By Kerry Locatelli, BNat.
What is beauty, and what does it mean to you? What do we need (and not need) to be beautiful? Beauty is defined as ‘the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.1 It is a combination of qualities, such as shape, colour, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight’.2 There is an enormous amount of interest in the way we look. We spend a lot of time, money, and effort in the pursuit of beauty. Do you ever wonder if you are wasting your money on lotions, potions, treatments, and gimmicks? Do you find yourself wondering what truly counts when we want to look and feel beautiful?
Healthy is beautiful
If you buy a plant, are you only going to focus on the pretty pot you put it in and then wash and wax the leaves to keep it looking good? Or are you going to make sure it gets adequate sunlight, water and fertilizer so that it can flourish? Our bodies are similar, we need key nutrients to flourish. Vitamin A is good for our eyes, good for our immunity and can help to keep our skin resistant to infections. B vitamins are important for the production of energy and healthy skin. They play a role in preventing acne, inflammation, and accelerated aging. Vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen and for healing wounds. The loss of collagen leads to the formation of wrinkles and the appearance of ageing. Vitamin D supports immune function and skin cell metabolism.Vitamin E encourages healing, may help treat acne and dermatitis, and slows skin aging due to its antioxidant properties.
We need zinc for many enzymatic reactions in the body to occur, we need it for a healthy mood, healthy immunity and for healthy glowing skin. Essential fatty acids are important for healthy cells. They form part of our cell membranes and are important for the structure, integrity and barrier function of the skin. They help hydrate the skin and reduce inflammation. Good Nutrition is essential to good health and essential to us looking and feeling our best.
What your skin might be telling you
Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered what your complexion might be telling you? Do you have a pale complexion – have you been spending too much time indoors or are you low in iron? Do you look older than what you are – wrinkles and premature ageing could be caused by excessive stress and poor lifestyle habits like smoking, excessive alcohol, too much sun exposure and not enough sleep. These factors can also cause bags and dark circles under the eyes. Sometimes dark circles appear when we have food allergies and intolerances. Acne could indicate a hormonal imbalance and Rosacea could indicate chronic inflammation. Eczema could be due to allergens in the environment or in your diet, or maybe your skin doesn’t like a product you are using on it. Enlarged pores might mean you need more nutrients overall. Brittle hair and nails point to low nutritional status too – especially nutrients like biotin. The next time you look in the mirror, take a closer look and investigate what you see. It could give you insight into your health and vitality.
Happy is beautiful
Have you ever noticed how attractive happy people are? Have you noticed how people respond to you differently when you are having a happy day? Happiness triggers a cascade of healthy effects. It can lower your blood pressure and help you to sleep better. When you are happy you tend to make better choices when it comes to what you eat and what you do, which can lead to better health overall. Doing things that bring you joy and fulfillment are important for your mental health and they can make you sparkle.
Love your Liver
Your skin is part of the largest organ system in your body. It provides a barrier and protects the body from the outside world. It also protects the body from dehydration, aids in temperature regulation and the sensory receptors help us detect sensations such as pain, heat and cold. We synthesize Vitamin D when we expose our skin to the sun, and we excrete some waste materials through the skin. These days, our lifestyles place a big demand on our liver health and an overloaded liver places a bigger demand on the skin to help eliminate wastes. By nourishing ourselves and supporting the liver, the skin is free to glow.
Look after your smile
Looking after your oral health is important for your overall health. We need strong healthy teeth to chew our food properly – this is an important part of digestion. Healthy teeth need healthy gums. Oral infections and decay negatively impact overall health – especially cardiovascular health. Healthy teeth make a beautiful smile.
Mind your Microbiome
Your microbiome is made up of millions of microbes that live in and on your body – in fact, you have more microbes than you have cells. Your microbiome plays a vital role in your overall health, including the health of your skin. We can nurture this microbial ecosystem with a healthy diet, especially if it includes fermented and probiotic foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yoghurt, tempeh and natto. There are many probiotic supplements and tonics that can be a great addition too. Healthy bowel motions are important for eliminating waste from the body. A healthy microbiome, plenty water and fibre in the diet help to support regularity.
Healthy Beauty Regime
Sleep
Nourish your body with good food. Reduce your caffeine intake, alcohol consumption, smoking, processed foods and fried foods. Aim to enjoy a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit, quality protein, good fats and probiotic foods. Use supplements like Good Green Vitality, as nutritional insurance.
Drink water
Manage stress. Yoga and meditation are great tools for managing stress, but so is walking on the beach and spending time with people you love.
Get some sun, but not too much. Short periods of exposure to the sun (5-10mins) can be ideal, but too much can be really detrimental. Cover up, use quality sunscreen or stay out of the sun to protect your skin.
Look after your oral health – regular teeth brushing and regular visits to the dentist will help you take care of your health and your smile.
It is important to take care of your skin. Establish a ritual of washing and moisturizing your skin morning and night using beautiful products that your skin will love.
Good Green Vitality is a great all in one nutritional support product with over 75 premium ingredients. Not only is Good Green Vitality loaded with goodies, but the nutrients are found in their preferred forms making it easier for the body to absorb and use. I love that Good Green Vitality also contains digestive and liver supporting ingredients including aloe vera, slippery elm, flaxseed, psyllium, globe artichoke, milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric, as well as probiotics to support your microbiome. On top of a healthy diet and good lifestyle habits, Good Green Vitality is great nutritional insurance to help you feel your best and get that nourished glow.
When we supply the body with ample nutrients, it has what it needs to feel great and produce healthy skin, hair and nails. I truly believe healthy is beautiful.
If you’re in some need of inspiration for healthy recipes, see below.
Skin Glow Smoothie
Recipe – Skin Glow Smoothie
Time: 5 min, Serves: 2
Vegan, gluten free, dairy free, low carb, soy free
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 avocado
- 250ml coconut water
- 1 handful of baby spinach
- 1 punnet fresh berries
- 1 serve of Wild Strawberry Clean Lean Protein
METHOD:
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blitz until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy!
Beauty Truffles
Recipe – Beauty Truffles
Time: 2 hours
Makes: 20
Gluten free, dairy free, vegan, soy free
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup pitted prunes, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes, then drained
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 2 scoops of Good Green Vitality
- 2 cups desiccated coconut
Chocolate coating:
- 3/4 cup raw cacao butter
- 1 cup raw cacao powder
METHOD:
- Add the soaked prunes, raspberries, Good Green Vitality and desiccated coconut into a food processor and blend until well combined.
- Take heaped tablespoon amounts of the mixture and roll into balls.
- Place the balls into the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Meanwhile, melt the cacao butter in a heat proof bowl. Add the cacao powder and stir until smooth.
- Gently dip each ball into the chocolate and place onto a lined tray.
- Place the tray into the fridge for 20 minutes before coating the balls for a second time.
- Set once more in the fridge and store in an airtight container for up to one week or longer in the freezer.
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