Get Your Beauty With These Superfoods!
by Sarah Horan
Tired of reading labels in the drugstore isles looking for pthalate-free skin care, and toluene-free nail polish? Besides using greener cosmetics and personal care products, there’s an easy way to look good and go green: try these super foods for a beautiful boost!
Salmon: Pick up a glistening pink organic salmon steak next time you get to your local fish market. Salmon is high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which besides being great brain food and possibly lowering your risk for depression are also essential for glowing, youthful skin!
Along with being great for your skin, salmon is also high in iron and vitamin B12, which help maintain a healthy scalp, the first and most important step to having beautiful hair. (Another plus, it’s super easy to cook! Just a little sprinkle of salt and pepper and fresh chopped garlic, a squirt of lemon, and pop it on the grill for 6-8 minutes per side until it flakes easily with a fork. Eat is as it, or serve on top of a fresh green salad or over brown rice…the possibilities are endless!)
Berries: Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are all known to have a high antioxidant content, which makes them another super skin food. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals and maintain a healthy elasticity and youthful appearance in your skin.
Keep some in your fridge at all times-they’re great for a healthy mid-morning snack, or sweet enough to make a delicious dessert when paired with a little organic plain yogurt and a dribble of maple syrup.
Green Tea: This light, aromatic drink is extremely high in polyphenols. Polyphenols are powerful anitoxidants which not only help your skin to retain it’s youthful, healthy look but have also been shown to protect against various types of cancer. Get your glow on by drinking 1-2 cups daily, iced or hot.
Dark Green Veggies: Dark green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale and swiss chard are loaded with vitamin A and vitamin C. Both of these vitamins are needed to create sebum, which is the oily substance produced by your hair follicles which acts as your hair’s natural conditioner.
Making sure you get plenty of these veggies will keep your hair looking smooth and shiny. (Also, they go really well with salmon: a double green-gorgeous whammy!)
Nuts and Whole Grains: Nuts of all types should be an integral part of your green beauty diet. Walnuts, pecans, almonds and cashews all provide a hearty dose of zinc, which prevents hair loss and reduces shedding.
Whole grains also pack a great hair-helping punch, with their payload of zinc, B vitamins and iron.
Low-fat Dairy: Low-fat yogurts, cheeses and milk are an important addition to your diet. Besides being essential to maintain healthy bone structure and heart and muscle health, the calcium they provide will increase the strength of your nails and reduce their brittleness.
