By Kimberly Davidson CNP
Your mother forgot one point when she said ‘eat your veggies because they’ll make you grow big and strong’. She left out the part about how they’ll make you more beautiful too!
Your mother forgot one point when she said ‘eat your veggies because they’ll make you grow big and strong’. She left out the part about how they’ll make you more beautiful too!
We all know eating a primarily plant-based
diet helps to prevent cancer, reduces risk of heart disease, prevents obesity
& diabetes as well as so much more. These reasons alone should put more
broccoli on your plate. However, we are human and humans, like it or not, are
vain. We all want to be beautiful and often physical appearance matters more to
individuals than overall health. So as a nutritionist who wants everyone to be
healthy, I am trying a different approach. I am not telling my fellow readers
to eat kale because it will reduce their chances of getting cancer – boring! I
am telling you to eat kale because it will improve your looks. Now I think I
got you all running to your nearest produce market.
Plant derived foods, especially when
consumed raw, contain copious amounts of beautifying properties. Vegetables and
fruits are packed full of antioxidants, which destroy free radicals, slowing
the aging process. They contain enzymes that improve digestion and the
absorption of nutrients. Vegetables are also the highest mineral-containing
foods, which are essential for hair, skin and nail health. Also, raw fruits
& vegetables promote aliesthetic taste change, which is a stronger feeling
of satiation, making one feel fuller faster. Therefore, raw foods help prevent
over-eating and promote weight loss.
When eating for beauty, fruits and veggies, especially raw, are a must.
According to Eating for Beauty by David
Wolfe, there are four ‘beauty minerals’. The ‘beauty minerals’ are vital for
anyone trying to look their best. They are silicon, sulfur, zinc and iron.
Silicon is the mineral probably most responsible for skin, nail and hair
health. Strong and flexible joints, glowing
skin and stronger bones are most often found on those who have sufficient
levels of silicon in the body. Collagen, which helps to maintain the elasticity in the skin depends
on silicon. Therefore silicon indirectly works at preventing wrinkles. Good food
sources are: bamboo shoots, alfalfa, radishes, cucumbers and romaine lettuce.
Sulfur has the ability to build and rebuild collagen, which we know greatly
benefits hair, skin and nails. Sulfur also plays a vital role in the
detoxification process due to its ability to neutralize toxins that are
released from the cells, therefore helping to keep the body clean. This may
explain why those with sufficient levels of sulfur in the body tend to have blemish-free skin and exude a radiant glow. Good food
sources are: arugula, blue-green algae, cabbage, broccoli and garlic.
Zinc helps to digest damaged collagen while rebuilding new
collagen. This process helps to prevent wrinkling, stretch marks and premature
aging. Zinc also plays a role in
nourishing the sexual organs, which contributes to increased sexual energy and
appeal. Good food sources are: sunflower
seeds, pumpkin seeds, pecans, cashews and coconuts.
Iron
is the main component for hemoglobin
synthesis. Iron-rich hemoglobin (blood) is responsible for carrying oxygen
throughout the body, rejuvenating cells and promoting vitality throughout. Iron also generates a magnetic blood current
in the nerve spirals. This magnetism is said to attract and add charisma to the
individual. Good food sources are:
Jerusalem artichoke, onions, cacao beans, cherries and most dark-leafy greens.
According to a recent study done by the
University of Nottingham, eating vegetables and fruits rich in carotenoids like
carrots, blueberries, yellow peppers and tomatoes, created a healthy skin glow
and participants were found to be more attractive than those who did not
consume these foods. Not to say you
cannot be attractive and eat meat. However, an increased consumption of
plant-based foods in anyone’s diet is highly beneficial inside and out.
If you are what you eat, then to look
your best, you need to eat your best.
References:
David Wolfe, Eating for Beauty, 2007,
Sunfood Publishing
*Picture by Andy Newson
No comments:
Post a Comment