inflammatory benefits, which both support anti-aging! Add some kale or spinach to your scrambled eggs in the morning. Or mix up a baby kale Caesar salad for lunch and dinner.
Water. Can water be counted as a food? Maybe not, however, drinking enough water keeps your body functioning properly and helps to flush out toxins. The cleaner your body is running and functioning, the clearer your skin will be. You can check out my post on how to drink more water here.
Cacao.
We all know that dark chocolate is full of antioxidants, but did you know that it also high in vitamin C? These are both beneficial to your skin. Be mindful when you select your cacao; raw and organic is best, as it is full of minerals. Also avoid chocolate with sugar added. Some great ways to add some cacao to your diet is with cacao nibs or powder. My favorite smoothie at the gym has cacao nibs blended in. You could also add cacao powder to your smoothie, or make a quick and simple low carb mug cake for a sinful-tasting, yet guilt-free dessert.
Green tea. Filled with antioxidants, green tea supports healthy skin and prevent signs of aging. Yes, please! Again, while maybe a drink and not necessarily a food, the anti-inflammatory and energy boosting benefits can't be denied. Drinking green tea can also count as hydrating, so you get the benefits of that as well. Have a green tea and almond milk latte as your afternoon pick me up.
Frankincense. This may not be something you would normally associate as food, but frankincense promotes the regeneration of healthy cells as well being a natural diuretic. You can add a drop of Frankincense Vitality to your daily smoothie, or even to your coffee or tea. While it is already an ingredient in my daily superfood juice, I sometimes add an extra drop or two for boosted benefits. Just be sure to use a frankincense that is safe for consumption. You can learn more about using essential oils here.
