Let it show…let it GLOW!

Healthy skin is in!  Clear, glowing skin reflects overall health. What we eat plays a major role in the condition of our skin. Next time you feel a flare-up of acne or notice dry patches, pay attention to your diet!

Eat a variety of foods with Vitamins A & C
These vitamins help to maintain & regenerate healthy skin. Vitamin C also protects skin from bruising & helps to heal cuts or other wounds. Ever heard of carotenoids? They are pigments found in brightly coloured fruits & vegetables. Certain types, such as beta-carotene can be converted into Vitamin A in our bodies. So there are many ways to get the right amounts of these vitamins for young & fresh looking skin!

Face the facts with Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 (also known as pyridoxine) contributes to healthy skin by regulating hormones that contribute to some forms of acne & skin impurities. “B” is for beautiful!

Drink plenty of water!
The secret to fresh-looking skin is water! Water is found in many of the foods we already eat, but drinking a few glasses of water throughout the day is important for hydration. Water keeps your skin moisturized & fends off dryness for the cool months ahead!

Remember, diet plays a large role in radiant skin, but there are other lifestyle factors to consider for great results. Put simply: eat well, exercise, get enough sleep & protect yourself from the sun.

Take the complex – out of complexion!

 

Sources:
Eat Right Ontario. (2009). What you need to know about vitamin C. Retrieved from: http://www.eatrightontario.ca
Schwarcz, J. & Berkoff, F. (Eds.). (2004). Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal. New York. Reader’s Digest Association.

Answers to Common Beauty Beliefs

Lets get the facts about the common beauty beliefs I posted last.  Did you learn anything new?

1) Drinking lots of water clears breakouts

Nope!  Water will not clear up breakouts directly, however it will improve skin’s hydration. Acne & breakouts are caused by environmental & genetic factors that increase oil production.

2) Eating sugar causes wrinkles.

No way!  Sugar alone won’t causes wrinkles, but a poor diet might!

3) Vitamin C protects against sun damage.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant which can defend against harmful ultraviolent rays. However, it should not replace regular sunscreen.

4) Eating chocolate & fried foods causes breakouts.

False! Food does not cause acne! Some students may differ and say they always flare up after eating these foods, but consider this: When students are stressed they tend to turn to comfort foods. The stress is much more likely a cause of breakouts than diet.

5) Rinsing your hair with beer adds body & shine.

As funny as it may sound, its TRUE! 1 bottle of beer massaged into your hair & rinsed out can boost its body & shine!

Beauty 101

How we feel on the inside, is reflected on our exterior.  I think it’s also safe to say how we feel about our exterior can affect our happiness.  So how do we get that balance?  The biggest secret is a healthy, balanced diet.  Fuelling your body with the right nutrients boosts well-being, physical health & your confidence!

        

I figured we all need a little encouragement to eat right sometimes.  For my blog, each post will highlight features of the female body that we often struggle with.  Then I will breakdown the nutrients that are needed for optimal function & performance for that trouble area & link it to foods that are proven to help treat & prevent the problem from recurring.  So next time you have a hair dilemma, a stubborn pimple or tired, puffy skin under your eyes… refer back here to find out how to adjust your diet for timeless beauty!  I also plan to separate out all of the “beauty bull” put out by the media in order to provide readers with safe & accurate information.  Think you know it all?  See if you can tell which of the following beauty beliefs are fact… or fiction!  Next week I’ll post the answers!

1) Drinking lots of water clears breakouts.

2) Eating sugar causes wrinkles.

3) Vitamin C protects against sun damage.

4) Eating chocolate & fried foods causes breakouts.

5) Rinsing your hair with beer adds body & shine.

“Orange ya glad I didn’t say banana?”

No jokes here, this is actually my 1st blog post… ever.  This is only a test until I get things figured out.  But what can you look foward to with my blog?  I hope to highlight common “problem areas” of the female body & encourage viewers to seek help from their fridge or pantry instead of the medicine cabinet.  Sound interesting?  Besides the diet, I also want to share some unconventional ways to use foods for spa treatments in your home.  More reasons to keep healthy foods around.. who doesn’t want that?