The Natural Beauty Workshop

What a Difference a Diet Made

No matter your size or shape, there is nothing more striking than the natural glow of health.  It can be found in the gleaming halo of youth, the soft glow of a mother-to-be, and the shine in a truly beautiful person.  We often refer to the whole body approach when it comes to health and medicine, but when it comes to beauty and skin care we tend to forget the rest of the body.  Fixated on one small piece of our selves, we reach for potions and serums, when we could be reaching for fruits and vegetables.

My skin has always been a challenge for me.  As a child I burnt.  As a teen I battled with acne.  As an adult my skin entered yet another stage - a dry, flaky, sensitive stage.  I developed customized cleansers, moisturizers, and treatments to deal with my problematic skin, but I never felt like I was really winning the fight.  My skin would have good days, and it would have bad days.  Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, my skin would often revert to being red, uneven, and dull.

It wasn't until I changed my diet that my skin really and truly changed for the better.  With whole body health in mind (never thinking of my skin or hair) I began to incorporate whole grains, vegetables, and  raw food into my diet.  I also began eliminating things like starch, junk food, corn syrup, and alcohol.  As my body adjusted to the changes I found myself feeling better, and to my surprise, looking better!  My skin was clear, bright, and calm for the first time in my life. 

The change was as welcome as it was striking.  Nowadays, my face is clear aside from the occasional stray pimple.  It is hardly ever red or inflamed, (unless I am in direct contact with an allergen) and the chronic dryness that I used to experience can now be tamed with a little Shea Butter or Rosehip Oil.  I've continued my skin care routine, and I wish that I could assign full responsibility for the change to my personalized formulas.  However, I know that the true hero in this story was the change in my lifestyle.

Sometimes I miss things like cola, white bread, and coconut flavored rum, but I don't think any of those things can compare with the feeling of finally being comfortable in my own skin.

My experience is unique, and while the diet I chose was the best one for me, it may not be the best one for you.  If you are interested in changing your diet, I recommend consulting a professional dietitian or nutritionist.  These experts can help you target your dietary needs and sensitivities, evaluate your goals, and help you avoid creating nutritional gaps.  Making this change with the aid of an expert can greatly increase your success. 

For some wonderful recipes and healthful cooking inspirations I'd like to invite you to check out some of my favorite "foodie" blogs.

Vegan Yum Yum - Lolo shares delicious and unique recipes and advice on vegan cooking.
What the Hell Does a Vegan Eat Anyway? - A cheeky title to a mouth-watering, recipe-packed food blog.
The Whole Gourmet Natural Cooking Blog - Healthful recipes for the meat eater and vegan alike.
A Veggie Venture - Vegetable inspiration from asparagus to zucchini.

Water Works

You might be surprised to know that one of the world's greatest beauty potions may be pouring from your kitchen faucet. Although some studies have shown that the skin's moisture is not directly affected by the amount of water a person drinks, it may affect your skin in another way. Your kidneys and liver screen toxins from the body, but they function most effectively when you keep yourself properly hydrated. As many beauty enthusiasts know, toxins are your skin's number one enemy. Toxic chemicals, allergens, and free radicals enter your body through the air, the skin, and through ingestion. In this day and age they can be found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and ironically, even in the water we drink. If they are not flushed from the body, they can show themselves in some pretty inconvenient ways. Acne, over-sized moles, dry itchy patches, hives, and even cellulite are just some of the skin problems that can be related to contact with everyday toxins.

Other than drinking plenty of water, there are many other things you can do to try and eliminate toxins in your body. Thalassotherapy and body wraps are popular steps in detox and weight loss treatments. They work by drawing toxins out of the body through the skin. These kinds of treatments can be very expensive at spas and salons. Luckily, they can also be prepared at home with a small amount of research, some key ingredients, and a little peace and quiet. Raw food diets, specialty herbal teas, steam baths, and plain old exercise are other methods of detoxification. While researching any of these methods you will find one piece of advice consistently given: drink plenty of water.

The amount of water that we should be drinking each day has been in debate for some time. The classic advice is to drink eight glasses per day. Some doctors think this is too much, other studies claim it is too little. Some medical conditions, such as Diabetes, can actually be negatively affected by drinking too much water. Since every human being has a body that is as unique as their personality, there is probably no "golden rule" that will be perfect advice for everyone. If you want to know how much water is healthy for you, the best thing you can do is talk to your doctor, nutritionalist, or dietitian. Someone who knows your medical history and constitution will be able to give the best advice. Otherwise, you can do what most of us do: drink when you are thirsty!