Trying to take care of your skin and hair in the summer heat? Go to your local Harvest Home Farmer’s Market instead of the drug store. Eating the right foods can do more for your skin and hair than most cosmetic products, plus you’ll save money. Your skin and hair need certain vitamins and minerals to grow beautifully. The right foods can naturally provide help that will make them beautiful from the inside out.
It’s all about getting the right amounts of vitamins A, B, C, E, and minerals, like manganese. You don’t need a degree in chemistry to figure this out. Just be sure you eat lots of the following foods:
Walnuts and Almonds: A handful a day will give you healthy fatty acids, vitamin E and manganese for stronger, shinier hair.
Dark, green, leafy vegetables like spinach, swiss chard, collard greens and broccoli, loaded with vitamin A and C, help your hair produce the oils that keep it growing strong and healthy. They are also good for keeping your skin moist. Toss them into salads, soups or stews or stir-fry.
Orange and red vegetables, like sweet potatoes, carrots and red pepper promote glowing skin. Tomatoes, especially now, don’t forget tomatoes.
Avocados are the powerhouse for your skin with A, D, E, and fatty acids. Natural oils make your skin moist and soften the dryness. With just ¼ of an avocado you can also make a cleaning face mask! (See below)
Oats have protein, B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. They clear the skin, reduce stress, and provide nutritional support.
All these foods make you beautiful from the inside out while making you feel better. They help reduce your risk of dietetics and help your heart stay strong. Now that’s real beauty!
From the Inside and the Outside
RECIPE: Fast Breakfast
Green Smoothie for shiny hair and moist skin:
Ingredients
2 cups kale (fresh)
2 cups water
3 bananas
½ avocado
Juice of ½ to 1 lemon (optional)
To Make
Blend kale and water until smooth.
Next add the remaining fruits and blend again.
Notes
Use at least one frozen fruit to make the green smoothie cold. PUT TIP: If your kale is bitter, add the juice of ½ to 1 lemon to counter the bitterness.
“Overnight” Oatmeal:
Make the night before, No fuss in the AM Mix in a mason jar or your favorite bowl:
1/3 to ½ cup rolled, old fashion oats (Not instant or steel cut)
½ cup of coconut yogurt
½ cup of nondairy milk like almond or low-fat milk
A bit of cinnamon, a touch of maple syrup for more flavor
Note: Coconut oil is a beauty “treatment” for both hair and skin
TIPS AND TRICKS: bEAUTY
Refresh and wakeup your skin with avocadoes: A great way to use up overripe avocados
Moisturizing Mask: Mash together ¼ ripe avocado, 1 teaspoon of plain organic yogurt and ½ teaspoon of honey. Stir them well until you get a paste of uniform consistency. Apply the mask onto your skin for 10-15 minutes or until it dries out.
Clarifying Mask: Mash together ¼ of an avocado 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice and teaspoon of honey.
Cleaning Mask: Mash together ¼ of an avocado with a teaspoon of oatmeal
Moisturizing “Magic”: Plain Greek yogurt can work wonders on dry skin. Apply as a face mask or any place you have dry skin. Leave on for 10-30 minutes. Gently rinse off with warm water. To keep skin moist repeat once a week.
Coconut Oil. In your food or on your hair, there are a lot of benefits.
Add real shine to your hair: Rub a pea-size amount of coconut oil on your hands and then on the tips of your hair or even halfway up the shaft. It also reduces frizz and helps split ends.
_____________________
Video of the Week:
