I also work closely with a lovely skin therapist and associate of Janesce, Janine Tait, who consults many clients who need to either help heal serious skin conditions or just need a skin health boost.
Lox Salon and Spa is her baby, located in New Zealand and is one of the TOP natural based beauty spas around. It's amazing how in tune and open the people in New Zealand are, I've found they are the most receptive to traditional and alternative treatments. Janine and her team of beauty therapists have a holistic approach to beauty and the skin. I'd describe their approach as down to earth and intuitive but pampering, the perfect blend! Gone are the days where you're just a number, an appointment. The team actually CARES for your wellbeing, hence the added naturopathic service. It means more work for them but better results for the clients.
Through these successful women I've had the blessing to learn and look at the skin more closely. So today's post is all about how to enhance your skin with the following common foods...
1. Lemon- The clarifyer
A lemon a day, juiced and sipped with water first thing in the morning (or any time!) is a wonderful complexion clearer. This little ritual gives your metabolism a kick start, gives your liver a much needed mini cleanse and your skin a vitamin C boost. Lemons are very cleansing to the body , so they help clarify the complexion. Another great ways to include it squeezed over salad, vegetables or sliced in your jug of water, by the end of the day you have infused the lemony goodness into your drink.
2. Water- The hydrator
Water gets its own spot, it's an obvious choice but there was no way I could leave it out. Water makes up around 70% of your body, it's in every part of your body including your teeth and hair and it's found on every planet star that's been travelled to in the solar system. So, even though we've heard it all before, I'm saying it again that by drinking pure water you're enhancing the quality of your skin. Keeping the cells hydrated, so they can easily uptake nutrients and get rid of waste.
How much to drink?
It depends on how much cooked food, or denser food you eat. If you have a salad for lunch everyday, this reduces your need for water. If you drink soft drink/ soda (I hope not!) your needs increase. Coffee, spicey food, animal fats, alcohol etc all increase your need for water.
3. Beetroot- The blood cleanser
One of my favourite high-maintenance vegetables! High maintenance because it is red, juicy and will stain anything it lands on. Beetroot is a blood cleanser and has a slight laxative effect. The Russians make borscht out of beetroot but I like to have it raw and in salad form. Grated finely and mixed with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and you have a yummy skin- friendly side dish. In general, foods that are very red are very good for the blood. The healthier your blood, the healthier your skin because this is where your skin gets most of its nutrition from.
Beetroot has been a popular ingredient throughout eastern Europe and is found in many soup and salad dishes. Claimed to be a ‘blood cleaner’ beetroot makes the perfect spring salad to accompany your lunch or evening meal. Serve with grilled meats and potato dishes.
Russian Beetroot Salad
Ingredients...
4 medium sized beetroots
1/4 cup of lightly crushed walnuts
1/2 clove garlic, finely diced
Dressing...
1/2 cup organic yogurt
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 lemon juiced
1/4 bunch dill chopped
Salt, pepper to taste
Method...
1. Wash, peel (food processor is less messy) and grate the beetroot.
2. Place beetroot in a bowl, mix in walnuts and garlic gently
3. In a separate bowl mix the yoghurt, lemon juice, olive oil, dill and salt/ pepper to form a dressing
4. Mix the dressing with the beetroot and chill in the fridge until serving
5. Garnish with a sprig of parsley or anything green and sliced apples
4. Parsley- The healer
Commonly used as a garnish, what a waste! Parsley is rich in vitamin A and C. This combination is unique in that it is perfect for skin rejuvenation and healing from scars or breakouts. It also contains iron, folate, magnesium, manganese, copper and flavonoids (apiin & luteolin), which helps protect against the effects of free radical damage. So much nutrition in such a small plant, it's very popular in the middle East, where tabouli is a common salad dish.
Tabouli
This is a very fresh, cleansing and simple tabouli. Perfect to accompany a heavier meal, in a wrap or how I like it, or on its own. I use the almonds as a wheat alternative and because they compliment the parsley so nicely, adding a mild crunch and the essential fatty acids so important for skin health. This recipe is great for people with acne because it heals and cleanses the system. If you're not a parsley fan or can only handle a small amount, just add this recipe as a garnish to your meals. You'll still be getting some benefits, just not as much as if you ate a whole cup!
Ingredients...
2 cups of chopped parsley (continental or curly)
1 cup of finely chopped almonds
1/4 cup of fresh mint chopped
1/2 cup of finely diced onion
1/4 cup of chopped cucumber
1/4 cup of chopped tomatoes (or cherry tomatoe cut in halves)
1 avocado sliced
Lemon juice, salt and pepper
Olive oil
Method...
1. Very simple, prepare the ingredients chop and process as needed then mix.
2. Add lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil to taste.
3. Garnish with the avocado.
5. Brown rice- The digestive broom
The staple in Asian countries has become a popular grain in the West. The great thing about rice is how low allergenic it is because it contains no gluten. I prefer brown rice because of it's taste and the way it feels after I eat it but it is also amazing for the digestive system. Brown rice is my comfort food (so is buckwheat) and I find it a good tummy filler on a cold day. Besides that point, it's a good "broom" for the digestive tract and it is high in silica, one of the beauty minerals recommended by David Wolfe in his book Eating for Beauty.
