Category: Other stories

A beautiful glowing skin is every woman’s wish. To achieve it, I have come to the conclusion that you need a combination of good, natural creams as well as watching your nutrition.I admit I didn’t realise how important what we eat is towards a healthy, glowing skin until a couple of years ago. How did I get this epiphany? I had just given birth to my second daughter and I really felt exhausted and grey all day!! And when you are on maternity you need to kill some time, so I started reading about everything – primarily about healthy eating and everything related to it. And my whole life changed! I started eating berries and leafy greens like crazy! Avocados, nuts, coconut and vouched to remove sugar from my life!

 

To get clear skin you want to eat foods that are rich in antioxidants, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B vitamins, water, healthy fats, and naturally low in sugar. These foods will enhance your blood flow and reduce inflammation, two very important factors of a glowing skin.

 

Here are some of the best clear skin foods that I have come across, with some basic info about each:

 

1. Broccoli
Broccoli is a fantastic source of Vitamin C, chlorophyll and fiber. Chlorophyll is the best anti-inflammatory agent you can consume and detoxifies cells from the inside out. Broccoli is also low on the glycemic index so it keeps you full, which means you won’t be hungry as quickly as you would from eating refined grains or sugary foods.

2. Pumpkin
It’s rich in Vitamin A and rich in water to keep your skin hydrated. Pumpkin is also low in sugar and high in fiber. This means it’s low on the glycemic index and won’t spike your blood sugar.

3. Almonds
Almonds contain Vitamin E, B vitamins, healthy fats, and protein. They can help keep your skin clear, moist, and provide the building blocks for collagen to keep your skin free from wrinkles. Be sure to choose raw, unsalted almonds since roasted varieties are often high in oils.

4. Carrots
A great source of Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and reduces cellular damage. Carrots are also fairly low on the glycemic index and contain high amounts of fiber and Vitamin C.

5. Berries
Berries are high in Vitamin C, which helps repair cellular damage, is a natural anti-fungal aid, and enhances an overall youthful glow.

6. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are one of the best sources of plant-based omega 3 fats that you can consume. Omega 3 fats help fight inflammation. They are rich in protein and B vitamins, and contain fiber to stabilize your blood sugar.

7. Oats
They’re often recommended for dry skin but they can also help reduce acne as well. Oats contain specific compounds that reduce inflammation to the skin and they’re low on the glycemic index. If you don’t like oats or cannot eat them, quinoa makes a great second option.

9. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are a foundation in any healthy lifestyle. They’re packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, chlorophyll, B vitamins, and even protein. Consume them whenever you can, however you can (salads, soups, smoothies, juices). Some great options that are easy on the palate include: spinach, kale, arugula, cabbage, broccoli, romaine lettuce, bok choy.

10. Probiotics
Your gut is responsible for getting rid of toxins and when those toxins accumulate, they often come out through the skin in the form of acne. Adding just a few probiotic rich foods to your day can make all the difference to your skin and digestion.

 

And remember to drink plenty of water!

New Year, New You!

To be absolutely honest I am tired of listening and reading about New Year resolutions and wish lists! You don’t need, or at least you shouldn’t wait for, the beginning of a year to want to do things for you! You should love yourself enough to want to be well and happy with your life and your choices, every day, every year!

And that is all life is: a sequence of choices, some are small and some are big.

No one becomes healthy or happy by wishing, making excuses, or waiting until next month or next year. Here are a few tips that I really hope will help you, as they helped me:

Eating habits

The easiest first step is to change your eating habits. It immediately makes you feel more empowered and good about yourself and these feelings motivate you. Some healthy tips for your daily routine:

1. As a general rule say a big NO to processed foods.
2. Forget about sugar: sugar is bad (full stop). It makes you fat, messes with your skin, hormones and mood, and recent research links it to all sorts of diseases, including cancer.
3. Water: more than 70% of our body is made of water! That alone tells you how important drinking water is to keeping healthy. Try drinking water first thing in the morning to help your body wake up.
4. Berries: they are rich in antioxidants and fibres. I choose frozen ones because they are always available.
5. Greens and fruits: ‘eat your greens’ – one of the most frequent phrases everyone remembers from their childhood! We hated it then, but boy it is important! Spinach, broccoli, peas, any green veggie really provides our bodies with so much goodness. If you don’t really enjoy them, try adding them in your juice or smoothie. The same for fruits.
6. Nuts and seeds: are great sources of amongst others – omega fats, vitamins, protein, magnesium, iron! Great as a snack, adding them into your breakfast, lunch or dinner, make healthy bars and bites!
7. The word ‘fat’ scares us. But the truth is we shouldn’t be scared of ‘good fat’, we should include it in our diet. Sources of good fat: avocados, coconut, nuts and seeds.

Put movement in your life – your body will thank you!

Most of us have jobs that require us to sit on a desk all day long. That’s bad – for our body and spirit.

1. Try standing up and going for a small walk at least 3 times during the day. Even stand up while talking on the phone or with a colleague.
2. Incorporate some activity in your daily routine. Maybe an early morning 20 minute walk or jog (if you have a dog it usually motivates you!). If you are not a morning person (like me) do it at night. You need to force yourself at the beginning, but after a couple of weeks your body and mood will beg you for it!

If you are not up for it, try yoga, pilates (my personal favourite!), some stretching, a walk in the park or really any other form of exercise you will be looking forward to do – just do something to keep your body alive! Take the stairs, instead of the elevator, park a bit further away from where you want to go. Every little change you can make, go ahead and make it!

 Lifestyle habits

There are a few more tips, always from my personal experience, that can help you even on a bad day:

1. Always always be grateful. Count your blessings, not your problems. And if you count more problems than blessings, then count again because chances are you left out things you take for granted.

You might think it’s easier said than done – well at the beginning, yes. But then it becomes a way of living, it changes your perception of how you see and deal with whatever comes your way. Slowly slowly you become more positive and you attract positive energy in your life.

2. Do something you love every day. That is how I started my blog! It can be anything that makes your heart and soul smile! Helping others, reading, writing, cooking or anything else!
3. Practice empathy and compassion. I think very few feelings are better than the feeling you get when you help others, knowing that you might have changed their lives in some positive way. It can be a smile, a compliment, listening to what someone has to say, volunteering for an organization or an animal shelter, raise awareness about the things that matter to you the most.
4. Be social, but also have your alone time. Connect with others whenever you get the chance, we are after all social creatures. But never underestimate the importance of spending time with yourself.

 

Enjoy the new you, this year and every year!