Silica is present in high amounts when you are young and decreases as we age. The ratio of silicon to calcium is a biological marker of youth. The best ways to include brown rice into your diet is by using it as a white rice replacement. Alicia Silverstone in The Kind Diet
suggest making a big pot of it and add it to every meal, lunches and dinners. It's a stabilizing and good tummy filler, a great way to wean yourself off the pasta's.  |
| Organic brown, red and wild rice mix |
6. Green tea- The anti-ager
Ahhh my favourite hot drink. I've said before that I'd give up wine before I'd give up green tea. That's how much I love it. To most people that can seem a little crazy but I can't think of anything better to enjoy throughout my day but an organic green tea. I have a friend who is a personal trainer and hypnotherapist and we often enjoy tea on our catch ups. Instead of 1 cup each, we'll get 2 pots of green tea that could easily satisfy 4 people. Yeah we're looked at a bit funny but the green tea "feel good" effect is just awesome.
It benefits the skin because of its high antioxidant levels, polyphenols. We need a diet high in antioxidants so we can prevent excessive free radical damage. If the Japanese can maintain beautiful skin like they do right up until old age then they're onto something. I'm speaking of the Japanese that maintain traditional dietary methods ie a pot of green tea on tap, all day...
7. Avocado- The moisturiser
Unheated oils are good for the skin, especially the ones from the vegetable kingdom. Technically, avocado is a fatty fruit. It contains high amounts of omega 6 fatty acids, which is not fattening because the oils are easily used by the body for energy. They also contain lecithin, whch helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels. The skin needs "good" fats to moisturise the skin from the inside out. It's useless slapping on moisturisers when your diet is lacking in the oils it needs to moisturise the skin from the inside out. Cutting back on the good stuff will only make your skin look less than sparkling! I like avocado because it's easy to eat, just add it to salad or make a dip and you have eaten some nutrient dense essential fatty acids.
8. Goji berries- The glow berry
Goji berries have been used in Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years to improve Qi (life force) and nourish the Yin and blood. Luckily they grow easily and in harsher climates making this berry have strengthening properites. They taste delicious either dried or rehydrated (just place in water and they plump up in 10 minutes). They have been recorded as being a complete protein source, contain carotenoids, luetin (antioxidant), vitamin C, B's and E. The glow is from the beatcarotene, to which our bodies convert into vitamin A. As mentioned earlier Vitamin A is a skin healer but it's the high amount of betacarotene (antioxidant) that gives your skin more colour, more of a golden glow especially if you allow a little gentle sun exposure during the warmer months. Betacarotene won't turn you orange and it won't poison you but will build up gently in the skin giving you more colour to your complexion.
9. Almonds- The ancient beautifier secret
In no other culture was beauty and body care so important than to the Egyptians. Cleopatra was said to have recorded a book of beauty secrets she perfected. Almonds were one of the most commonly used cosmetic ingredients (oil, paste and food). Besides it's external benefits (sweet almond oil makes a gorgeous body oil) almonds eaten everyday will help keep your skin pretty and healthy. The raw nut is alkaline and contains monounsaturated fats, vitamin E (antioxidant and good for the heart) and are a high protein food. Almonds contain magnesium (promote blood flow and nervous system health) and calcium. Just a handful of almonds a day will be good for your skin and in time you will notice the difference.
10. Seaweed- The mineraliser
Have you ever noticed how youthful Japanese skin is? I've seen Japanese grandmothers with skin that is truly timeless. Along with the daily green tea, the Japanese eat sea vegetables, a totally different food group that deserves more attention. Seaweeds are high in minerals, absorbed from the ocean. Iodine (good for the thyroid), magnesium, iron, calcium, sodium and now a very good food to help detox heavy metals from the body due to high levels of alginic acid, which bind with any heavy metals in the intestines. Minerals are important for maintaining proper hydration levels, nervous system function and healthy blood. The detox effect helps keep you squeeky clean on the inside making your skin look healthy and vibrant.
Seaweeds are also a source of glyconutrients. Glyconutrients are a set of necessary monosaccharides (essential sugars) that are vital to the correctstructure and function of human cells. These sugars are required by cells to perform many functions including cell protection, replication, recognition and tissue regeneration. They help the cells "communicate" with the other cells.
The best way to include them is by enjoying nori rolls more often or wakame salad (from Sushi bars) or in supplements form. Nori, dulse, kombu/ kelp or Irish moss, wakame and arame are different types of seaweed/ algae. If you are gifted in the kitchen then soak and throw them in a mixed salad or find a good supplement from your health food shop.
I made the above nori roll with cauliflower "cous cous" (with food processor), grated carrot, spring onion, avocado, red capsicum and cucumber. The sauce is organic tamari, a dash of sesame oil and seeds.
